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Fulham comes up empty Sheringham's late strike gives Man Utd win in FA Cup
Updated: Sunday January 07, 2001 2:28 PM
LONDON (AP) -- Substitute Teddy Sheringham struck two minutes from the end as Manchester United downed division one leader Fulham 2-1 on Sunday to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup. Jean Tigana's Fulham had given the Reds a first half soccer lesson at its Craven Cottage ground but were worn down in the second half by Alex Ferguson's Premier League leaders who controversially skipped last season's competition to take part in the FIFA World Cup Championship. Fulham, headed strongly towards a place in the top flight for the first time since 1968, was forced to face the Premier League leader without five key players including team captain and central defender Chris Coleman, the victim of a car crash on Wednesday, and experienced midfielder John Collins. United's French World Cup goalkeeper, Fabien Barthez, was missing through injury and Dutchman Raimond van der Gouw took over. Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fired the Reds ahead in the seventh minute after Fulham's Lee Clark had lost possession just outside his own area. But blunders by Gary Neville and Roy Keane handed the Cottagers an equalizer in the 25th minute. Neville needlessly tripped Louis Saha and, when Keane stopped Fulham taking the free kick quickly by kicking the ball away, referee Jeff Winter moved it forward 10 yards (meters) and Fabrice Fernandes curled home the free kick with his left foot. Kit Symons missed a great chance to put the division one team ahead when he headed wide from a corner and Fulham's neat interpassing and the speed of Saha and Luis Boa Morte kept the United defense under pressure for long spells. But the Reds picked up the game in the second half and Sheringham, who entered the game 15 minutes from the end for the disappointing Dwight Yorke, ended a slick move involving Keane and Luke Chadwick with a well-struck left foot shot inside the right hand post for his 16th goal of the season. "We would have been happy with a replay but it was a fantastic goal by Teddy," Ferguson said. "He is having an incredible season and we're grateful to him. But he's been doing that ever since he came to us." In Sunday's other cup games Newcastle and Aston Villa tied 1-1 in the only all-Premier League match of the day, and Wolves, playing for the first time under new manager Dave Jones, won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest in a division one matchup. Adam Proudlock's individual effort after 87 minutes against Forest ensured former Southampton manager Jones, cleared last month of child abuse charges, enjoyed his return to the manager's dugout. Jones took over as Wolves manager on Wednesday and watched in delight as Adam Proudlock's goal gave him the best possible start. "It was a hard-fought game and if you'd have said 0-0 I think both teams would have taken it," Jones said. He was warmly embraced by Forest manager David Platt at the final whistle. "It was a nice feeling getting up this morning," Jones added. "When I got off the coach, saw the stewards... and then going out, it was always going to be a bit nervous for me. "My home supporters I knew I'd get a response from, but I got a great response from the Forest supporters and full credit to them as well." At St James' Park, Steve Stone, a boyhood Newcastle fan, volleyed Villa in front after 54 otherwise disappointing minutes. Villa's former Newcastle winger David Ginola backheeled the ball to Gareth Barry and his cross was met by the sidefoot of Stone five meters out. Foluwashola Ameobi struck a post for Newcastle before Peruvian Nolberto Solano's low volley from the edge of the area with 10 minutes left made it 1-1. Villa's Dion Dublin and Darius Vassell both spurned chances to win it for the visitors, while Solano also hit the bar for Newcastle. Of the 15 Premier League teams in action on Saturday, 13 beat opposition from the lower divisions while Charlton scored a late equalizer against non-league Dagenham and Redbridge to gain a 1-1 tie and a replay and Sunderland was held 0-0 at home by division one Crystal Palace. Of the leading contenders, Arsenal gained a 1-0 win at Carlisle, which is last in division three, Liverpool outplayed Rotherham 3-0, defending titlist Chelsea crushed Barry Fry's Peterborough 5-0 and Leeds edged Barnsley 1-0. Kingstonian was the only semi pro club to make it into the fourth round by winning 1-0 at division three Southend. Ferguson pleasedUnited manager Alex Ferguson admitted the English league champions had been given a torrid time by Fulham on their return to the FA Cup on Sunday. "It was gripping game, and I was never quite comfortable at all, at any time," said Ferguson after Teddy Sheringham's 89th-minute goal had clinched United's 2-1 win. "We did very well in the first 15 minutes and were comfortable at that point, but after that it was a real torrid game for us." Ferguson singled out Fulham's lively front pair Louis Saha and Luis Boa Morte for special praise. "I thought they were a real handful, quick and aggressive," he said. "Gary Neville and Wes Brown had their hardest game of the season. "[Fulham] have got a structure in place here on the football side and are planning to build a new stadium. With the resources also to buy new players, they could do very well in the Premier League." The United manager had words of praise too for Sheringham, who is still trying to regain full fitness. "We'd have taken a replay with 10 minutes to go. Although we were the stronger side in the second-half it didn't look as though we were going to win," he said. "But it was fantastic goal from Teddy. He's been doing it all season and it is very, very appreciated." Sheringham, whose goal was his 25th in 41 FA Cup games, also paid tribute to Fulham. "It was a tricky little pitch, which wasn't easy for either team, but they made the best of it and could have made us pay at times, but that's what happens if you don't take your chances," he said. And in case any of United's rivals doubted it, the 34-year-old England striker said they were just as committed as ever to regaining the trophy they won in 1999 before skipping last year's competition for FIFA's Club World Championship. "We're in the competition and we want to win it," he said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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