Tomasz Radzinski's late double rescued Fulham from Carling Cup embarrassment in an extra-time thriller at the City Ground.

Radzinski denied Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest a shock win when he cancelled out Marlon King's earlier effort with four minutes left of normal time.

Fulham striker Tomasz Radzinski's late double helps Fulham through to a quarter-final against local enemies Chelsea

Then Radzinski and Brian McBride swept the Premiership side ahead early in the extra period before Andy Reid's strike set up a grandstand finish.

Andy Cole's neat chip over Paul Gerrard finally settled matters two minutes from the end of extra time.

Gutted Forest had performed far better than their dreadful league form which has left them marooned second from bottom of the table.

And they could have forced a dramatic shoot-out when substitute Gareth Taylor headed wide of an open goal six minutes from the end, before Cole grabbed the fourth.

Boss Joe Kinnear's restructuring of his coaching staff this week was not greeted with universal approval and was perhaps an indication that he is beginning to feel the heat.

Kinnear turned to his former Wimbledon talisman Mick Harford to try to inspire Forest out of the mire.

Kinnear's side performed admirably against a Fulham side who have consistently stated the importance of their Carling Cup campaign.

David Johnson missing the first chance created by Matthieu Louis-Jean in the fourth minute.

Two minutes later Reid spotted former Forest 'keeper Mark Crossley off his line but his attempted chip from 35 yards fell well wide.

Fulham came closer in the sixth minute when the recalled Radzinski played in Cole only for Gerrard to save bravely at the striker's feet on the edge of the box.

But Chris Coleman's side looked a pale imitation of the same line-up which had finished Sunday's 4-1 thumping of Newcastle at St James's Park.

Kinnear's men almost caught the visitors on the break in the 12th minute when King set up Reid and the youngster's powerful rising shot from the edge of the box was parried by Crossley.

King was denied a Forest opener in the 15th minute when Crossley tipped his powerful rising effort over the bar.

After the restart Forest continued in positive fashion with Reid almost catching out Crossley with a curling long-range effort.

And King should have better when he was sent through by Reid but shot just wide of Crossley's left-hand post from the edge of the box.

Moritz Volz flashed a half-chance across goal for the visitors then Radzinski came closer with a rising effort which cleared Gerrard's bar.

Finally the visitors began to press and Forest struggled to hang on at the back.

Steed Malbranque almost played Radzinski clear but the scampering Canadian just failed to reach the ball before Gerrard.

And in the 52nd minute Malbranque teed up Cole for the clearest chance of the evening but the Fulham captain drove his shot straight at Gerrard from 12 yards.

Pembridge's long-range free-kick was tipped over the bar by an increasingly busy Gerrard in the 56th minute after Paul Evans' foul on Papa Bouba Diop.

Despite Fulham's pressure Knight had to be alert in his own box to block King's pass to substitute Taylor in front of goal.

And neither King nor Forest captain David Johnson could convert during a frantic spell in the visitors' box in the 64th minute.

Luis Boa Morte was left to rue a simple chance to give the visitors the lead when he raced clear but shot tamely wide of Gerrard's right-hand post.

Pembridge hit another 25-yard free-kick wide of the target as the visitors grew visibly frustrated at failing to break the deadlock.

King must have thought he had won it for Forest in the 71st minute, when he forced the ball over the line after Reid's ball caused problems in the box.

But in a frantic end to normal time Radzinski equalised with four minutes to spare, then both sides spurned glorious chances to win it through John Thompson and McBride.

Radzinski's powerful rising shot put Fulham ahead four minutes into extra time, then McBride swivelled in the box to poke his side further ahead.

Reid pounced on a rebound to give Forest hope, but they failed to find the net again in a frantic finish.

Nottm Forest Gerrard, Louis-Jean (Perch 20), Rogers, Morgan, Dawson, Commons (Taylor 45), Evans, Thompson, Reid, Johnson, King, Perch (Jess 96).
Subs Not Used: Roche, Robertson.

Booked: Perch, Thompson, Evans, Dawson.

Goals: King 71, Reid 104.

Fulham Crossley, Volz, Bocanegra, Rehman, Knight, Boa Morte, Pembridge, Diop (McBride 80), Malbranque (Legwinski 120), Radzinski (Rosenior 120), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, Hammond.

Booked: Cole(44,f), Volz(51,f).

Goals: Radzinski 86, 93, McBride 101, Cole 119. After Extra Time

Att: 9,252

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).