Tuesday 25th October 2005, Carling Cup Round 3, Craven Cottage, Kick-Off 7:45pm Fulham 2 - 3 Albion Boa Morte 63 AET Earnshaw 3 Helguson 91   Kanu 88     Inamoto 99       65% Possession 35% 6 Shots On Target 6 5 Shots Off Target 6 5 Corners 8 14 Fouls Against 18 3 Offsides 8 4 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 1 Fulham: Warner, Leacock, Knight, Pearce (Bocanegra 109), Rosenior, Malbranque, Rehman, Legwinski (Bouba Diop HT), Elrich (John 57), Boa Morte, Helguson. Subs not used: Batista (gk), Goma Boa Morte 43 (foul), Diop 73 (foul), Pearce 85 (foul), Knight 123 (unsporting behaviour) Albion: Kuszczak, Scimeca, Moore, Clement, Robinson, Kamara (Campbell 99), Wallwork, Inamoto, Carter (Chaplow 54), Kanu (Gaardsoe 90), Earnshaw. Subs not used: Kirkland (gk), Horsfield Robinson 123 (violent conduct) Robinson 68 (foul) Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex) Assistant Referees: Ralph Bone (Kent), John Holbrook (Worcestershire) Fourth Official: Phil Crossley (Kent) Half-Time: Fulham 0-1 Albion Attendance: 7,373 Conditions: Pleasant dry night MATCH REPORT BY: Dale Brookes WEST BROM TEAM NEWS: Manager Bryan Robson made six changes to the side that lost 2-0 away at Bolton last weekend. Junichi Inamoto came in for only his second start of the season while Riccardo Scimeca, Tomasz Kuszczak, Ronnie Wallwork, Kanu and Robert Earnshaw all come in replacing Steve Watson, Geoff Horsfield, Martin Albrechtsen, Curtis Davies, Jonathan Greening and Chris Kirkland. FULHAM TEAM NEWS: Boss Chris Coleman makes eight changes to the team that won 2-0 at home to Liverpool on Saturday afternoon. Warner, Leacock, Knight, Pearce, Rosenior, Rehman, Legwinski and Helguson come in for Crossley, Volz, Bocanegra, Goma, Niclas Jensen, Diop, Claus Jensen and John.   WINNER FROM ‘INA’ AS ALBION WIN THRILLER AT THE COTTAGE!!! Junichi Inamoto hit a spectacular strike to send Albion into the fourth round of the Carling Cup. The game came to life as early as the third minute when Robert Earnshaw hit only his second goal of the season to put the Baggies in front. It took until midway through the second half for Fulham to equalise thanks to Luis Boa Morte before Kanu looked to have won it in the final minute of the match. However drama was to follow as Helguson equalised again for the Cottagers deep into stoppage time before Japanese International midfield star Junichi Inamoto won the game in extra time for West Brom with a 35 yard screamer. Albion began the game the brightest as they looked to put the disappointing 2-0 defeat at Bolton behind them. It certainly didn’t take long for the improvement to show as Robert Earnshaw continued where he left off from the last round of the competition with a fine left foot finish past the stranded Tony Warner after Inamoto had picked the Welsh International out with a pinpoint through ball. Malbranque came close to levelling for the home side immediately after but following Helguson’s flick on the Frenchman’s shot was well blocked by Darren Moore and cleared away to safety. Earnshaw, clearly boosted by the confidence of his goal threatened again when his clever run and shot forced a fine save out of Warner. Kuszczak then had to make a good save at the opposite end when he parried away a curling Malbranque effort from just inside the box but it was the Baggies that were looking more in control as Warner was again called into action to make a tremendous save to deny Nigerian striker Kanu from point blank range after Earnshaw had neatly headed back across goal from a Carter cross. Zat Knight was inches away from latching onto a curling Ahmad Elrich corner kick as the Cottagers desperately searched for an equaliser before the break. Elrich then came close to levelling the scores for Chris Coleman’s men when he was allowed to rise unmarked to plant a free header just wide of Kuszczak’s left hand upright. Half Time: Fulham 0-1 West Brom At the start of the second half Albion almost increased their lead when a neat one-two between Kanu and Kamara sent the Senegal International forward away in on goal but just as he was about to pull the trigger Fulham defender Ian Pearce slid in with a last ditch tackle to put the ball behind for a corner. From the resulting flag kick Junichi Inamoto capitalised on team mate Wallwork’s fluffed effort but could only fire a right foot shot inches wide. Robson was forced into a change in the 54th minute as Darren Carter left the field with a leg injury to be replaced by former Burnley man Richard Chaplow. Fulham’s half time substitute Boupa Diop almost equalised but the gangly midfielder was a foot away from connecting onto a Liam Rosenior right wing cross. Fulham boss Coleman soon made another change as Collins John arrived on the scene to boost the Cottagers forward line in an effort to get back on level terms. That change from the home side almost cost them as the Baggies swept forward on the counter attack and almost killed the tie off when Kanu slipped in the onside Earnshaw who rounded the onrushing Warner, his shot was cleared but only to Chaplow who saw his clever lob headed off the line by Zat Knight. West Brom’s failure to put away their chances soon came back to haunt them though as Luis Boa Morte beat the offside trap from Malbranque’s through ball to coolly slot past Kuszczak to level the score at 1-1. Albion almost regained the lead moments later but Robert Earnshaw’s shot whistled just wide of Warner’s post after Wallwork had found the former Cardiff striker in a dangerous position. But Fulham began to up the tempo and twice in successive minutes Kuszczak had to pull off fine saves to deny a Boa Morte overhead kick and a Collins John right footed effort. Just as the game seemed to be heading into extra time Albion were gifted with what looked to be the winning goal in the 88th minute. Boupa Diop passed back to his keeper Warner to clear only for the ex-Millwall man to let the chasing Kanu nick the ball away from his feet and tap into an empty net. However the Baggies failed to hold onto their lead for the final two minutes and instead let Helguson rise unmarked to head home a dramatic stoppage time equaliser and force the game into extra time. Full Time: Fulham 2-2 West Brom Into the first 15 minutes then and Albion were easily the better side as another flowing move set up a chance for Ronnie Wallwork who hit a shot inches wide of Warner’s left hand post.  Moments later though Junichi Inamoto restored the Baggies lead for a third time when he scored his first ever Albion goal in spectacular fashion. The Japanese International created plenty of space for himself before hitting a right foot rocket from 35 yards out which gave keeper Warner not a prayer of saving. In the second half of extra time Robinson almost put the tie beyond doubt when he curled a beautiful effort just around the post but as the game drew to a close Fulham threw everything at the visitors but they failed to force a save out of Kuszczak. However the night ended on a sour note for Bryan Robson’s men as they were reduced to ten men with just seconds left when Paul Robinson was given his marching orders for violent conduct.   Full Time (AET): Fulham 2-3 West Brom MAN OF THE MATCH: Junichi Inamoto PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF TEN Kuszczak 7 - Could not fault him for the goals, saved us on the odd occasions he was called upon. Scimeca 7 - Very impressive performance by Riccy, didn’t look out of position at all at right back. Moore 7 - A reasonable performance from Big Dave won a lot of balls in the air as always but still can be found wanting on the ground. Clement 7 - Decent from Clem although I do worry sometimes when he is under pressure. Robinson 7 - Usual Robbo, solid defensively and was unlucky not to score with a late effort but disappointed with him being sent off. Kamara 8 - Awesome again, his pace is absolutely frightening and his dribbling at times is unbelievable. Wallwork 8 - Excellent display from Ronnie, covered every blade of grass there was to cover. If he plays like that for the rest of the season then he can keep his place in midfield for me. Inamoto 9 - Absolutely outstanding from Ina, worked his socks off and fully deserved his goal. It will be suicidal if he doesn’t figure in the squad on Sunday. Carter 6 - Poorest of an otherwise all round excellent team performance, still caused a problem with one dangerous cross. Kanu 7 - Good display from Kanu, worked hard and put some superb pin point passes into dangerous positions at times. Earnshaw 8 - Worked tremendously hard all game by chasing everything he could, deserved to score once if not twice.   Subs: Chaplow 6 - Some nice touches but does give the ball away a lot at times. Has time on his side to develop though. Gaardsoe 6 - Solid display when he came on. Campbell 6 - Did not have time to make an impact. REF WATCH Andy D’Urso 4 - Was not too bad in the first half but after that seemed to go down hill by giving some stupid decisions. FAN WATCH Albion 9 - Absolutely SUPERB support, best I have heard for a very long time. Never stopped singing from the first minute until the last. Fulham 2 - Very poor and hardly sang, maybe a little bit when they equalised both times but apart from that they were quiet.   MY REVIEW Well what a great performance that was, now THAT was an Albion performance. Why oh why do we save our best team for the Carling Cup games?? Does Robson want to win the Carling Cup more than surviving in the Premiership? I certainly hope not but it feels like that at the moment. At last he got it right though in playing the inspirational Inamoto who was absolutely outstanding for us in the centre of midfield alongside dare I say it Ronnie Wallwork who also had a brilliant game. I mean how long have us fans been saying that Inamoto is our best midfielder by a long shot and that Robson has to play him. Well we finally got our wish last night and what a game he had! He was tremendous and thoroughly deserved his goal, surely our manager is not going to do the unthinkable and drop Inamoto after a world class performance like that, I mean the lad is just awesome and alongside Wallwork just like at Manchester City on the opening day of the season they formed an excellent partnership in midfield. Please Robson you have to play him! Diomansy Kamara also kept up his superb displays with yet another one last night. He really causes defence problems when he runs at them with his pace and skill and what I most like about him is he’s not afraid to have a go whether it would be running, dribbling or shooting, he puts 110 per cent into everything and I admire him big time for that and think he is just going to get better. I was also pleased Earnie got on the score sheet too as that will only give him even more confidence and I’m pretty sure he could also be within a chance of making the starting line up on Sunday. It was just a fantastic win and I bet a very enjoyable game for the neutrals! But now we have to take this good form into the Newcastle game on Sunday. If Robson sticks with a similar team with Wallwork and Inamoto in the centre of midfield then I honestly believe we have a chance of beating them. They are not exactly firing on all cylinders so I think we have a really good chance of putting one over Graeme Souness’ side. They may have Owen but we have Inamoto, who’s to say he can’t strike twice in a week! Nah actually I think I’ll just settle for all three points. wba.co.uk fulhamfc.com baggies.com wbaunofficial.com toofif.com sportinglife.com Bryan Robson: "I thought there were some good performances - especially from Inamoto. I thought he was outstanding in midfield. He passed the ball well, worked really hard and scored a cracking goal. I was really pleased with him. Fulham have pretty good attacking midfielders in Sylvain Legwinski and Papa Bouba Diop and you have to be alert to stay with them. Ina was very good at that. He tracked runners all evening. That's his best game since I've been at the club and, after speaking about lapses in concentration and things he had to put right, he took it on board and used it all tonight. I can understand Ina wants to impress his international manager with the World Cup coming up and on that performance, I'm sure he did.” "It was also good for Earnie's confidence for him to score as well." "The fans were fantastic tonight and really got behind us. When the fans travel this far in midweek it is great to reward them and send them home happy." "With Fulham leaving three forwards up, it makes for an end-to-end game. There was some good football played by both sides and lot of shots on target.” "Some people think when you're at a club like West Brom the Carling Cup can get in the way of the league. But being in this competition and the league isn't over-stressing my players. They should be able to cope. I can understand it being a big burden on sides in Europe - but not for us. I want a good run." Junichi Inamoto: "I scored one goal and set one up so last night was fantastic for me. I haven't been in the side but I have tried to keep in good condition and the right mentality. I got a good chance against Fulham and I'll keep working and hope I get a chance on Sunday. I want to play for West Brom as much as possible. I love the West Brom fans." Source: wba.co.uk Steve Kean: "The boys are gutted in there. We were quite poor in the first half but we controlled possession in the second half.” "Inamoto was getting the other side of our midfield and getting lots of last passes off, so we tried to clear the grey area up at half time and told Bouba and Zesh Rehman to go man for man in the second half. It was a special goal from Ina and we know that he's capable of producing things like that but we're disappointed to go out." Source: fulhamfc.com Junichi Inamoto scores his first goal at competitive level for the club. Here
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