Finnan blow puts damper on Fulham win

Fulham’s dramatic 1-0 Intertoto Cup victory against Sochaux last night was soured by confirmation that their Republic of Ireland World Cup star Steve Finnan is injured and will miss the start of the Premiership season.

Sean Davis’ 92nd-minute strike left Fulham just 270 minutes from the UEFA Cup - with boss Jean Tigana insisting: “That’s what we’re aiming for.”

But the bad news after the match was that right-back Finnan, a revelation as Mick McCarthy’s men reached the second round in the Far East, is suffering in the treatment room.

He sustained a twisted ankle in Saturday’s reserve friendly against non-league Carshalton and will miss the top-flight opener against Bolton on August 17 - before facing a battle to prove his fitness in time for the clash with Middlesbrough seven days later.

Tigana admitted: “It’s not possible for Steve to play the first game in the championship – and that’s a big problem for me.

“He might be able to come back to training in about nine days’ time.”

Last night, midfielder Davis showed the Cottagers’ shot-shy strikers how it is done with a thunderbolt shot in the Intertoto semi-final, first leg at Loftus Road.

Fulham now just need to avoid conceding in Sochaux’s 20,000-capacity Stade Bonal on Wednesday to secure their progress to the final – with a UEFA Cup place going to the winners.

Tigana said: “We’re playing for the UEFA Cup. It’s important because it would be the first time the club has played in Europe.

“Last night, it was very important to score and also not to concede. It was a very difficult game, that’s for sure – but the team’s not completely ready yet.

“Scoring is not a problem with the strikers as they need a good pass to score. The quality’s the problem, not the strikers.”

Japan’s World Cup ace Junichi Inamoto made his Fulham debut in the second half but looked a shadow of the player who took the Far East tournament by storm.

Tigana added: “He’s not ready yet, but he’s a very good player and he’ll play more games with me than at Arsenal.”

Inamoto, who whipped over the corner for Davis’ goal at the end of an average 45-minute debut, underlined his self-belief.

“I was prepared to play on the right or in the middle of midfield last night,” he said. “I didn’t know how long I would last.

“I lost confidence before the World Cup, but the tournament gave me my confidence back and I really hope to play well for Fulham.”

Sochaux’s hopes last night were dented in the 14th minute when star player Piere-Alain Frau limped off.

Amid reports of scouts watching him from the Loftus Road stands, Sochaux coach Guy Lacombe said: “I think he’ll have a much better season this season than last year. He’s got a very good future ahead of him.”