Radzinski brace saves Fulham’s blushes

Nottingham Forest 2 Fulham4 (after extra time)

Radzinski denied Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest a shock win when he cancelled out Marlon King’s earlier effort with four minutes left of normal time.

Then Radzinski and Brian McBride swept the Premiership side ahead early in the extra period before Andy Reid’s strike set up a grandstand finish.

Andy Cole’s neat chip over Paul Gerrard finally settled matters two minutes from the end of extra time.

Gutted Forest had performed far better than their dreadful league form which has left them marooned second from bottom of the table.

And they could have forced a dramatic shoot-out when substitute Gareth Taylor headed wide of an open goal six minutes from the end, before Cole grabbed the fourth.

Kinnear’s side performed admirably against a Fulham side who have consistently stated the importance of their Carling Cup campaign.

But Chris Coleman’s side looked a pale imitation of the same line-up which on Sunday beat Newcastle 4-1 at St James’s Park.

Kinnear’s men almost caught the visitors on the break in the 12th minute when King set up Reid and the youngster’s powerful rising shot from the edge of the box was parried by Crossley. King was denied a Forest opener in the 15th minute when Crossley tipped his powerful rising effort over the bar.

After the restart Forest continued in positive fashion with Reid almost catching out Crossley with a curling long-range effort. Finally the visitors began to press and Forest struggled to hang on at the back.

In a frantic end to normal time, Radzinski equalised with four minutes to spare, then both sides spurned glorious chances to win it.

Radzinski’s powerful rising shot put Fulham ahead four minutes into extra time, then McBride swivelled in the box to poke his side further ahead.

NOTTM FOREST: Gerrard, Louis-Jean (Perch 20), Rogers, Morgan, Dawson, Commons (Taylor 45), Evans, Thompson, Reid, Johnson, King, Perch (Jess 96).

FULHAM: Crossley, Volz, Bocanegra, Rehman, Knight, Boa Morte, Pembridge, Diop (McBride 80), Malbranque (Legwinski 120), Radzinski (Rosenior 120), Cole

Ref: M Riley.