Fulham

Footballing World at Craven Cottage

Fulham and Leicester have now met three times in just 20 months in cup competitions, and after five goals in this most recent of encounters, the goal tally stands at an impressive 16. It seems when two unsure defences meet in the far less intense atmosphere of a cup match, it’s a recipe for goals.

And once again, Leicester leave Craven Cottage utterly aghast and bewildered. In the FA Cup replay in January 2007, they at one stage led 3-1 before losing 4-3, the seventh and deciding goal arriving in stoppage time; come the Carling Cup in 2008, déjà vu struck and despite holding a 2-1 advantage for most of the second half, Leicester conceded two in the final eight minutes including the winner in added time, yet again.

Roy Hodgson heaped deserved praise on the League One side’s endeavours and in truth Fulham were extremely lucky to escape with anything but a defeat.

A turgid first half witnessed Fulham take the lead with a messy goal credited to Zoltan Gera - his first for the Cottagers - but an incredible collapse by the Premier League club’s defence at the beginning of the second period completely altered the game. Within 45 seconds of the restart, Paul Dickov had slid in the equaliser with consummate ease and less than 90 seconds later Andy King notched a long-distance effort to send the small travelling support into a delirium that scarcely seemed possible judging by the visitors’ first half display.

The goals stunned Hodgson’s side, who simply couldn’t recover. Barely one testing effort made its way towards the Leicester goal in the following 30 minutes, and Fulham were seemingly heading for another premature cup exit. Earlier this year, they exited the FA Cup in the third round to Bristol Rovers while they have also lost at home to the likes of Leyton Orient and Wycombe Wanderers in recent times.

Ultimately, one moment of brilliance changed the complexion of an increasingly absorbing tie. A wonderful interchange between Jimmy Bullard and Simon Davies - two very skilled playmakers who had endured a miserable night up until that point - allowed the former to rifle in a terrific volley from 25 yards. The Fulham fans offered their loudest roar of the evening, relieved to have apparently ensured an extra 30 minutes in which to secure an anticipated victory. The goal also broke the pattern of previous defeats against lower league opposition when Fulham were simply not able to recover after going behind. So, with fresh momentum on an overcast evening in west London, they set about going to win the game.

And with two minutes of additional time having elapsed, Danny Murphy saved the home support the anxiety of another half-hour, his speculative effort taking a critical deflection and beating the unfortunate Martin to send a very fortunate Fulham side - who demonstrated little of the vigour that was so evident against Arsenal at the weekend - into round three. Meanwhile the Leicester support, probably used to the pattern of losing in the last minute after leading for so long, trudged back to their buses not in grave disappointment but with a refreshing acceptance of their fate. Clearly, Fulham have become their bogey side.

Tags: Danny Murphy, Fulham, Jimmy Bullard, League Cup, Leicester City, Roy Hodgson, Zoltan Gera

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