A hat-trick from Steed Malbranque, which included two spot-kicks, ensured Fulham progressed at the expense of fellow Londoners Charlton in their FA Cup tie at Loftus Road today. Charlton were reduced to ten men when Mark Fish was sent off by referee Paul Durkin with just four minutes remaining for hauling down Facundo Sava in the box but by then, this Cup tie was already decided as Fulham were deservedly 2-0 up and the penalty just sealed victory for the home side.
The first-half of this encounter was devoid of any Cup magic but that all changed on 58 minutes when Malbranque pounced for his first goal. He netted from 14 yards out to put Fulham 1-0 up and then added his second seven minutes later when Luke Young fouled Luis Boa Morte and Durkin had no choice but to point to the spot.
England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson attended this game to watch Sean Davis yet again as he deliberates on his squad for the friendly against Australia but it was Malbranque who stole the limelight with his hat-trick that will go a far way in lifting the Cottagers' spirits.
Meanwhile, in the FA Cup fourth round tie between Stoke City and Bournemouth, Stoke go through after a comprehensive 3-0 victory thanks to two goals from Chris Iwelumo - one from the penalty spot - and a third from Peter Hoekstra.
Shrewsbury's impressive run in The FA Cup finally came to an end this evening when Chelsea proved to be simply too good for the Third Division outfit to handle. Gianfranco Zola proved to be the main difference between the two sides as his two goals either side of half time set the Blues' on their way to the fifth round.
Substitutes Carlton Cole and Jody Morris rubbed salt into the wounds of the Shrews and wrapped up the game for Claudio Ranieri's men, who will be viewing the Cup as their most likely source of silverware this season.
Filed by Rob Wright
