Fulham avoided becoming another of Watford's high-profile victims when Moritz
Volz and Tomasz Radzinski pounced in each half to register a routine victory in
tonight's FA Cup third-round replay.
Victories over Portsmouth and Southampton in the Carling Cup have seen Watford
capture plenty of headlines but they were unable to produce another of their
giant-killing acts at Craven Cottage.
The Championship club - who had performed heroics when the sides met at Vicarage Road 12 days ago - failed to create a clear goalscoring opportunity all match and were comprehensively outclassed.
Fulham are now on a five-match unbeaten run - their longest stretch without defeat since manager Chris Coleman took charge in April 2003 - to give further indication the misery which wrecked the first half their season is over.
It was a no-thrills performance from the Cottagers but Coleman will have been delighted with his players' clinical touch in front of goal as they were hardly at their creative best, despite dominating.
Volz - who broke his duck this season - and Radzinski both finished with considerable aplomb after being left with defenders to beat while striker Andy Cole was Fulham's most lively player.
It was all Fulham early on and the Premiership club created the first real chance when a long ball into the box was headed over the bar by Zat Knight with
veteran keeper Alec Chamberlain in close attendance.
Watford defender Neil Cox tried his luck from 10 yards outside the area but
his powerful drive was deflected away from danger as the Championship side tried
in vain to unlock the home defence.
The visitors - who face Liverpool in their Carling Cup semi-final next week -
found the left flank a profitable channel to attack thanks to Volz's shaky start
but the full-back soon regained his confidence after firing Fulham into a
13th-minute lead.
Papa Bouba Diop released Volz who beat Gavin Mahon and Jermaine Darlington
with a mazy run into the area before drilling the ball beyond the reach of
Chamberlain into the bottom left corner.
In reply Watford could only muster another optimistic long-range effort with
Danny Webber forcing Edwin van der Sar to make an easy save once Fulham's
defence had offered him some space.
Luis Boa Morte - who signed a new three-and-a-half year contract last week -
had a surprisingly quiet opening spell but burst into life in the 27th minute
when he unleashed a thunderous free-kick which inched the wrong side of the
post.
Watford enjoyed a flurry on the half-hour mark as they lofted a series of
balls into the box and for the first time Fulham's defence - their Achilles heel
at home this season - was under pressure
But they weathered the storm and went on the offensive themselves through Boa
Morte who charged down the right wing and fired a dangerous pass across the face
of goal which none of his team-mates was able to meet.
Radzinski went close after being let down by his first touch while a
well-struck shot from Sylvain Legwinski bounced just wide of the right post with
Chamberlain - who looked slow to react - beaten.
Cole and Lee Clark combined up front shortly after the restart only for the
club captain - making his first start of the season - to stumble when it looked
like he had been released by his team-mate.
Fulham took their foot off the pedal for the next 15 minutes as Watford were
allowed to attack with more conviction but they were toothless when they reached
the danger area and the home side coped easily.
Chamberlain had to come racing out of his box as Cole threatened to connect
with a long ball that bounced behind the defence and the former England striker
nearly deflected home moments later.
Clark was replaced by Mark Pembridge in the 63rd minute, a switch which saw
the captain's armband handed to Cole who began his leadership duties by setting
up Fulham's second for Radzinski.
He slipped a deadly pass just beyond the reach of James Chambers and the
Canadian international cut inside the defender, fended off Jay Demerit and
planted the ball home.
Watford enjoyed a late flurry at the end with substitute Neal Ardley testing
van der Sar but Fulham were out of sight and the home fans began celebrating
their passage into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Teams:
Fulham Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Rehman, Bocanegra,
Radzinski, Diop, Clark (Pembridge 63), Legwinski,
Boa Morte (John 84), Cole (McBride 71).
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Rosenior.
Booked: Rehman, Diop.
Goals: Volz 13, Radzinski 65.
Watford Chamberlain, Chambers, Demerit, Cox, Darlington,
Devlin (Gunnarsson 67), Mahon, Blizzard (Dyer 67),
Bouazza (Ardley 67), Webber, Helguson.
Subs Not Used: Doyley, Young.
Att: 11,306
Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).
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