Fulham’s second London derby this week, a first competitive win for Álvaro Arbeloa. If AFC Wimbledon represent a different echelon to Chelsea, Monday’s visitors, Thursday’s easy progress to the third round supplied a number of reasons for optimism in the new regime. Marco Silva, Arbeloa’s predecessor, frequently offered sullen dismissal of the depth of his Fulham squad but actually left behind plenty of talent on departing for Benfica.
Getting a better tune from Emile Smith Rowe and Rodrigo Muniz than Silva managed last season will be helpful. The pair scored the first-half goals to take the tie from Wimbledon’s reach, making for a night for comfort and experimentation, glances at what a renewed, refreshed Fulham may look like, with teenage talent handed a chance to shine. A muggy riverside evening had attracted a decent enough attendance.
More than enough to disrupt the dog walkers and evening strollers of a genteel locale, the Wimbledon contingent making sure to be heard. The first meeting between the clubs since 2001, before the old Wimbledon was franchised to Milton Keynes and a phoenix club rose from the pyre of that rotten affair. The respective team selections revealed the managers’ priorities; 10 changes for Arbeloa, only Oscar Bobb remaining from Monday’s home defeat by Chelsea; six for Johnnie Jackson, the Wimbledon manager.
Fulham featured Shea Charles, making his first start. Luc de Fougerolles, who played in the summer’s World Cup for Canada, was making only his second Fulham appearance. Down each team’s left, a Sessegnon brother, Ryan for Fulham and Steven, formerly of Fulham himself, for Wimbledon.
Wafting high and wide, De Fougerolles had the first genuine effort after 12 minutes of feeling each other out. Wimbledon, maintaining Crazy Gang traditions, were most dangerous from set pieces. When De Fougerolles could only head away a corner, the ball fell to Dons’ skipper Alistair Smith.
The shot was straight at Benjamin Lecomte. Keeping the contest physical, going direct was the policy for those visiting from SW17. Callum Maycock might have scored had he better directed Myles Hippolyte’s arrowing cross but thereafter Fulham began to pile up opportunities, and eventually goals.
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