Double Delight For Rodriguez

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Striker sensing more cup success after felling Fulham again

2021-01-24T17:30:00.000Z

Double Delight For Rodriguez

Striker sensing more cup success after felling Fulham again

2021-01-24T17:30:00.000Z

Chairman's Programme Notes: Bournemouth - Image 2

Jay Rodriguez hopes there’s another cup run on the cards after spearheading the Clarets’ march into the last-16 of the FA Cup.

Rodriguez scored twice as Burnley ruthlessly brushed aside Premier League rivals Fulham with a top-class 3-0 win at Craven Cottage.

The striker has now scored four goals in his last three appearances against Fulham as he continued his happy knack of finding the net against the Londoners.

That record stretches back over 12 years to his first goal in a Burnley shirt in a League Cup win at Turf Moor in September, 2008.

FA CUP PREVIEW: Burnley v AFC Bournemouth - Image 3

That leg of ‘Capital Punishment’ set the Clarets off on an epic run to the semi-finals and Rodriguez is delighted to be on the cup trail again with either Bournemouth or Crawley Town due at Turf Moor in round five.

“It’s been a bit of a journey since that first goal,” said Rodriguez, who headed the Clarets into a first-half lead before his penalty and Kevin Long’s fourth goal for Burnley swept Sean Dyche’s men through.

“That was a real big moment in my career to give me the belief.

“I’ve never stopped wanting to learn and I’m continuing that now. To come back here and score two is very pleasing.

“It’s another game to look forward to now. The lads are buzzing we got through to keep the run going.

“I always think cup runs are amazing, everything about them, and especially the FA Cup.

“You respect both teams. Whoever gets through to the next round will deserve to be there so you respect them fully and it will be a tough game.

“But everyone loves a cup run, so hopefully we do well.”

FA CUP PREVIEW: Burnley v AFC Bournemouth - Image 4

Burnley boss Sean Dyche made nine changes to his side following Thursday night’s history-making win at Liverpool with another Premier League date to come against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

And a re-shuffled Fulham side – who have their eyes on big games at the bottom end of the table – couldn’t live with the Clarets as they reached round five for the first time since 2017.

“Fulham are a good side but we worked right from the first minute to make it uncomfortable for them and then when we could play we played with good quality,” added Rodriguez after getting off the mark for the season.

“I think we hurt them a lot and I think the score could have been a bit more as well.

“It’s all positive with a clean sheet and I’m happy for Longy as well to get a goal. It was job done. The all-round performance from the whole team was brilliant.

“We are working hard together as a team and a squad and you saw our qualities today.”