Saha sends Fulham through

Fulham 2 Cheltenham 1

French striker Louis Saha underlined his value to Fulham once against as his two-goal salvo – which included an injury-time winner – spared Chris Coleman’s men a humiliating early exit from the FA Cup.

Fulham are said to have slapped a £15million price tag on their prized asset in a bid to stop potential suitors – led by Manchester United – luring their prized asset away from south west London.

This is Saha’s fourth season in the Premiership and he is only just beginning to realise his potential, finding the sort of form which is making managers like Sir Alex Ferguson sit up and take notice.

Coleman stated before today’s match that the FA Cup represented Fulham’s best chance of silverware this season and he named a strong line-up, handing a debut to on-loan Celtic midfielder Bobby Petta.

Sean Davis was also restored to the team after shaking off his hamstring strain, but it was Saha that Coleman had to thank for sending his side into the fourth round.

The 25-year-old showed a clinical touch to beat Shane Higgs with a cheeky 14th-minute lob which left the advancing goalkeeper stranded, cancelling out a superb opener from Grant McCann which the midfielder had bagged shortly before.

Fulham went on to dominate the second half and just as it seemed Cheltenham had done enough to earn a replay at Whaddon Road, Saha struck a minute into injury-time following an inch-perfect corner from Petta.

It was a plucky display from the visitors who will feel disappointed at the defeat, especially given a tight display at the back, and they made it clear from the start they were not intending to make up the numbers.

But no-one expected the drama which unfolded in the fifth minute when Fulham’s defence was easily dispossessed by McCann.

The midfielder had plenty of time to tee-up his shot from just outside the area and he made no mistake, thumping the ball into the right corner and well beyond the reach of a despairing dive from Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

But Fulham levelled eight minutes later when Sylvain Legwinski floated in a sublime pass to Saha who, despite the attention of John Brough and Michael Duff, scooped his shot over the head of Higgs and into the back of Cheltenham’s goal.

Saha could have made it two but nodded Steed Malbranque’s cross over the crossbar when he should done better, although moments earlier Damian Spencer had gone desperately close to suggest Cheltenham were still a threat.

John Finnigan and Martin Devaney combined expertly in the 24th minute but Fulham’s defence was alive to the danger and swept the ball to safety.

Saha was proving handful up front and with Malbranque having few problems picking out the French marksman, Fulham looked the more likely source of the next goal – even when Duff’s header was kept out by a magnificent save from van der Sar.

Cheltenham were solid at the back, however, and as the half neared its end they looked increasing capable of catching their Premiership opponents, whose passing lacked its earlier crispness, on the counter attack.

They launched one such raid in the 43rd minute through Delaney which was eventually snuffed out by Zat Knight and at the ensuing corner Bob Taylor headed a fine chance over.

Malbranque and Martin Djetou attacked down the right but Djetou’s final pass lacked accuracy while shortly after Saha was just inches short of meeting Junichi Inamoto’s square ball.

But Fulham’s subsequent efforts to open up Cheltenham’s defence were in vain as the Robins looked comfortable dealing with everything that was thrown at them, forcing Saha to attempt a speculative long-range effort.

Knight headed Petta’s corner wide in the 56th minute and Coleman then sent on Barry Hayles for Inamoto to add some extra thrust up front, a move which nearly paid off instantly when the Jamaica international just failed to meet Malbranque’s dab through.

Petta went desperately close in the 67th minute when he fired a blistering shot across the face of goal while Cheltenham captain Finnigan slammed a powerful strike into the advertising boards.

Fulham had poured forward in search of the winner for the last 20 minutes and there efforts were rewarded in injury-time when Petta’s corner found Saha at the far post and he made no mistake with his match-winning header.