Diomansy Kamara scores his first for Fulham

Shrewsbury 0-1 Fulham

Fulham clinched a place in the third round of the Carling Cup thanks to Diomansy Kamara's first goal for the club in a 1-0 win at Shrewsbury.

The £6million summer signing from West Brom scored the winner against League Two side Shrewsbury in the 58th minute.

The result was a welcome boost for manager Lawrie Sanchez after he had seen his team take just three points from four Premier League games.

While the former Northern Ireland boss made only three changes to the side that lost to Aston Villa their lowly opponents made seven from the weekend.

However Shrewsbury played with spirit and no little skill against a team 61 places above them in the league.

Fulham almost took the lead in the eighth minute when Kamara headed against the bar following a cross from David Healy.

Colin Murdock tidied up for Shrewsbury and conceded a corner. Simon Davies swung the ball in and Carlos Bocanegra escaped his marker only to fire his effort wide.

Fulham kept up the pace and in the 12th minute goalkeeper Ryan Esson did well to parry Simon Davies' shot after good work by Kamara.

Kamara showed superb skill five minutes later to cut inside the area. However the angle was too acute and his ambitious effort failed to test Esson.

Shrewsbury hit back in the 19th minute when Jimmy Ryan, on loan from Liverpool, spotted goalkeeper Tony Warner marginally off his line.

He tried to chip him from just over the halfway line but his cheeky attempt went just over the bar.

Fulham were playing some nice possession football without really hurting the opposition.

Healy suddenly found space in the area after 37 minutes but the striker so assured for Northern Ireland sent his half-volley wide of the post.

Two minutes later Kamara picked out Healy and he tried to release Clint Dempsey but put too much weight on the ball.

Fulham eventually made a second-half breakthrough when Kamara got away from his marker to head home following a corner on the left from Davies.

However Shrewsbury responded in the 59th minute in front of a crowd of 6,223.

Dave Hunt delivered a corner and Darren Kempson was left unmarked at the far post.

He headed the ball down into the ground and the bounce deceived Warner who was relieved to see it go past the post.

Fulham, though, were looking to build on their advantage and Dempsey cleared the bar with his effort in the 66th minute after a cross from Davies.

Shrewsbury should have equalised in the 83rd minute when Kempson sent a free header wide of the post following a free-kick from Steve Leslie.

It was a glorious chance and the battling home side were made to pay the price as Fulham went through to third round.

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez saw his side secure a place in the third round of the Carling Cup then confirmed that central defender Zat Knight is poised to join Aston Villa.

The clubs have to agree a fee for Knight and he is expected to complete his move in the morning.

Speaking after 1-0 victory against Shrewsbury, Sanchez said: 'Zat's move to Villa is going through. We have agreed a price.

'He is a Birmingham lad and I understand Villa is his club. The deal is good for him and us.'

Diomansy Kamara's first goal following his £6million move from West Brom saw Fulham edge home.

Kamara headed sweetly into the corner in the 58th minute following a corner from Simon Davies.

The Senegal striker had seen a header earlier come back off the bar following good work from David Healy.

He said: 'It was good for Kamara to get off the mark. He has been close to doing so and that will be an important moment for him.

'I have to be pleased with the win as Shrewsbury are a good team and well organised.

'It is credit to their manager Gary Peters, who I know from our days together at Reading.

'I thought we controlled the game but we did not take our chances and that was a bit of a worry. We have looked a bit vulnerable in the last five minutes this season.'

Peters made seven changes to the side that lost to MK Dons at the weekend and was delighted at the way they went about their business.

He said: 'There were a lot of players with a point to prove and they gave a good account of themselves.

'It was a tough game and we have got to take a lot of positives from the way we performed.

'The team worked their socks off and that is all you can ask of your players.'

Shrewsbury: Esson, Moss, Kempson, Murdock, Tierney, Humphrey, Hunt (Hall 69), Ryan, Leslie, Hibbert (Onibuje 68), Symes.
Subs Not Used: MacKenzie, Langmead, Clancy.

Fulham: Warner, Volz (Omozusi 79), Pearce, Bocanegra, Konchesky, Davies, Smertin, Davis, Dempsey, Healy (John 75), Kamara.
Subs Not Used: Ricardo Batista, Diop, Watts.

Booked: Ian Pearce (45,f), Diomansy Kamara(67,d), Elliot Omozusi (90,d)

Goals: Kamara 59 - Outswinging corner from right by-line taken by Alexey Smertin into the centre. Headed by Diomansy Kamara into the top-left of goal from right side of penalty area

Att: 6,223

Ref: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).