The Tanner Report
Fulham knock out Wolves in night of snow and drama
The 400 Fulham faithful that braved sub-Arctic conditions to see us proceed into the next round of the cup will remember this one for many years. It rather reminded me of a cup game more than 20 years ago when in conditions so awful that, were the two teams not earning from a Sky game, it would have been called off Fulham drew 2-2 at Ashford. The snow fell so heavily at Molineux last night that it was hard to identify players, let one direct the ball.
Fulham took an early lead through Cawley Woodrow and held if till the 70th minute when the drama unfurled. Wolves equalised and then immediately scored a penalty. Fulham drew level through Woodrow and the game went into extra time. Wolves scored again but in the very last kick of the game, McCormack’s free kick struck a hand and he scored the penalty to take the game to penalties. Fulham converted all 5 with a precision that would have impressed a German World Cup team, whereas Wolves missed one of theirs. So it is Fulham who are in the fourth round playing Sunderland.
Older fans like myself will remember 1969 when Fulham were still in free fall from relegation the previous season. We went up to top flight Sunderland and won 4-1. An incomprehensible Irishman Brendan Mullan, who never did another thing and no one could understand when interviewed, scored a brace. The Sunderland tie will played havoc with my schedules as I have theatre tickets should there be a replay and the game v Nottingham Forest fixed for the 24th is now moved but worth the aggravation.
There is a happy vibe that after 3 straight losses and no goals scored our season is back on track. Sunderland will be tough but they may not want an arduous cup run. We are going to be knackered against Reading on Saturday but we do have a relatively large squad now that Kacaniklic and Tunnicliffe have been recalled and Academy players like Hyndman and Williams have first team experience , so we can find fresh limbs
Going to Wolves last night midweek in snow is the ultimate test of fan oyalty so it’s wonderful that those that did can say they were there on the night we scored six our of six penalties .
