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Simon Dawkins leads way with double as Derby hit back to stun Fulham Simon Dawkins leads way with double as Derby hit back to stun Fulham
(35 minutes later)
If Shahid Khan and Fulham’s powers that be are after entertainment, then Kit Symons may have the managerial job sown up. Symons, though, will not have derived much pleasure from this thrilling encounter, his side squandering a comfortable lead to concede five goals in 20 minutes as Derby romped into the quarter-finals with some swagger. If Shahid Khan and Fulham’s powers that be are after entertainment, then Kit Symons may have the managerial job sown up. Symons, though, will not have derived much pleasure from this thrilling encounter, his side squandering a comfortable lead to concede five goals in 20 minutes either side of half-time as Derby romped into the quarter-finals with some swagger.
It had all been going so well for Fulham, but Symons was unable to deliver another victory as caretaker. He is set to find out this week whether he will be appointed on a full-time basis, and will hope Khan looks to the positives that emerged from the first half here rather than a woeful collapse during the second. It had all been going so well for Fulham, but Symons was unable to deliver another victory as caretaker. He is set to find out this week whether he will be appointed on a full-time basis, and will hope Khan – soon to arrive in London for talks – looks to the positives that emerged from the first half here rather than a woeful collapse during the second.
Derby were 2-0 down following a double from Moussa Dembélé but responded magnificently in the second half. Steve McClaren had sent his side out early and they emerged a team reborn, proving too hot for Fulham’s fledgling backline and fully warranting their place in the last eight. Simon Dawkins was magnificent, but there were many others in yellow who shone. Derby were 2-0 down following a double from Moussa Dembélé but responded magnificently in the second half. Steve McClaren had sent his side out early and they emerged a team reborn, proving too hot for Fulham’s fledgling backline and fully warranting their place in the last eight.
McClaren, who invited Symons to train for his pro licence at Twente when he was manager of the Dutch club, said the performance was a response to Derby’s defeat against Wigan at the weekend. “It was good to have this game, we used the squad and we wanted this reaction,” said McClaren. “Credit to Kit Symons and Fulham, they were excellent.”
If they don’t give him the job tomorrow I’ll be very surprised. He’s got great calmness and that’s a great quality in a coach. The second half was more like us. There was nothing at half-time said apart from ‘we’ve got a lifeline’.”
Symons made eight changes to the side that comfortably beat Charlton in the Championship on Friday night, with McClaren also tinkering with five alterations of his own.Symons made eight changes to the side that comfortably beat Charlton in the Championship on Friday night, with McClaren also tinkering with five alterations of his own.
Dembélé had a series of opportunities early on but was denied by Kelle Roos in the Derby goal. The young French forward turned Jake Buxton inside out but saw his low shot saved brilliantly by Roos down to his left in the 12th minute, while a previous effort from the edge of the area was fired straight at the goalkeeper following good work from Patrick Roberts. Dembélé’s opener was not engineered by Fulham craft or guile, but rather the result of an unfortunate back-pass from the Derby left-back, Craig Forsyth, whose terrible ball back to Roos – without looking at the intended target – found a lurking Dembélé in the clear.
Dembélé, though, did not have to wait long for his goal. It was not engineered by Fulham craft or guile, but rather the result of an unfortunate back-pass from the Derby left-back, Craig Forsyth, whose terrible ball back to Roos – without looking at the intended target – found a lurking Dembélé in the clear. All that remained was a shimmy round the keeper and simple finish into an empty net. Just minutes after Johnny Russell failed to beat Gabor Kiraly, Dembélé had his second of the night. It was another terrible defensive mix-up, Roos feeding the ball to Omar Mascarell from a goal-kick with the young midfielder surrounded by white shirts, Bryan Ruiz putting a decisive foot in to allow Dembélé another easy finish.
It was a dreadful error from Forsyth, but Johnny Russell came close to equalising for Derby minutes later, only to find the tracksuit-bottom clad Gabor Kiraly in good form. His first left-footed effort slid inches past Kiraly’s right-hand post before the Hungarian denied Russell from close range with a fine save. Job well done for Fulham. Or not. Moments later, Tim Hoogland handballed a Derby free-kick in from the left to concede a clear penalty. Chris Martin rifled the ball into the top corner to record his seventh goal in as many games and cap a frenetic finish to the half that sparked the astonishing turnaround.
Russell’s profligacy proved costly. Just minutes after failing to beat Kiraly, Dembélé had his second of the night, and it was another terrible defensive mix-up. Roos laid the ball out to Omar Mascarell from a goal-kick but the young midfielder was surrounded by white shirts, Bryan Ruiz putting a decisive foot in to allow Dembélé another easy finish. “It was very disappointing,” said Symons. “In the first half we were well and truly in the game, we slightly shaded it. The goal right on the stroke of half-time gave Derby a huge lift. Top teams don’t need lifts like that. It’s a very, very harsh lesson.”
Job well done for Fulham. Or not. Moments later Tim Hoogland handballed a Derby free-kick in from the left to concede a clear penalty. Chris Martin rifled the ball into the top corner to record his seventh goal in as many games and cap a frenetic finish to the half. On his position at the club, Symons added: “I’m hopeful it’s [a decision] getting closer and it won’t be too far away. I understand and respect the process that is in place. It’s not the easiest situation in the world but I’m hoping the owner and the panel will see I’m not working in the easiest circumstances.”
Derby’s momentum did not waver. McClaren sent his side out early for the second half and it paid off. Soon they were level, Russell this time finding the decisive finish to beat Kiraly at his near post from close range, after Simon Dawkins pulled the ball across goal. Derby’s momentum did not waver after half-time. Soon they were level, Russell this time finding the decisive finish to beat Kiraly at his near post from close range, after Simon Dawkins pulled the ball across goal. Fulham, who had previously looked relatively assured, simply capitulated. Dawkins had a moment of his own to savour in the 54th minute, when he scored his first of two.
The game had turned on its head. Fulham, who had previously looked relatively assured, simply capitulated. Derby’s strong travelling contingent were now the ones rocking, and Dawkins had a moment of his own to savour in the 54th minute. The midfielder received the ball from Craig Bryson in an advanced position down the left, but there was still work to be done as he approached the penalty area. Dawkins cut inside and made room with a crucial extra touch before unleashing a vicious shot that arced into Kiraly’s top corner.
The midfielder received the ball from Craig Bryson in an advanced position down the left, but there was still work to be done as he approached the penalty area. Dawkins showed no mercy. He cut inside and made room with a crucial extra touch before unleashing a vicious shot that arced into Kiraly’s top corner. It turned out to be the first of two goals for him, but Derby’s fourth came from Hendrick, lashing the ball into the net from close range in the 62nd minute.
It turned out to be the first of two goals for him, but Derby’s fourth came from Hendrick, lashing the ball into the net from close range in the 62nd minute, following a wonderfully worked move down the left that involved Martin and a fine low cross from Forsyth. Derby were rampant and poured forward once again. Dawkins then scored the pick of their goals with a sublime backheeled finish from a Russell cross. It capped a frantic spell and completed a remarkable turnaround.
Derby were rampant and poured forward once again. Dawkins then scored the pick of their goals with a sublime backheeled finish from a Russell cross.
It capped a frantic spell and completed a remarkable turnaround.