Vintage Clarets sink 10-man Fulham

Burnley 3 Fulham

At least one of the FA Cup semi-finalists will come from the First Division. Burnley booked a sixth-round date at Watford with a vibrant, aggressive display against a Fulham side that last won at Turf Moor in 1951. On the evidence of this supine display, they may have to wait a further half-century for another.

Two goals in nine minutes by Gareth Taylor and Ian Moore -- the first having a hint of offside, the second superbly executed -- put the Nationwide League team in command before half-time.

In another burst of activity after the break, Fulham's England squad player Sean Davis was sent off and Drissa Diallo added to Burnley's haul.

Jean Tigana, the Fulham manager, might have been expected to criticise the Premiership team's disappointing showing. Instead he turned his wrath on Burnley for what he saw as intimidatory challenges, accusing them of seeking to "break" Luis Boa Morte.

He also condemned the referee, Phil Dowd, for failing to "protect" his players and for making Davis the second Fulham player to be dismissed in the space of two days.

Tigana, whose week started with a more dubious red card at Tottenham for his goalkeeper, Maik Taylor, had to be restrained from confronting Mr Dowd at half-time. "I never talk about referees. I'm not Wenger or Ferguson," he said afterwards, edging towards a conspiracy theory as he added: "I don't have the power behind me."

The truth was less sinister. Boa Morte was on the receiving end of some meaty tackles yet he sustained the injury which forced his substitution by colliding with an advertising hoarding.

And the lunge which led to the red card for Davis was late and reckless, and could have broken Tony Grant's ankle.

The Burnley manager, Stan Ternent, said pointedly: "I don't talk about other teams -- I'd hope I'm a bit more professional than that. But if being competitive is wrong, then we are wrong. I thought we were superior in every department."

The first goal, after 27 minutes, followed a teasing cross by Grant. Lee Briscoe distracted the defence with a near-post run, enabling Gareth Taylor to dart in and head his 12th goal of the season.

The second stemmed from a delightful chipped pass by Dean West, who made the most of the fact that Boa Morte was off having treatment. The full-back sent Ian Moore clear and he deftly angled his 10th of the season over Maik Taylor.

Davis' 47th-minute folly was compounded five minutes later when Diallo, a 30-year-old centre-back recruited from Belgian football, rose unchallenged to head in a corner by the ubiquitous Grant.

Burnley (4-3-3): Beresford; West, Diallo, Cox, Branch; Grant, Cook (Weller, 76), Briscoe; I Moore, G Taylor, A Moore (Little, 83; McGregor, 90). Substitutes not used: Weller, Blake, Michopoulos (gk).

Fulham (4-4-1-1): M Taylor; Finnan, Melville, Djetou, Harley; Malbranque (Ouaddou, 57) Legwinski, Davis, Boa Morte (Sava, 36); Inamoto; Saha (Wome, 58). Substitutes not used: Stolcers, Herrera (gk).

Referee: P Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).