It's a walk in the park for summery Fulham

Fulham 6 Norwich City 0: Many Norwich fans broke their journey to Craven Cottage for a loll in Bishop's Park, but it was Fulham who soon had a picnic. The visitors were relegated as Chris Coleman's team gorged themselves on goals and summery attacking. The result should not be so hard for Norwich to bear because there are no what-might-have-beens. They remained what they have been all season, a popular side equipped for no more than half the job of survival.

The weight of the 77 goals conceded has been tied round their ankles to sink them. Fulham seldom frolic, but they can look after themselves in defence. Norwich, when they gather their scrambled thoughts, know they will need a stuffier line-up whenever they come back to the top flight. They are unique among the 92 members of the four divisions in their failure to record a single victory outside their own ground.

"If you can't win you certainly need to pick up points by drawing away from home," said manager Nigel Worthington. They have gathered only seven of them.

Fulham's manager Chris Coleman is keen to keep Papa Diop at the club. And among others to impress yesterday was Brian McBride, who was especially busy and effective. Tomasz Radzinski put the American through to score in the ninth minute and once Norwich were denied what even Coleman believed to be a penalty, as Zat Knight blocked Damien Francis, the visitors were dismantled.

Diop scored with a free-kick and it took an excellent save by Robert Green, who tipped McBride's close-range effort on to the crossbar, to delay further goals.

Worthington will have been thinking of Green and Dean Ashton, among others, when he mentioned his desire to see "commitment" to the club from people who had been given opportunities by Norwich. The second half, however, would have made any good player doubt the wisdom of remaining.

After 53 minutes, Knight hit a predatory finish when Craig Fleming's soft header dropped to him. Luis Boa Morte pulled a low ball back for the revitalised Steed Malbranque to finish in the 75th minute. The Frenchman then put McBride through for his second before the scorer set up the substitute Andy Cole for a goal.

Sad as they are to depart, Norwich were glad to see the back of this particular piece of the Premiership.