Malbranque hat-trick seals win for Fulham

Steed Malbranque fired a hat-trick as Fulham steamrollered 10-man Charlton to go into tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth-round draw.

Sven-Goran Eriksson was again at Loftus Road to examine Sean Davis’ case for an England call-up to face Australia next month – but it was his midfield colleague Malbranque who stole the show.

The Frenchman, far and away the Cottagers’ player of the season last year, was the hero again today, with a stinging drive and two penalties sealing a 3-0 victory.

Before Malbranque’s goals, there had been no magic of the cup in this encounter, with much of the first hour devoid of any real incident.

That all changed in the 58th minute when Malbranque blasted home from 14 yards.

His second came from the spot seven minutes later after Luke Young fouled Luis Boa Morte.

And the former France Under-21 international capped a fine personal display with his third four minutes from time after Facundo Sava was fouled by Mark Fish, who was sent off.

The only downside for Fulham, FA Cup semi-finalists last season, was the pitiful attendance – just 12,203, with 4,000 from Charlton.

Early on, Sylvain Legwinski went close, glancing a header from Steed Malbranque’s left-wing corner a yard over the visitors’ crossbar.

Davis tried to liven up a dull game again at the half-way point in the first period.

He made a powerful surge into the box but Jason Euell tackled him as he shot and the ball rickled into Dean Kiely’s grasp.

Shaun Bartlett stabbed an awkward effort goalwards shortly afterwards, but in keeping with the theme of this uninspiring contest, it posed no threat to Maik Taylor.

Euell and Legwinski exchanged tame shots on the half-hour mark.

Meanwhile, Malbranque was busy running rings round Charlton left-back Paul Konchesky, another player hoping to impress Eriksson.

Scott Parker’s best contribution so far, a jinking run down the inside-left channel culminating in an excellent cross, almost created the opening goal.

Young charged in to meet the bouncing ball at the far post and headed against Taylor’s legs.

Northern Ireland international Taylor had a lucky escape moments later, misjudging Euell’s delivery from the right but seeing Richard Rufus snatch at the loose ball and hook it over his bar.

Four minutes after the break, Jonatan Johansson made a hash of Charlton’s best chance so far. He and Fulham centre-back Alain Goma chased Bartlett’s flick, but when Johansson got there first, he looped his shot over the top.

Referee Paul Durkin waved away Addicks’ penalty appeals when Boa Morte barged Parker to the floor.

The goal this dull game desperately needed arrived in the 58th minute.

Malbranque was the executor for Fulham – but the goal was all about a barnstorming run by Boa Morte.

The Portuguese international collected a left-flank throw-in and raced goalwards, slicing through the Charlton midfield and delivering a slide-rule pass to Malbranque, who finished with a flourish from 14 yards.

Johansson flipped a header onto the roof of the Fulham net as Alan Curbishley’s men tried to hit back.

But they went 2-0 down seven minutes later when Malbranque grabbed his second, this time from the penalty spot.

Boa Morte was again the provider, tumbling right on the edge of the area under a clumsy challenge by Young. Ref Durkin awarded a penalty and Malbranque sent Kiely the wrong way for his seventh goal of the season.

Taylor kept the Cottagers’ two-goal cushion intact with a smart reaction save from Bartlett’s header.

Martin Djetou headed Parker’s strike off his own goalline after Taylor’s sloppy punch in the 74th minute.

Legwinski dragged a left-foot shot wide when it seemed easier to score.

Charlton’s misery was complete in the 86th minute when Fish hauled down Sava and Durkin awarded another penalty and sent off Fish.

Malbranque thundered his spot-kick down the middle of the goal to seal his hat-trick.