http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/08/25/fulham-6-port-vale-0-micky-adams-hit-for-six-on-return-to-crave/
Fulham 6 Port Vale 0: Two Goals for Zoltan Gera in Carling Cup Stroll25/8/2010 5:02 PM GMT
By Ben Hunt
Fulham cruised into the third round of the Carling Cup with an emphatic win over Port Vale.
This competition could be Fulham's best chance of winning silverware this season and manager Mark Hughes signalled their intent with his line-up to face the League Two side.
Aside from injured duo Mark Schwarzer and Paul Konchesky, it was a strong Fulham side that saw debuts for striker Moussa Dembele and 19-year-old defender Matthew Briggs.
And it was Briggs, who has been with the club since he was just eight-years-old, who crafted Fulham's opening goal in the 11th minute.
The left back surged down the wing and crossed for last season's Europa League hero Zoltan Gera who headed home past Stuart Tomlinson.
Fulham continued to press forward as Vale were forced back into their own half for long periods of the opening 45 minutes. And the pressure eventually told in the 26th minute when Belgium international Dembele made it 2-0 with a low shot from the edge of the box.
Bobby Zamora added a third in the 36th minute with a cute finish from a tight angle as Vale started sinking without a trace. And on the stroke of half-time Gera scored his second of the night with a shot on the turn that went in off the crossbar.
Things got even worse for Port Vale, managed by former Fulham manager Micky Adams when Zamora curled home a free-kick from 25-yards in the 66th minute.
Substitute Clint Dempsey rifled home a sixth goal four minutes later as Fulham showed no sign of easing up on their opponents. And Stephen Kelly came close to adding a seventh but his long-range effort was only narrowly off target.
REACTION:
Fulham manager Hughes was delighted with the win:
"It's important on nights like this that you make the headlines for the right reasons the next morning. We approached it in the right manner and I was really pleased with what we produced. Outstanding goals and progressive play - that all bodes well for the future."
On Briggs's debut:
"It was an opportunity for Briggs. It's early in the season and there are plenty of games to play, so it's not the time of the year to rest players, but it was an opportunity to look at the young boy to see what quality we have in the squad. He acquitted himself really well and I was pleased with him. He had a blow to his ankle, but he did himself no harm tonight."
On possibly signing left back Carlos Salcido from PSV:
"We've made enquiries. I don't know how far down the line we are. Alistair Mackintosh [Fulham CEO] is pursuing that, but he's a player who we're interested in. I hope something will happen with that."
On Konchesky leaving:
"Not necessarily. We're looking for quality in all positions. And we're a little light at left back. But it's not a foregone conclusion that Konchesky goes just because we're looking to bring someone else in."
Port Vale manager Adams knew his side were in for a hard match:
"As soon as we saw the team sheet we knew we were in trouble. Fulham, for their own reasons, decided to pick their first team so it was always going to be difficult. We played all right for 10 minutes but the people who know us also know we're better than we showed tonight, individually and collectively. We couldn't get near Fulham. Their pace and movement was too much for us. They're real athletes. That's why they're at this level."
On his return to Craven Cottage:
"I just look round the place and I'm in awe really. I haven't been back too often, other than with Brentford and Leicester.
The place is unrecognisable from the one where I first managed. There are even tiles in the bathroom now. And hot water. It's great. And a spoon, the famous spoon when Yuri Geller came. We only had one spoon and he broke it in half. We were struggling at the time."
WHAT IT MEANS:
Hughes has his first win as Fulham manager and they made it look easy, albeit against a team from League Two. The Cottagers are also into the Carling Cup third round - yet they have lost at that stage of the competition for the past three seasons. With no place for Konchesky and Schwarzer you have to wonder whether Fulham need them after this.For Port Vale it means they have to wait for the FA Cup to stand a chance of pulling off a giant killing. Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook iPhone App - Get It Now
FULHAM 6 (Gera 11, 45, Dembele 26, Zamora 36, 66, Dempsey 70) PORT VALE 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Fulham (4-4-2): Stockdale 8; Pantsil 7, Hangeland 8, Hughes 8, Briggs 8 (Kelly 56, 7); Gera 9, Etuhu 7 (Greening 57, 7), Murphy 7, Duff 7; Zamora 8, Dembele 7 (Dempsey 46, 7).
Subs (not used): Zuberbuhler, Baird, Riise, Johnson.
Port Vale (5-3-2): Tomlinson 4; Yates 6 (Taylor 13, 5), McCombe 4, Collins 5, Owen 4, Dodds 5; Griffith 6 (Bell-Baggie 46, 6), Roberts 5 (Fraser 46, 6), Rigg 5; M. Richards 6, J. Richards 7.
Subs (not used): Martin, Taylor, Morsy, Malbon.
ATTENDANCE: 9,031
REFEREE: Andy Penn
NEXT UP:
- Fulham v Blackpool (away), Premier League, 28/08, 1500 BST
- Port Vale v Torquay (home), League Two, 28/08, 1500 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Zoltan Gera (Fulham): The Hungarian striker was a real threat to Port Vale with his quick thinking and sharp shooting. He took his goals well, including a brave header in the first half that left him with a bloodied mouth. Manager Hughes would have been impressed.