Steve Marlet rescued Fulham on Tuesday as Wycombe threatened to write
another chapter in what is becoming an annual fairytale in the FA Cup.
The French striker, who cost Fulham £11.5million, scored an equaliser
just three minutes from time when it seemed a wonderful Wycombe fightback
had once again sealed a famous victory.
It was cruel on the Second Division side who had shown more ambition
than their Premiership opponents in a stirring cup tie.
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Steve Marlet scores his second in three games
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But the Wycombe faithful still had to rely on a fantastic late save from
goalkeeper Martin Taylor who tipped over a thunderous 20-yard shot from
Sean Davis.
It means the dreams of Wycombe boss Lawrie Sanchez stay alive for a place
against either Grimsby or York in the fourth round.
And he must have thought that was exactly where they were when Jermaine
McSporran put Wycombe ahead halfway though the second half.
The livewire striker, who has been chased by West Ham and Arsenal but
preferred to stay in Buckinghamshire, slid home a superb opportunist strike
to warm the hearts of the home crowd on a chilly Buckinghamshire night.
His goal sparked scenes at Adams Park reminiscent of the euphoria which
accompanied Wycombe on their way to an historic semi-final against eventual
Cup winners Liverpool last season.
Steve Brown, sent off as Wanderers defeated Leicester in last season's
quarter-final, had earlier scored from the penalty spot.
But tonight's display was equally as commendable as anything Wycombe
achieved last season, because this time they had to come from behind after
Sylvain Legwinski had given Fulham the lead barely a minute after the
interval.
It is just a shade short of three years since Sanchez, never to be forgotten
as Wimbledon's goal hero when they beat Liverpool in the 1988 Cup final,
launched his Wycombe adventure with a 1-1 draw against the Second Division
Fulham side of Kevin Keegan.
This Fulham side of multi-millionaires are a different proposition but
Sanchez was hoping to cash in on the goal famine which saw them try to
sign striker John Carew this weekend, only to pull out when the Norwegian
international failed a medical.
But in the first half especially the Second Division side appeared strangely
devoid of ambition, perhaps giving their more illustrious opponents too
much respect.
Fulham should have gone ahead in the sixth minute when good work and
a powerful shot from Steed Malbranque earned a corner.
Malbranque took the kick himself, sending over a swirling cross which
found Louis Saha in oceans of space on the back post, only for the Frenchman
to head wide when it seemed easier to score.
Wycombe might have caused an early stir of their own, especially when
panic ensued in the Fulham defence following a poor backpass by Steve
Finnan.
The ball was far too short leaving Fulham goalkeeper Maik Taylor scrambling
to such an extent that he lashed his attempted clearance against Wycombe
striker McSporran and was lucky to see the rebound ricochet into the side-netting.
It was the pace of the lively McSporran which looked most likely to create
a Wycombe opening but there was a distinct gulf in class in the approach
play of the Londoners, even if they were struggling to fashion genuine
goalscoring chances.
Marlet lashed a left-footed shot just wide and Saha caused all sorts
of problems with his twists and turns but both teams displayed a disappointing
reluctance to throw men forward - consequently the atmosphere was distinctly
low-key in contrast to the hot-blooded battles of last season.
The second half could not have begun in more contrasting fashion, Fulham
taking a shade over a minute to stun the Buckinghamshire men.
Wycombe midfielder Brown made the mistake, letting the ball run over
his foot and Sylvain Legwinski was swiftly onto the error before smashing
in a right-footed shot which was blocked on the line by centre-back Mark
Rogers.
Unfortunately for Wycombe the ball rebounded straight to Legwinski, a
£3.5million signing from Bordeaux, who this time swept the ball
high into the net.
Wycombe boss Sanchez immediately substituted 35-year-old striker Andy
Rammell, replacing him with Keith Ryan.
And 10 minutes later Wycombe were level, Fulham's Alain Goma bringing
McSporran down in the penalty area and referee Graham Barber pointing
immediately to the spot.
And while Brown's left-foot spot-kick was parried by goalkeeper Taylor
it carried enough power to spin into the net for the equaliser.
That was the signal for the Wycombe fairytale to take shape again and,
in the 66th minute, they took the lead through McSporran - by far their
most vibrant attacker.
The little striker found himself surrounded by a forest of defenders
in the six-yard box but somehow he managed to control the ball with his
back to goal, before swivelling to slide a left-footed shot past goalkeeper
Taylor.
Suddenly, Wycombe were in front and the faithful were dreaming of another
Cup giantkilling.
That was until Marlet connected with Barry Hayles' cross in the dying
throes of a compelling match to give the Premiership side a reprieve they
barely deserved.
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).