Met at the same stage last season with Fulham going through 5-2 on agg.

The 1st leg, as tonight, was played at Sixfields, Fulham won 2-1 with goals from Sean Davis and Geoff Horsfield. Northampton's goal came from Carlo Corrazzin.

Fulham won the return leg at Craven Cottage 3-1 with a hat-trick from Horsfield. Darren Byfield (on loan from Aston Villa) scored for Northampton.

The only previous time the clubs have met in this competition was in October 1965 when Fulham beat Northampton 5-0 in the third round at Craven Cottage. Both clubs were in the top division at this time.

FULHAM

Fulham summer ins and outs

Ins:                   From:                    Fee:

Louis SAHA             Metz                     £2.1M
John COLLINS           Everton                  £2M
Luis BOA MORTE         Southampton              loan
Fabrice FERNANDES      Rennes                   loan
Kieran McANESPIE       St Johnstone             £80,000

Outs:                  To:                      Fee:

Geoff HORSFIELD        Birmingham               £2.25M
Paul BROOKER           Brighton                 £25,000
Ian McGUCKIN           Oxford                   Free
Kevin BALL             Burnley                  Free
Gus UHLENBEEK          Sheff Utd                Free
Ian SELLEY             Wimbledon                Free
Steve McANESPIE        Cambridge Utd            Free

Jul 8     Tiverton          W2-0 (Melville, Peschisolido)
   12     Rennes            W1-0 (Hayles)
   19     French Select X1  W1-0 (Cornwall)
   22     India             W2-0 (Riedle (2))
   26     Barnet            D0-0   
   29     Brentford         W2-0 (Boa Morte (2))
Aug 2     Spurs             D0-0   
    5     Bournemouth       W1-0 (Symons)

Reached quarter-finals last season before losing 3-0 on penalties at Leicester after a 3-3 draw. This equaled Fulham's best ever performance in the competition, the club also reached the last eight in 1968 and 1971.

Last season was the first time they've had been in a quarter-final of a major Cup competition for 25 years, since in the 1975 FA Cup.

Have not been knocked out in the 1st rnd since 1992 when they lost 4-0 on agg against Brentford.

Jean Tigana was appointed Fulham manager on July 1 (Fulham announced his arrival on April 9), taking over from Karl-Heinz Riedle who had been in temporary charge for the last 6 weeks of the season. Riedle took over from Paul Bracewell who was sacked on Mar 29, just 10 months after being appointed (Fulham's play-off hopes had all but ended by this time). Fulham have now seen five managers depart in the last four years.

Tigana was wanted by the French FA to succeed Aime Jacquet as national coach after France 98. By the time Tigana left Monaco Roger Lemerre had already been appointed. Tigana spent the next year treading grapes on his French vineyard and working as a players agent (maybe at the sametime!).

Mohamed Al Fayed had originally wanted Eric Cantona as manager, but after failing to secure his services, he turned to Tigana after being recommended by Cantona. Tigana has coached players such as Petit, Henry, Barthez and Thuram.

Tigana has installed a strict training regime at the club, during the summer, players were working out as early as 6am in their training camp in France. All the players have undergone blood tests and dental checks in rigorous medicals. Some days the players train three times a day.

Tigana claims to have watched all 57 of Fulham's games last season on videotape.

As a player Tigana won the European Championship with France in 1984. He won 52 French caps and played in two World Cup semi-finals. As a manager, he guided Monaco to the French title in 1997, he also knocked Man Utd out of the Champions League quarter-final in 1998.

Last season Fulham finished 9th, 9 points off a play-off place and 24 points behind Champions Charlton. Last season was their first season in this division in 13 years, since they were relegated from the old Div 2 in season 1985-86.

They have not played top division football for 32 years, since they were relegated in 1968.

If Fulham are promoted this season they would have won promotion from the bottom division to the top division in the space of five seasons, after finishing Div 3 runners-up in 1996-97 and then Div 2 Champions two season's ago. When Al Fayed took over the club in May 97, he went on record as saying that he is looking for Fulham to be a Premiership club within 5 years.

Their best league finish came in season 1959-60 when they finished 10th in the old Div 1.

Won 17 and lost 13 of their 46 Lge games last season.

Scored 49 goals last season, the seventh lowest scorers in Div 1.

Suffered a goal drought between Dec-Jan last season, scoring only once in eight league games. (that an own goal).

Conceded only 41 goals last season, only Man City had a better defence last season.

Kept 23 clean sheets in their 57 games in all comps last season.

Won only 4 away games last season, losing 10 of the other 19.

Scored only 16 goals in their 23 away games last season, but conceded only 28.

Have won only 1 of their last 8 away games, against Birmingham last Friday.

Scored only six goals in their last 14 away Lge games, 3 of them coming last Friday against Birmingham.

Were unbeaten in their first 10 Lge games last season, winning 6 (keeping 6 clean sheets in these 10). Went as high as second in the table.

Won only 3 of their last 11 Lge games last season.

Were never out of the top ten last season.

Fulham's forthcoming fixtures:

Aug 26    Stockport      (h)  
    28    Norwich        (a)
Sep  2    Sheff Utd      (a)
     5    Northampton    (h)  WC1.2
    10    Barnsley       (h)
    12    Burnley        (h)

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NORTHAMPTON

Promoted last season finishing 3rd in Div 2, 3 points ahead of 4th placed Darlington.

They won 25 Lge games last season, the highest number of wins in Div 3.

They drew 7 Lge games last season, the lowest number of draws in Div 3.

Last season was a total contrast to the 1998/99 season when they were relegated from Div 2 with only 10 Lge wins, the lowest number of wins in Div 2 and they drew 18 Lge games, the highest number of draws in Div 2.

Had a good home record last season winning 16 of their 23 home league games.

Finished last season with a run of 6 wins in a row.

Have only lost 1 of their last 13 home games, winning 10 of those.

The 1st day draw against Brentford was Northampton's 1st draw since January 29, v Lincoln.

Have spent one season in the top division - 1965-66.

IN THE LEAGUE CUP

Their best performance in this competition was in reaching the quarter-finals in 1965 and 1967.

Have reached the 2nd rnd only twice in the last last 10 seasons.

Reached the 3rd rnd 2 years ago after beating Premiership West Ham 2-1 on agg in the second round.

Player/Manager Kevin Wilson was appointed manager on Nov 1 1999 taking over from Ian Atkins who stepped down by mutual consent on Oct 7. Atkins was manager for almost 5 yrs. Wilson was joint-caretaker boss along with Kevin Broadhurst throughout Oct. He won the Div 3 manager of the month award for November, his first month in charge and again in April. Has made 721 career apps, scoring 199 goals. Former N.I int. with 42 caps, 6 goals. Now playing for his seventh different Lge club, playing in his 22nd season of his career. Has made 11 apps last season, scoring once v Shrewsbury on Jan 8.

Since Wilson's appointment (includes joint-caretaker spell) his record reads:

Pld 41 W22 D10 L9

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