After Fulham’s four-goal thrashing of Norwich City at Carrow Road in the first leg of this League Cup tie, tonight’s second leg was at risk of becoming something of a sedate affair. But Paul Bracewell picked a strong side and the Whites were every inch the professional outfit as goals from Barry Hayles and Sean Davis either side of half time secured a 6-0 aggregate success.
The opener arrived on twenty minutes when Hayles headed home from close range after Simon Morgan had climbed highest to help a Steve Hayward corner towards goal. It was clearly a rehearsed set-piece move, with Hayward’s pinpoint delivery finding the veteran Morgan on the move and the former Bristol Rovers forward demonstrating his dexterity to flick the ball past Andy Marshall from no more than four yards out.
Davis put the gloss on another excellent performance by finishing off a lightning counter-attack with five minutes left to play. The homegrown midfielder tucked away a cross from substitute Gus Uhlenbeek, who had rampaged down the right, after Lee Clark had injected speed into the break with a dart across field and a perceptive pass for the Dutch wing-back.
FULHAM (5-3-2): Taylor; Finnan, Brevett, Morgan, Melville, Coleman; Hayward (Davis 65), Trollope, Clark; Horsfield (Uhlenbeek 55), Hayles. Subs (not used): Hahnemann, Neilson, W. Collins.
BOOKED: Uhlenbeek.
GOALS: Hayles (20), Davis (85).
NORWICH CITY (5-3-2): A. Marshall; Jackson, Sutch, Mackay, Wilson (Kenton 45), Fleming; Carey, Russell, L. Marshall; Roberts (Dalglish 45), Eadie (Llewellyn 67). Subs (not used): Green, Diop.
BOOKED: Russell.
REFEREE: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).
ATTENDANCE: 5,246.
