Fulham bounced back from their 5-1 thrashing at Walsall on Saturday to beat Stoke City 3-2 in an entertaining League Cup second round tie at Craven Cottage this evening.
All five goals were scored in a dramatic second half, which also saw two missed penalties. First Division Stoke stormed into the lead when Duncan Jupp was adjudged by the linesman to have pulled back Paul Peschisolido in the penalty area. Referee Mike Bailey pointed to the spot and Icelandic midfielder Toddy Orgylsson converted the penalty. Peschisolido then quickly had a hand in Stoke’s second.
The Canadian international appeared to use his hand to control the ball as he sauntered down the right wing but was allowed to continue and cut back a cross that was converted at the far post by the sliding Nigel Gleghorn. It looked like Fulham’s League Cup adventure, which had begun with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Luton Town in the previous round, was coming to a shuddering halt.
But Fulham fought back through a header from Kevin Moore and a re-taken penalty. After Gary Brazil had missed the first spot kick, Alan Cork stepped forward at the second time of asking after the referee had spotted some encroachment. Carl Muggleton saw the veteran’s tame penalty, but Rob Haworth reacted quickest to bundle in the rebound.
There was still time for Mark Blake to volley home a priceless winner from Robbie Herrera’s left-wing cross and give Third Division Fulham a slender lead to take to the Victoria Ground for next week’s second league.
FULHAM: Stannard; Morgan, Herrera, Hurlock, Moore, Blake, Marshall, Jupp, Cork, Brazil, Haworth. Subs: Harrison, Hails, Mison.
GOALS: Moore, Haworth, Blake.
STOKE CITY: Muggleton; Butler, Sandford, Dreyer, Cranson, Orgylsson, Wallace, Downing, Carruthers, Peschisolido, Gleghorn. Subs (not used): Prudhoe, Overson, Beckford.
GOALS: Orgylsson, Gleghorn.
REFEREE: Mike Bailey.
ATTENDANCE: 3,721.
