FA CUP REPORT: Fulham 0 Burnley 3

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Rodriguez at the double as impressive Clarets cruise into round five

2021-01-24T18:00:00.000Z

FA CUP REPORT: Fulham 0 Burnley 3

Rodriguez at the double as impressive Clarets cruise into round five

2021-01-24T18:00:00.000Z

Jay Rodriguez rolled back the years to fire the Clarets into the fifth round of the FA Cup for just the second time in 10 years.

Rodriguez’s first Burnley goal came against Fulham in a League Cup tie in September, 2008.

And this time he went one better with a double strike sending the Londoners out of another competition and taking his number of cup goals in a Claret shirt to 15.

Sean Dyche’s men – who capped a superb four-day spell with a second impressive victory – can now look forward to a home tie against either Bournemouth or Crawley Town in the last-16 on a mid-week night in the second week of February.

And in their current mood, you wouldn’t back against them extending a run which is now their best in the competition since 2017.

Players Put Down A Marker - Dyche - Image 2

Rodriguez headed Burnley into a deserved half-time lead before two goals inside 10 minutes in the final quarter made sure the job was done in front of the Clarets’ new owners, who were able to watch the side play live for the first time.

The striker's second goal came from the penalty spot after Matej Vydra had been fouled and Kevin Long then added his name to the scoresheet as the defender – like the rest given their chance – impressively seized the opportunity to make the most of a return to action.

The Clarets made nine changes to the side that had started Thursday night’s epic Premier League win at Anfield which had lifted them seven points clear of Fulham and the relegation places.

But it was still very much a senior side Dyche sent into battle to demonstrate Burnley’s return to strength once a dusting of snow had been removed from a heavy pitch and blue markings painted on in case of a return.

Fulham – whose next two fixtures see them play the sides either side of them in the league table – made eight alterations from their last starting line-up and their re-shuffled side couldn’t handle the Clarets for much of a first half dominated by the visitors.

Burnley set the tone early and didn’t let up as they looked to place a grip on the tie.

FA CUP REPORT: Fulham 0 Burnley 3 - Image 2

The only surprise was that it took them half an hour to go in front. Rodriguez and Vydra ran Fulham’s back line ragged and Vydra will have been disappointed he didn’t beat his strike partner onto the scoresheet.

As well as putting the ball into the net from an off-side position – something matched by Aleksandar Mitrovic at the other end – Vydra was twice denied by Mark Rodak and also screwed an effort wide after an effort from Phil Bardsley had been parried by the Cottagers’ keeper.

Rodriguez and Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who had spent time at Craven Cottage as a teenager, also saw shots blocked but the breakthrough finally came from another slick passage of play.

Rodriguez played the ball wide to Jack Cork and then timed his run into the box perfectly to meet Cork’s peach of a cross with a glancing header into the far corner, reprising memories of his first goal in a Burnley shirt against Fulham in a League Cup tie 13 years ago.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell had been a virtual spectator in his first appearance in the competition for the Clarets but five minutes into the second half he made a stunning save to keep Burnley in front.

FA CUP REPORT: Fulham 0 Burnley 3 - Image 3

Fulham started with more purpose as they looked to avoid a tame exit and when Joe Bryan met a cross from Bobby De Cordova-Reid with a first-time effort from just inside the box the wing-back must have thought he had scored.

Instead, Peacock-Farrell flung himself to his right to keep the ball out before reacting to smother the follow-up from Mitrovic.

It was a much more even contest and Bryan threatened again with a shot blocked by captain James Tarkowski, who took on the leadership role as one of two players – along with Dwight McNeil – to stay in the side following the win at Anfield.

The Clarets needed a second goal to ensure a smoother passage and with just over 20 minutes to go they should have got it.

A mistake by Fulham defender Tim Ream allowed Vydra a run at goal but he delayed his shot and when he teed up Dale Stephens instead, the midfielder’s well-struck effort was bravely blocked by Tosin Adarabioyo.

The Clarets didn’t have to wait long, though, to put themselves in clear water on the banks of the Thames.

FA CUP REPORT: Fulham 0 Burnley 3 - Image 4

Once more Vydra worked his way into the box and this time he was barged over by Michael Hector to concede a spot-kick which Rodriguez confidently stroke home to all but seal the fifth-round spot.

Peacock-Farrell still had to make one more smart save, thwarting Aboubakar Kamara with enough of a touch for Tarkowski to complete the goalline clearance when VAR would surely have over-ruled a seemingly errant flag from the assistant to allow the goal to stand.

And moments later it was all over when Long capped a thoroughly professional performance from the Clarets with his first goal in the competition since scoring at Southampton seven years ago, ramming the ball home after Rodriguez had chested the ball into his path following a Gudmundsson cross.

Burnley: Peacock-Farrell; Bardsley, Long, Tarkowski (Dunne 86), Pieters (Lowton 86); Gudmundsson, Stephens, Cork, McNeil (Benson 86); Rodriguez (Mumbongo 88), Vydra. Substitutes: Norris, Mee, Brownhill, Westwood, Wood.

Booked: Tarkowski, Pieters.

Fulham: Rodak; Hector, Ream, Adarabioyo (Carvalho 82); De Cordova-Reid (Kebano 68), Onomah, Lemina, Anguissa (Loftus-Cheek 68), Bryan; Kamara, Mitrovic. Substitutes: Areola, Tete, Odoi, Reed, Cavaleiro, Lookman.

Booked: Kamara, Mitrovic

Referee: Andy Madley