Fulham 4 Spurs 0

A four goal first half burst from Fulham saw Spurs routed as Fulham made it into round five of the FA Cup.

Mark Hughes made one change to the eleven that started last time out, bringing in Salcido for Baird.

At an atmospheric Craven Cottage, it was the visitors that got off to a bright start but Fulham were soon to turn thing son there head. Duff almost set up Dempsey with a chip before madness in the Spurs defence gifted us not one, but two penalties.

The first with only eleven minute splayed saw Hutton penalised for a reckless challenge on Dempsey that Murphy coolly slotted home. Two minutes later the referee, Phil Dowd, was pointing to the spot again after Dawson was caught in possession by Dempsey and resorted to tugging the American back as he shot. Gomes may have saved the shot but Dowd deemed it sufficient to show Dawson a straight red card and Murphy coolly slotted home his second penalty of the afternoon.

Spurs were all over the place defensively and when Johnson played a great ball in Dempsey was unlucky to see his effort clip the top of the bar. Redknapp, trying to shore up the Spurs defence, took off Sandro and sent on Gallas. But matters were to go from bad to worse for the North London side.

With only twenty-three minutes played Fulham went 3-0 up when Hangeland netted from close range after Johnson had flicked a corner on at the near post. Dembele`s pace was causing Spurs major problems and the striker almost netted a fourth forcing Gomes into a save.

Sidwell and Defoe tangled but Dowd showed some leniency and it was to be Van Der Vaart that was next to be shown a card after a tussle with Murphy. Spurs showed some attacking instinct when Modric fired over with the shot taking a minor deflection of Hangeland before Gomes showed his fallibility by spilling a Johnson shot.

Stoppage time saw Fulham further increase their lead when with three minutes of added time played Dembele scored the goal of the game so far, leaving Bassong trailing before lashing a shot past Gomes from the edge of the area.

Half Time – Fulham 4 Spurs 0

Redknapp hauled off Defoe and introduced Crouch at the start of the half. Hangeland did well though to thwart Crouch`s first piece of action putting pressure on the striker to prevent him getting any power and direction on a header from a Modric cross.

Spurs, seeking to get back into the game pushed forward and Hughes was forced to hack clear a Hutton low cross. Hutton delivered a second cross that saw Stockdale collect a looping header from Bassong. Four goals to the good, Fulham were sitting back defending the lead.

A rare foray forward, in the half so far, saw Dembele and Johnson combine but Bassong did well to halt their progress. Dempsey then saw a drive pushed away by Gomes as Fulham threatened to add a fifth.

With a little over twenty minutes left, Johnson was withdrawn and replaced by Gera, obviously saving AJ for another day with the job being done.

Jeans fired wide from distance and any thoughts of Murphy getting a hat-trick were over when he was replaced by Greening. A third change saw Davies replace Dembele as the game became almost irrelevant with Fulham 4-0 up and through to round five.

But with time left to see out, Hangeland had to be alert to deny Crouch; as he looked too get a shot off after making some space for himself. Possession football saw Fulham make over thirty touches as the confidence flowed through the side, without Spurs getting a touch, surreal times.

That previously mentioned fifth goal almost did come though when Hughes crashed a header against the bar and Jenas was forced to hack clear, off the line, Hangeland`s follow up and that was to be the last of the significant action on a wonderful afternoon at Craven Cottage.