Fulham almost became the fourth
Premiership side to go out of the competition to supposedly inferior opposition
in the third round when Wycombe Wanderers, semi-finalists last season, came within two minutes
of another FA Cup upset here last night.
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Steve Marlet scores again and saves Fulham
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Second Division Wycombe came from behind, first equalising with a penalty,
then taking the lead. But Fulham, who were ultimately forced to abandon
their refined movement and sophisticated passing, made it 2-2 on 88 minutes
when Steve Marlet scored with a downward header from the substitute Barry
Hayles' cross.
Then, in the last seconds, Fulham's substitute Sean Davis almost scored
the winner. Martin Taylor, in the home goal, produced a magnificent save
to partially atone for the weak punch that led to Marlet's goal. The sides
will replay at Craven Cottage on Tuesday.
Lawrie Sanchez, the Wycombe manager, looked downbeat afterwards when
he said: "You normally get only one bite at a Premiership club. I'm
delighted with our effort but it's always disappointing when you concede
a late goal.
"But we stopped them passing. In the end they were playing the long
ball and looking for knockdowns and we were the ones passing it around.
I thought we had changed clubs. Andy Rammell won plenty of headers and
Jermaine McSporran caused them all sorts of problems with his pace, winning
a penalty and then scoring another goal."
Fulham's manager Jean Tigana thought Wycombe's Danny Senda should have
been sent off for a late challenge on Hayles, but said: "We played
a good team tonight. They tried to play all the time. They have good spirit."
| Match Stats |
Wycombe |
Fulham |
| Goal attempts |
8 |
14 |
| On Target |
2 |
8 |
| Fouls |
13 |
19 |
| Offsides |
5 |
2 |
| Corners |
4 |
9 |
| Yellows |
1 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
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This was Sanchez's 19th Cup tie in his three years at Adams Park and
last year he led the side into the last four, where they were beaten by
the eventual winners Liverpool. Sanchez, of course, scored the winner
for Wimbledon against Liverpool in the 1988 final.
In the first half it was Fulham who played most of the good football
and had more of the clear-cut chances. They might have scored as early
as the seventh minute, when Steed Malbranque shot just wide of the right
post, and again a minute later when Louis Saha's header went close.
Having weathered all this, Wycombe fell behind in the opening minutes
of the second half. Sylvain Legwinski's first effort was blocked on the
line by Mark Rogers but he scored from the rebound.
Wycombe pushed upfield, however, and won a penalty in the 57th minute
when McSporran's speed provoked a foul from Alain Goma. Steve Brown scored
from the spot.
McSporran put Wycombe ahead nine minutes later with a shot on the turn after
some confusion between Goma and his keeper, Maik Taylor. Wycombe appeared
to be on course for another upset before Marlet brought belated sanity to
the evening.
Wycombe:
Taylor, Senda, Rogers, McCarthy (Cousins 70), Vinnicombe, Currie (Carroll
74), Bulman, Simpson, Brown, Rammell (Ryan 48), McSporran.
Subs Not Used: Roberts, Osborn.
Booked: Senda. Goals: Brown 57 pen, McSporran 66.
Fulham:
Taylor, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Brevett, Legwinski, Collins (Hayles 69),
Malbranque, Knight (Davis 69), Saha, Marlet.
Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, Harley, Stolcers.
Booked: Hayles. Goals: Legwinski 47, Marlet 88.
Att: 9,921 Ref: G Barber (Tring).