Source: Telegraph
Accrington Stanley 1 Fulham 3: match report
Fulham ultimately secured a comfortable FA Cup victory at the Crown Ground but their passage through to round five was far from smooth with League Two Accrington Stanley performing confidently despite playing with only 10 men throughout the entire second-half. [LNB]Darran Kempson was dismissed in the 42nd minute for a second yellow card after Michael Symes had wiped out the lead Erik Nevland had given the Premier League side whose success was confirmed by second-half goals from Damien Duff and Zoltan Gera. [LNB]Accrington refused to be overawed by Fulham and carried the game to the visitors in the opening quarter of an hour. [LNB]As early as the ninth minute the home side threatened ominously when John Miles, whose goal had accounted for Gillingham in the third round set up Symes as his low shot forced Mark Schwarzer, the Fulham goalkeeper, to turn the ball behind. [LNB]Within 50 seconds Schwarzer was again in action blocking Sean McConville's attempt and when James Lyon secured an opening his attempt lacked power. [LNB]Fulham's response saw Nevland shoot over but the next Fulham threat proved more effective and from the game's first corner in the 20th minute Duff drove the ball into the near post, Gera touched it on and Nevland delivered from close in. [LNB]However, the visitors' lead lasted a mere five minutes. Stanley powered forward with Ryan's shot parried by Schwarzer, McConville pulled the loose ball back and Symes struck from close in. [LNB]But Accrington were handicapped followed Kempson's dismissal and in the second half Fulham made their advantage of the extra man pay and their lead was restored in the 61st minute. [LNB]Murphy's free kick was edged on by substitute David Elm and Duff's shot squeezed in. [LNB]Then, after Nevland had forced three saves from the home goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, Gera confirmed Fulham's victory in the 81st minute with a close-range effort.[LNB]
