IN 2008, Craven Cottage was Heurelho Gomes personal Hades, but yesterday he exorcised the demons. Unsatisfactory in most ways, this scoreless FA Cup quarter-final at slightest underlined the rudeness with that the Brazilian goalkeeper was judged for a tough afternoon in his entrance season.
Gomes was created off as the Premier Leagues lowest ever goalkeeper after a 2-1 loss at Fulham in that he played with a hip damage that prevented him from training, but right away he has re-established himself as the No 1 who was so widespread for PSV Eindhoven his physical education instructor marked down him The Octopus.
Had his tentacles not thwarted a period of Fulham chances, Harry Redknapp would no longer be posterior a third outing to Wembley in 3 years. Gomes is seeking a opposite goalkeeper to the one who came here when I primary arrived, pronounced Tottenhams manager. He had a distressing time here last year but hes a opposite kid now. Now he looks what he is: a tip keeper.
Under Roy Hodgson, Fulham have determined themselves as a group able of continually upsetting the best. Im unhappy in the clarity that it was a home game, pronounced Hodgson. But the approach weve played not prolonged ago and the actuality we know as a coaching staff we can certitude the players to give the sort of opening they gave currently we are confident. We can imitate todays opening and get the win.
Related LinksFootball debts hazard to World Cup bidChampionship Focus: Newcastle magnify leadPremier League and FA Cup previews: Dunne fit for ReadingMultimediaAll today"s scores and scorersTheir opponents damage list combined to Fulhams pre-match expectation. Tottenham were reduction an complete midfield of England internationals and a viable executive defensive pairing in Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate.
Yet it was Danny Murphys deficiency from the home midfield that had biggest primary outcome as Tottenham camped in antithesis territory. Peter Crouch roughly eluded Mark Schwarzer with a header and the goalkeeper did well to retard from Niko Kranjcar.
Resilience, though, is a executive principle of the Hodgson method. Comfortable personification on the behind foot, Fulham filtered behind to retard Tottenhams trail to goal. Possession was incited behind to screw or defender to aim Bobby Zamora with prolonged balls, and in the future the striker pennyless free of Sebastian Bassongs wrestling hold for a shot Gomes did well to hold.
The Brazilian discovered Tottenham again at the begin of the second half, saving from Zoltan Gera and Dickson Etuhu. Tottenham responded with a prop of controversial chastisement claims and a flurry of vigour Michael Dawsons bombardment far-reaching and Roman Pavyluchenkos beyond flog the highlights.
More worrying was the hesitation with that Benoit Assou-Ekotto authorised Gera to make an additional Fulham try on goal. Gomes was in movement again, entirely airborne to transport in Damien Duffs drive.
Limited in options from the bench, Redknapp waited until the last 10 mins to risk Jermain Defoe, but it was Zamora who came closer to a winner, but he shot wide.
If Fulham are to finish a 35-year wait for for Wembley they will have to evade the Octopus.
Star man: Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham)
Yellow card: Fulham: Etuhu
Referee: M Clattenburg Attendance: 24,533
Fulham: Schwarzer 7, Baird 6, Hughes 7, Hangeland 7, Shorey 6, Duff 6, Greening 5, Etuhu 6, Davies 7 (Elm 73min), Gera 7, Zamora 7
Tottenham: Gomes 8, Corluka 5, Dawson 7, Bassong 7, Assou-Ekotto 5, Modric 6, Palacios 7, Kranjcar 6, Bale 6, Crouch 7, Pavlyuchenko 5 (Defoe 81min)
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