Burnley breezed into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 20 years
as 10-man Fulham folded at Turf Moor tonight.
Stan Ternent's Nationwide Division One side enjoyed a ridiculously easy
passage to a last eight trip to Watford with Ian Moore and Gareth Taylor
grabbing first half goals.
Drissa Diallo sealed the Clarets' celebrations with his first goal for the
club early in the second half as Jean Tigana's dismal side paid a heavy price
for their second outing in 48 hours.
To seal the Cottagers' woeful night they saw their one creative influence -
Luis Boa Morte - limp off to the dressing rooms in first-half injury time and
had Sean Davis red-carded two minutes into the second period.
But despite Fulham's obvious exhaustion Burnley richly deserved their victory
and ought to have won by more.
The omens had always been good for the home side with old timers remembering
their replay win over the west Londoners in 1962 which earned Burnley a cup
final appearance against Spurs.
More recent events also instilled optimism with a run of one defeat in 11 a
stark contrast to Fulham's beleaguered progress towards the 20th knockout match
of their season.
Burnley ran at their opponents from the start with Dean West and Tony Grant
making fine progress down the right and Moore denied an early opening by a fine
Jon Harley tackle.
Taylor just failed to find the lurking Lee Briscoe with a nod down from West's
cross into the box.
Boa Morte provided Fulham's only threat of note down the left flank but it was
Louis Saha who fashioned their first shot on target in the 18th minute when he
dribbled a low shot straight at Marlon Beresford.
West set up Burnley's 27th minute opener with another fine cross which spun
over Moore's head and left Taylor with the simplest of headers from close
range.
Fulham briefly rallied with Steed Malbranque drilling a low shot which
Beresford turned round the post and Sean Davis letting fly following a
half-clearance from the resulting corner but sending his shot narrowly wide to
Beresford's right.
The sight of Boa Morte limping off at the far touchline signalled the death
knell for Fulham's chances and whilst he was receiving treatment Burnley
extended their lead.
West again carved out the opening with a magnificent long through-ball which
Moore chased towards the six-yard box.
The big striker made light of his tight angle to send a delicious lob over the
head of the advancing Maik Taylor and put the Clarets within touching distance
of a quarter-final trip to Watford.
Fulham must have already known it was not going to be their night but things
went from bad to worse for them three minutes after the restart when Davis was
dismissed for a reckless lunge which flattened Tony Grant.
And six minutes later Grant had recovered sufficiently to send a left-wing
corner into the box which Diallo jumped to head powerfully home and put his side
3-0 up.
Tigana tried a double substitution but his side noticably lacked any of the
vigour needed to claw anything back from their almost hopeless cause.
Junichi Inamoto did hit the sidenetting but Burnley were unruffled and
continued to stroke the ball about midfield with ridiculous ease.
Moore almost seized a half-chance to grab a fourth but shot well wide with
Burnley's last eight place already well and truly in the bag.
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