Sean Farrell scored twice as Fulham battered Brighton and Hove Albion 4-1 to win this Auto Windscreens Shield group game at Craven Cottage.
Don Mackay ditched his unpopular 4-5-1 formation and switched to a 4-3-3 system that was fluid enough to sweep a weak Albion outfit aside. Lee Harrison made his first start in goal for more than two years, whilst Terry Angus replaced Simon Morgan – suffering from a broken bone in his hand – and promising midfielder Paul Kelly came in for Julian Hails.
Fulham took the lead on the half hour after excellent interplay between Paul Mahorn and Gary Brazil on the right flank allowed the latter to pick out Farrell, who sidefooted an excellent finish beyond Nicky Rust in the Brighton goal. It took just two minutes for the second goal to arrive as Udo Onwere flicked on a cross from Mahorn and Brazil volleyed in at the far post.
The home side visibly relaxed having built a commanding cushion and handed Kurt Nogan a chance to reduce Albion’s arrears before half time when Harrison hesitated in claiming a cross from Kevin Codner. But Fulham banished any doubt about the destiny of the three points when Angus lashed a lovely finish high into the net after Rust had flapped at a cross from Martin Pike. Farrell finished off the scoring in the final minute by intercepting a terrible back post and lifting his finish over the helpless Rust.
FULHAM: Harrison; Jupp, Pike, Thomas, Angus; Kelly, Onwere, Ferney, Mahorn, Brazil, Farrell. Subs (not used): Stannard, Cooper, Baah.
BOOKED: Ferney.
GOALS: Farrell (30, 90), Brazil (32), Angus (53).
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION: Rust; McCarthy (Tuck 55), Munday, Chapman, Crumplin; Wilkins, Wilkinson, Myall, Edwards; Nogan, Codner. Subs (not used): Funnell.
GOAL: Nogan (40).
REFEREE: Peter Foakes (Clacton).
ATTENDANCE: 1,135.
