Fulham can stay dreaming

FA CUP QUARTER FINALS/WBA...0 Fulham...1: After so many dormant years, it is perhaps no surprise that West Bromwich Albion retain a nostalgic fondness for more prosperous days.

A taped commentary of Jeff Astle scoring the extra-time winner in the 1968 FA Cup final was played before kick-off last night, but ultimately the romantic notion of this old club going on to emulate that success was extinguished here, as it has so often before.

Instead, Fulham, a club with sentimental tendencies of their own, deserve the place in the semi-finals that Steve Marlet's goal at the outset of the second half secured.

Having triumphed 1-0 on 14 occasions this season, West Brom were given a taste of their own medicine and, quite frankly, they would have found it unpalatable.

On a historical level, of course, West Brom had a sound argument for being Fulham's superiors in this competition. The memories are beginning to fade, but the corridors here at the Hawthorns are lined with black and white photographs from the 10 finals they have reached, emerging victorious on five occasions.

In stark contrast, Fulham's solitary appearance in the final came in 1975, when Mohamed Al Fayed might have confused a football for a melon and Bobby Moore's talismanic influence was unable to prevent a 2-0 defeat against his former employers West Ham.

Fulham's achievements in the FA Cup since then could be written on the back of a half-time lottery ticket, and West Brom had not navigated a passage to the semi-finals for 20 years.

Fulham have loftier ambitions these days. Calm and cultured, they swiftly emphasised the gulf in status with their elaborate patterns, operating under the Tigana philosophy that surrendering possession should be perceived as a sin.

Yet, it was to the immense credit of the home side that, even in those long queasy spells when their opponents clearly belonged to a different tier, they seldom seemed afflicted by any kind of inferiority complex.

The irony was that, for all of Fulham's showboating, West Brom's more direct, rigid style of play seemed equally capable of troubling the opposition defence.

Megson's players will, indeed, reflect on possibly the finest chance of a frantic opening period when Edwin van der Sar dithered at a Neil Clement corner and the imposing figure of Danny Dichio directed a downward header goalwards only for it to be cleared off the line by John Collins.

Van der Sar was otherwise untroubled in the first half although, given how much time Fulham spent cherishing the ball, it was typical of the side's frugality this season that Russell Hoult did not have a save to make until the 44th minute, when Louis Saha's powerful volley was blocked by the goalkeeper's feet.

It was to Megson's great distress, therefore, that within 60 seconds of the restart his players had surrendered parity, particularly to such a bread-and-butter set-play.

After harrying the Fulham forwards to such effect throughout the opening exchanges, the West Brom defenders went absent without leave. Steed Malbranque, the catalyst behind so many of Fulham's more incisive thrusts, swung over a free-kick from the left and Marlet's unchallenged header was crisp and accurate.

Van der Sar looked hesitant when dealing with crosses all evening, but Fulham were worthy winners.

For Albion, the talk will remain of the past rather than the present.

WEST BROM: Hoult, Sigurdsson, Moore, Gilchrist, Balis, Adam Chambers (Taylor 54), McInnes, Johnson, Clement, Dobie (Fox 82), Dichio. Subs Not Used: Adamson, Butler, Jordao.

FULHAM: Van der Sar, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Brevett, Boa Morte (Ouaddou 72), Collins, Legwinski, Malbranque (Hayles 85), Marlet, Saha (Goldbaek 85). Subs Not Used: Taylor, Harley. Goal: Marlet 47.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).