Goals from Darren Bent, Ashkan Dejagah and Steve Sidwell ensured Fulham's fantastic record against Norwich continued as the home side won an FA Cup third round replay. Rene Meulensteen got the response he was looking for from an XI sporting nine changes after the 4-1 defeat by Sunderland at Craven Cottage. It was a comfortable victory for the hosts and a clean sheet to boot. The Canaries meanwhile are now eight matches without a win in all competitions. Only Maarten Stekelenburg and the Fulham goal frame prevented Norwich from flying into an early lead, however. The Dutch stopper saved at close quarters from Nathan Redmond on two minutes following good work from Canaries youngster Josh Murphy. Robert Snodgrass crashed a curling effort against the bar moments later when shown inside by the home defence. Johan Elmander's tame effort then went straight at Stekelenburg. Fulham worked their first opening on ten minutes with Mark Bunn holding Sidwell's 20-yarder and late a free kick from Pajtim Kasami. Hosts Fulham then went ahead after a quarter of an hour through striker Bent. He swept home when Kasami got down the right and Dejagah dummied the cutback. Right back Sascha Riether then got up from fullback and bent one wide. Norwich fell further behind five minutes before half time when they were caught on the counter. Karagounis slipped in Alex Kacaniklic with a lovely through-ball and he squared to Dejagah for a tap in. The visitors were light at the back as Fulham broke from a Canaries corner. Chris Hughton took Redmond off at the break, putting on another striker in Ricky van Wolfswinkel for the second half. That meant Snodgrass moved to the right flank and drew a save from the feet of Stekelenburg. Improving Norwich saw skipper Sebastien Bassong head a free kick straight at Stekelenburg after an hour. Sidwell sealed victory with a quarter of the game to go when he got the jump on David Fox to head home Sascha Riether's stood-up centre. Kacaniklic looked to get on the scoresheet himself late on, but his shot was held by Bunn. Fulham stop the rot after three without a win. Meulensteen may have found a winning formula. What would Hughton give for that?
Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.
