FULHAM 4, Wanderers 1
WANDERERS
(4-3-2-1)
JUSSI JAASKELAINEN ... 7
Good first half saves from Legwinski and Marlet kept the score down
BERNARD MENDY ... 5
Had a baptism of fire on his debut; struggled against the threat from Brevett and Boa Morte
GUDNI BERGSSON ... 6
Conceded the first penalty with an uncharacteristically rash tackle
BRUNO N'GOTTY ...6
Turned by Legwinski for goal No 2; kept Boa Morte in check second half
SIMON CHARLTON ... 6
Under less pressure on the right; saw a lot of the ball but found the going tough
KEVIN NOLAN ... 6
Struggled to come to terms with Fulham's super-quick midfielders
PER FRANDSEN ... 7
Anchored the midfield as best as he could; few opportunities to get forward though
RICARDO GARDNER ... 6
Subdued, which is unusual for the jinking Jamaican
YOURI DJORKAEFF ... 7
He was always the man most likely to produce; won the penalty but grew frustrated
JAY JAY OKOCHA ... 5
He feared he might struggle to get to the Premiership pace and he was proved right
MICHAEL RICKETTS ... 6
Confidence personified when he tucked away the penalty but was kept in check
Subs: Mike Whitlow (7) for Mendy (h-t), Henrik Pedersen (7) for Okocha (h-t), Paul Warhurst for Nolan (70 mins). Not used: Dean Holdsworth, Kevin Poole.
FULHAM
(4-4-2)
Van Der Saar (6)
Finnan (7)
Melville (7)
Goma (7)
Brevett (7)
*Legwinski (8)
Malbranque (7)
Davis (7)
Marlet (7)
Saha (7)
Subs: Inamoto (6) for Malbranque (69 mins), Sava for Saha (78 mins). Not used: Collins, Ouaddou, Taylor.
Referee: Alan Wiley (Stafford)
Attendance: 16,338.
Goals: Fulham - Saha (pen) 10 mins, Legwinski 32 and 79, Marlet (pen) 37; Wanderers - Ricketts (pen) 4 mins.
Shots/headers on target: Fulham 10, Wanderers 1.
Corners: Fulham 7, Wanderers 4.
Fouls committed: Fulham 16, Wanderers 10.
Offsides: Fulham 4, Wanderers 7.
Bookings: Fulham - Melville 63 mins (foul on Djorkaeff); Wanderers - Mendy 8 mins (foul on Brevett), N'Gotty 48 mins (foul on Boa Morte).
MAN OF THE MATCH
SYLVAIN LEGWINSKI
TWO flashes of superb skill, two super goals. Fulham were better than Wanderers in all departments but none more so than in midfield where Legwinski was the pick of the bunch.
MAGIC MOMENT
FOR a brief spell, the sun-drenched Wanderers' fans thought they were in for a repeat of last season's five-goal flyer at Leicester as Djorkaeff turned Goma to win the penalty, which Ricketts converted with a flourish.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
WANDERERS failed miserably to shine in the sun with their dream start turning into a nightmare but might still have been in with a shout but for the two tackles - Bergsson's first then Mendy's - which led to the penalties.
KICK BY KICK
GOAL!
4 mins: Ricketts scores from the spot after Djorkaeff's turn commits Goma to a foul.
7 mins: Marlet gets on the end of Malbranque's free kick only to head wide at the back post.
GOAL!
10 mins: Bergsson is drawn into a rash tackle on Saha, who picks himself up to convert the penalty.
26 mins: Jaaskelainen launches himself to save and hold Legwinski's header.
29 mins: It's Jaaskelainen to the rescue again, denying Marlet after Malbranque's pass springs the offside trap.
GOAL!
32 mins: Legwinski starts and finishes the move - with help from a Davis backheel - for Fulham's second.
GOAL!
37 mins: Malbranque feeds Boa Morte, Mendy dives in recklessly and this time it's Marlet on target from the spot.
Half-time:
Fulham 3 Wanderers 1
55 mins: Saha tries to cash in on Whitlow's unfortunate slip, curling a left-footer narrowly wide of the angle.
57 mins: Brevett foils Pedersen, happy to concede a corner after Djorkaeff hits the pass of the match.
60 mins: Djorkaeff has Fulham panicking again, exchanging passes with Gardner, but hesitates and his shot is blocked.
68 mins: Djorkaeff knows he has missed a golden opportunity as he scoops his shot over after incisive interplay with Pedersen.
71 mins: Pedersen, keen to make an impression, sees a left footer sail a fraction too high.
GOAL!
79 mins: Inamoto makes his presence felt, Wanderers' clear the danger but Legwinski fires a fierce right footer past Jaaskelainen.
Final score: Fulham 4 Wanderers 1
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