Fulham...1 Burnley...1If, as is being widely assumed, Jean Tigana does leave Fulham at the end of the season then winning the FA Cup or at least getting to the final would not be a bad parting gesture. First, however, his team have to find a more profound response to the organisation and discipline which earned Burnley a replay yesterday.
Such was the strength of their performance that the modestly-placed First Division side will be disappointed if, on Wednesday week, they do not reach the sixth round for the first time in 20 years. Having gone ahead in the fourth minute through the former Irish international Alan Moore, Burnley proceeded to frustrate Fulham with their composure in defence and particularly at centre-back, where Drissa Diallo and Ian Cox had outstanding games.
When Steed Malbranque volleyed Fulham level at the end of the first half the likelihood was that superior status, if not superior football, would eventually prevail. Yet for all their possession and in spite of mounting territorial advantage, Tigana's side consistently failed to find the quality needed to break the opposition down.
After yesterday's game Tigana conceded that Burnley's players had shown a greater desire to progress in the FA Cup. Having spent the opening three minutes trapped in their own half, they were not seriously considering mounting a counter-attack when a chance born of Fulham's carelessness presented itself and was duly taken. Uncharacteristically, Sean Davis played a casual ball across the face of his own area which Alan Melville and Steve Finnan left to each other. Quick to seize the moment, Moore gained possession before calmly slipping a shot into the net under Maik Taylor's bocy.
Fulham's reply was more the result of one man's opportunism than any preconceived idea. Saha headed the ball into the Burnley penalty area and Cox hooked it clear but only to Malbranque, whose sweet volley flew beyond the reach of Marlon Beresford.
Any thoughts that Burnley would buckle in the second half were swiftly dispelled as they simply carried on as before. And had Taylor not been prepared for a well-struck shot from Lee Briscoe in the 77th minute Burnley might already be in the last eight. As it is they are in the quarter-final draw and can afford to dream a little.
Guardian Service
Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Goma, Melville, Harley, Goldbaek (Marlet 45), Sean Davis, Djetou, Malbranque, Sava (Inamoto 72), Saha. Subs Not Used: Herrera, Ouaddou, Wome. Goals: Malbranque 45.
Burnley: Beresford, West, Diallo, Cox, Branch, Ian Moore, Grant, Cook (McGregor 82), Briscoe, Alan Moore (Weller 77), Taylor. Subs Not Used: Michopoulos, Blake, Papadopoulos. Booked: West. Goals: Alan Moore 4.
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
