Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham 4 Notts County 0: Cottagers end County's FA Cup dreams
Notts County ended their traumatic week by getting swept aside by Fulham in their FA Cup fifth-round clash at Craven Cottage.[LNB]The League Two club, who have a winding-up order hanging over them from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, was sold for £1 to Ray Trew and then saw Sven-Goran Eriksson resign as director of football.[LNB]However, there was no cup fairytale to lift their chaotic season.[LNB] Perfect start: Simon Davies puts Fulham in front at Craven Cottage[LNB]Despite playing well in the first half and creating chances, goalsfrom Simon Davies and Bobby Zamora gave Fulham a two-goal lead, thenDamien Duff and Stefano Okaka added to the scoreline in the secondperiod.[LNB]Caretaker boss Dave Kevan will be encouraged with his side'sperformances in patches, particularly as the club have been in turmoiloff the pitch and were not expected to trouble a team in the top 10 ofthe Premier League.[LNB]At the start of the season, County were talking about eventuallyrubbing shoulders with the likes of Fulham on a regular basis - but theshort-term aim now is for the club not to be wound up.[LNB]They return to League Two action against Grimsby on Wednesday andrestart their hunt for promotion, with the hope clubs from their owndivision will not create as many chances as Fulham.[LNB] At the double: Bobby Zamora fires home Fulham's second goal[LNB]As expected, the hosts made most of the early running. Luckily forthem Zamora fired just wide after latching on to Chris Baird's pass andspinning around Jamie Clapham.[LNB]Kasper Schmeichel was then called into action when Davies slipped aclever pass through the County defence. David Elm checked back to getrid of John Thompson but then had his finish blocked by the Danishgoalkeeper.[LNB]Three and easy: Damien Duff celebrates after scoring Fulham's third goal[LNB]The visitors had their first efforts on goal when Craig Westcarrwent wide from the edge of the area, then Ben Davies had a long-rangeeffort tipped over.[LNB]From the resulting corner, Lee Hughes had sight of goal and time tofinish - but his effort was too close to Fulham goalkeeper MarkSchwarzer.[LNB]Despite encouraging signs, County were behind midway through thefirst half following a move started by Danny Murphy's delicate chip toDavies on the edge of the area.[LNB]The Wales midfielder had his back to goal but moved just inside thepenalty area and fired on the turn, through Thompson's legs and intoSchmeichel's far corner for his first goal of the campaign.[LNB]Fulham came close to doubling the lead just before the half-hourmark when Zamora won the ball in midfield and found Duff, butSchmeichel was equal to the finish after the winger had cut inside.[LNB]County themselves were close to levelling just before Zamora made it2-0, with Westcarr latching on to a flick by Hughes and forcingSchwarzer to save at full stretch.[LNB]Zamora made County pay for their miss when he collected Elm's backheel and lashed past Schmeichel four minutes before the break.[LNB]County continued to attack after the break despite the setback ofZamora's goal just before the interval. Davies kept trying his luckfrom long distance and two attempts went just wide of Schwarzer'supright.[LNB]There was plenty of effort from the visitors but Fulham showedenough experience to hold them at bay, and they looked threatening onthe counter-attack themselves.[LNB] Applying the gloss: Stefano Okaka scores Fulham's fourth goal[LNB]Kevan made a change just after the hour mark, bringing on Luke Rodgers for Clapham to add numbers in attack.[LNB]Duff's goal came 16 minutes from the end after Zamora slipped himthrough down the right flank, the Republic of Ireland winger cuttinginside and firing home through Johnnie Jackson's legs.[LNB]Okaka took just three minutes to score after coming off the bench, racing through and firing powerfully past Schmeichel.[LNB] FA CUP FIFTH ROUND - All Sunday's action as it happenedRoy Hodgson homing in on his biggest prize - an FA Cup with Fulham
