This richly entertaining game was all the better for both teams taking the FA Cup seriously. It was frantic right up until Michael Salisbury blew for full time and, while Fulham will wonder how they failed to find a way past the outstanding Anthony Patterson during the dying stages, they will also know not to expect an easy night when they travel up to Sunderland for the replay.
Nobody needs to tell Fulham that Sunderland, who lie a point off a playoff spot in the Championship, are moving in the right direction. Marco Silva will not have to spend much time warning his players about Amad Diallo’s dribbling, Patrick Roberts’s creativity and Jack Clarke’s drive. Silva has seen for himself that Sunderland’s spirit is strong under Tony Mowbray, who has a team full of engaging and committed youngsters, and he will know that Fulham will not survive if they show the wrong attitude at the Stadium of Light.
