Barry Hayles bagged a brace as Fulham continued their flawless start to the new First Division season by hammering nine-man Stockport County 4-1 at Craven Cottage this evening.
The former Bristol Rovers forward showed just why he has quickly forced his way into Jean Tigana’s starting line-up by giving the hosts the lead inside three minutes. His second made it 3-1 to give Fulham some much-needed breathing space after Kevin Cooper’s shock equaliser changed the mood within one of English football’s most historic grounds. Scottish veteran John Collins restored the Whites’ advantage before Hayles made the position more comfortable and the ever energetic Luis Boa Morte rounded off the scoring.
Hayles got Fulham off to a fast start, bursting through the middle of the pitch and exchanging passes with strike partner Louis Saha before finding the bottom corner of the net with a low right-footed finish. But the home side were rocked by a predatory equaliser from Cooper, who pounced on a poor pass from Andy Melville two minutes later, to beat Maik Taylor and, for a while, it looked like their 100% record would come under question.
But Collins, who had opened his Fulham account in an impressive away win at Birmingham City earlier in the month, curled home a fabulous free-kick from 20 yards out just before the hour mark and the Whites quickly rammed home their superiority. Sean Davis surged forward from his defensive midfield role, almost in the manner of Tigana during his playing days, before feeding Hayles outside the area. The striker stepped inside the box, worked a yard of space, and rifled home an emphatic finish to the delight of the home fans.
Fulham’s fourth goal was even more outstanding. Collins linked up with Fabrice Fernandes in the centre of midfield before Lee Clark lofted a lovely ball over the Stockport defence, allowing Boa Morte to burst into the area and drill a low left-footed shot between goalkeeper Lee Jones and the near post with five minutes remaining. A bedraggled County were out on their feet by that point but they hadn’t helped their cause by having two players sent off for arguing with referee Paul Alcock. Midfielder Tony Dinning received his marching orders for aggressively disputing a decision whilst Mike Flynn was shown a second yellow card after having already been booked for dissent.
FULHAM (4-4-2): Taylor; Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Coleman; Davis, Collins, Goldabek (Boa Morte 77), Clark; Saha (Fernandes 78), Hayles. Subs (not used): Hahnemann, W. Collins, Betsy.
BOOKED: Davis, Brevett.
GOALS: Hayles (3, 76), J. Collins (59), Boa Morte (84).
STOCKPORT COUNTY (4-4-2): Jones; Flynn, Clark, Woodthorpe, Connelly; Dinning, Fradin, Cooper, Maxwell (Bailey 68), Smith (Clare 88); Thomas-Moore. Subs (not used): Dibble, Bryngelsson, Carrigan.
BOOKED: Woodthorpe, Fradin, Flynn, Thomas-Moore, Cooper.
SENT OFF: Dinning, Flynn.
GOAL: Cooper (5).
REFEREE: Paul Alcock (Surrey).
ATTENDANCE: 11,009.
