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More match reports from last night

last updated Wednesday 06th September 2000, 12:01 PM
More match reports of last nights 4-1 win over Northampton (Agg 4-2)

BBC Electronic Telegraph
























Fulham came from behind to claim a Worthington Cup second-round place with a 4-1 victory over Northampton at Craven Cottage.

Goals from Sean Davis, Fabrice Fernandes and Louis Saha (2) put the game beyond Northampton's reach after Ian Sampson's seventh-minute opener.

The Londoners, despite starting with only four recognised first-teamers, dominated from the start with their clever passing and movement.

It was a shock when the Cobblers took the lead in the seventh minute from their first venture into Fulham's half. They won a corner and Sampson rose highest to get the touch that guided it into the back of the net.

For all their superiority the Londoners did not create too many chances and when they did they found keeper Keith Welch in good form.

It took a bit of opportunism to drag them level. They were awarded a free kick in the 43rd minute and Davis caught the defence by surprise, taking it quickly and curling it beyond Welch from 25 yards.

Fernandes showed a similar piece of skill with the goal that put the Londoners in front in the 55th minute. Fully 20 yards out he saw his chance and tried a clever chip shot which went in off the post.

The clincher came from second-half substitute Saha in the 69th minute when he finished off a fine passing movement to give Welch no chance with a drive from ten yards. To make quite sure Saha scored an equally good goal in the 87th minute to make it 4-1.

The Cobblers deserve credit for sticking to their task. They defended well but tired in the second half and found themselves unable to cope with the class and pace of Saha.



















FULHAM'S policy of fielding half their first team against Northampton eventually paid off last night when they progressed in the competition that manager Jean Tigana clearly regards as a distraction with a 4-2 aggregate passage after a 4-1 win at Craven Cottage.

Tigana, who had selected a reserve side for the first leg, recalled some of his key men for the return but still gave a debut to gangling central defender Zat Knight.

Northampton may have been offended by the continued lack of respect from the 100 per cent First Division leaders judging by the haste with which they added to Marco Gabbiadini's first-leg lead. Captain Ian Sampson leapt high to head in Ian Hendon's sixth-minute corner but later became the first of four players to be booked during a 14-minute spell.

Barry Hayles produced the majority of Fulham's best efforts although he did not figure among the scorers for last season's quarter finalists. Sean Davis curled in a 45th-minute free kick before Fabrice Fernandes levelled the aggregate score with another exquisite shot in the 56th minute.

Substitute Louis Saha put the finishing touch to a Davis-Lee Clark move in the 71st minute and then ran 50 yards to complete Fulham's victory right on time.
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