Fulham were knocked out of the League Cup this evening after Simon Davies and Sergei Rebrov scored the goals to send Tottenham into the last eight at the end of an absorbing London derby at Craven Cottage.
The Whites had knocked out Tottenham at the fifth round stage two seasons ago when they were still a second tier side on a night when Geoff Horsfield shone superbly and Spurs gained a modicum of revenge for that upset by moving into the last eight. Two of their fringe players took the opportunity to boost their chances of featuring more regularly in the first team and exploited Jean Tigana’s decision to first several regulars ahead of Sunday’s league clash with Leeds rather than sustain a Cup run.
Rebrov was the beneficiary of Les Ferdinand’s late injury setback and the Ukrainian striker fired Tottenham ahead in his only his third straight of the season. Fulham rallied impressively and levelled through Barry Hayles, but Welsh winger Simon Davies broke home hearts with a wonderful volley to send Spurs through to the quarter finals with only four minutes left.
The travelling supporters toasted the genius of Glenn Hoddle as they looked forward to a last-eight clash with Bolton Wanderers but there were unsavoury scenes both inside and outside the ground. Some Spurs fans throw missiles at former Arsenal winger Luis Boa Morte as he prepared to take a corner, whilst there were ugly incidents provoked by visiting fans in the aftermath of Tottenham’s late victory.
A cracking London derby was characterised by Tottenham’s greater experience after Tigana chose to rest six of his first-team players prioritising the Cottagers’ first Premier League campaign over progress in the Cup. Spurs settled the quicker and it didn’t take long for the intelligence of Teddy Sheringham to come to the fore. The experienced forward flicked a fine pass into the path of his strike partner Rebrov rifled home his second goal of the season – a fine first-time finish that gave Maik Taylor no chance.
It might have got worse for Fulham shortly afterwards. Rampaging German wing-back Christian Ziege clattered the post with a fierce drive and then sent another effort across the face of goal. By contrast, whilst Fulham’s build up play was patient and probing, the home side consistently failed to make the right decisions in the final third. They equalised after woeful Tottenham defending left boyhood Spurs fan Hayles totally free six yards out to head past Neil Sullivan from Steve Finnan’s cross right at the end of the first half.
That sparked Fulham’s best spell of the game immediately after the interval. Sullivan saved splendidly from a Lee Clark drive and after Mark Halsey had waved away strong appeals for a penalty on Boa Morte, the Portuguese winger blasted an effort narrowly wide of goal after teasing three Tottenham defenders. Tigana sent on Steed Malbranque as a substitute but the hosts couldn’t move ahead.
Instead, it was Tottenham who looked the likelier to score after soaking home plenty of home pressure. Sheringham probably should have converted a low cross from Rebrov but Taylor produced a superb block with his chest after making himself big. The stand-in Fulham keeper could do nothing to keep out Davies’ devastating first-time volley after his defenders had failed to deal with Darren Anderton’s free-kick as extra time appeared a certainty.
FULHAM (4-5-1): Taylor; Finnan, Harley, Goma, Ouaddou; Davis, Collins, Goldbaek (Malbranque 61), Collins, Boa Morte (Saha 77); Hayles. Subs (not used): van der Sar, Brevett, Melville.
GOAL: Hayles (45).
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (5-3-2): Sullivan; Davies, Ziege, Perry, King, Bunjevcevic; Freund, Anderton, Leonhardsen (Thatcher 85), Sheringham; Rebrov. Subs (not used): Kelly, Iversen, Thelwell, Piercy.
BOOKED: Bunjevcevic, Ziege.
GOALS: Rebrov (15), Davies (86).
REFEREE: Mark Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).
ATTENDANCE: 17,006
