Strikes from Steed Malbranque and Steve Marlet were enough to see Fulham
stride past the FA Cup banana skin that was lowly York City.
The French pair pounced in either half to prove that Jean Tigana's side
have the stomach for the fight to go with the flowing football they tried
their best to produce.
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Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque scores again
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And despite their off-field problems, Terry Dolan's Division Three strugglers
made their guests work as hard as they've had to in any Premiership match
- particularly in a rousing second half that suggested better times ahead
at Bootham Crescent.
A pudding of a pitch was always going to be the famed leveller in cup
football and inside the first minute the Minstermen could have stolen
ahead had someone been on hand to convert Edwin van der Sar's fumble from
a Martin Bullock snap-shot.
The scare stunned Fulham into life and York's Northern Ireland international
keeper Alan Fettis had to get down low to keep a Louis Saha drive out
before producing a stunning stop to scoop Malbranque's goal-bound header
over the bar.
But the midfielder was not to be denied on 26 minutes as the spritely
Saha pounced on Bullock's slip in the centre circle, skipped round two
ragged challenges and slipped the ball down the right channel.
Both Malbranque and Marlet were clear of the defence, although the former
needed no help whatsover as he steadied himself and steered a cool finish
high past the helpless Fettis.
It should have signalled a comfortable second half for the Premiership
side, but whatever Dolan said to his side at half-time worked wonders
and as both sides made light of a heavy pitch, the Minstermen gave as
good as they got in a cracking second half.
The highly-rated Alan Proctor almost turned in a looping Lee Nogan header,
while the strike partners were unlucky again as the latter drilled just
over from the edge of the box and the former saw his header hit the arm
of Steve Finnan, only for Jeff Winter to wave away the penalty appeals.
Finnan then broke down the other end and should have doubled the lead
only to drag his low shot wide, while the masterful John Collins suffered
a similar fate after his nimble turn had wrong-footed the entire Minstermen
defence.
Marlet, who at £11million is worth more than twice as much as York
City is being sold for, then broke clear but put his shot wide of the
far post, while the towering Zat Knight - whose long legs did as much
as anything to keep York at arms length - forced another fine sprawling
stop from Fettis from 30 yards.
| Match
Stats |
York |
Fulham |
| Goal
attempts |
11 |
18 |
| On
Target |
5 |
7 |
| Hit
woodwork |
0 |
0 |
| Fouls |
10 |
9 |
| Offsides |
6 |
6 |
| Corners |
8 |
6 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source:
www.sports.com |
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Minstermen skipper Chris Brass almost made a name for himself twice in
a matter of minutes as both sides traded chances at will, but first van
der Sar beat him to a Gary Hobson cross and then watched in relief as
the inspirational defender grazed the bar after the Dutchman had failed
to deal with a goalmouth scramble.
But with those chances went any hope of a much-needed money-spinning
replay and with six minutes left, Marlet broke clear again and having
missed going for the far post, spotted a gap at Fettis' near post and
drilled in the decisive second.
Malbranque should have made it three in the dying seconds, but pulled
his effort across the face of goal, at least leaving the Minstermen with
their heads held high and their bank balance boosted by Mohamed Al Fayed's
gate receipt donation - the only act of charity his side showed all day.
York: Fettis, Edmondson, Basham, Hocking, Hobson (Duffield 77),
Potter, Cooper, Brass, Bullock, Nogan (Mathie 83), Proctor.
Subs Not Used: Howarth, Smith, Richardson.
Booked: Nogan.
Fulham: Van der Sar, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Brevett, Legwinski,
Collins (Goldbaek 74), Knight, Malbranque, Saha, Marlet.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Ouaddou, Willock, Stolcers.
Booked: Marlet(61,d) Collins(71,f).
Goals: Malbranque 26, Marlet 85.
Att: 7,563
Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).