Fulham 6-0 Norwich

Fulham match reaction Norwich match reaction Relegation photo gallery

Norwich's hopes of Premiership survival were swept away by rampant Fulham.

The Canaries could have guaranteed survival with victory, but never threatened to get the win they needed.

Brian McBride slid Fulham ahead after nine minutes, and Papa Bouba Diop added a second with a stunning 25-yard free-kick before the interval.

Zat Knight fired home after 53 minutes, and a further strike from Steed Malbranque, a second from McBride and an Andy Cole tap-in piled on the agony.

Norwich manager Nigel Worthington was in confident mood before the game, but it was not echoed by his team, who delivered a dreadful display and must now contemplate Championship football next season.

I'm gutted we're down but we will be back soon and stronger than ever From SD Have your say on 606

The Canaries, backed by 7,000 travelling supporters, started brightly but it was not long before the carnival atmosphere inside Craven Cottage became muted.

Fulham were ahead after nine minutes as Norwich paid a heavy price for their early attacking adventure.

Tomasz Radzinski played in McBride, who slid a neat finish under Robert Green as he raced out.

Norwich were stunned by the blow and they were unable to carve out any clear-cut opportunities before Fulham doubled their lead after 34 minutes.

McBride was fouled by a combination of Craig Fleming and Thomas Helveg, allowing Diop the opportunity to curl a brilliant free-kick high past Green.

Norwich's spirits sagged visibly, and they were fortunate not to go futher behind as Fulham threatened to run riot in the closing stages of the first half.

Malbranque's shot was saved by Green, who also dived low to clutch a long-range drive from Moritz Voltz.

And as Fulham pressed for a third, Norwich's goalkeeper came to the rescue again by touching McBride's shot from six yards on to the bar.

Norwich's hopes of staging a recovery in the encounter were snuffed out after 54 minutes, when their failure to clear a corner saw the ball fall to Knight, who fired low past Green from just inside the area.

The Canaries had been dreadful, barely posing an attacking threat in a game they needed to win to stay up, and it was no surprise when Fulham went 4-0 up.

Luis Boa Morte ran at the heart of Norwich's defence, rounding Green to pull the ball back for Malbranque to score via a deflection

Norwich were totally deflated, and Fulham piled on the humilation when substitute Cole tapped home from almost on the goal-line.

---

Fulham: Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Goma, Bocanegra, Malbranque, Clark, Diop, Boa Morte (Cole 87), McBride, Radzinski.
Subs Not Used: Pembridge, Crossley, Rehman, Pearce.

Goals: McBride 10, Diop 35, Knight 54, Malbranque 72, McBride 86, Cole 90.

Norwich: Green, Helveg (Jonson 45), Fleming, Shackell, Drury, Bentley (Svensson 59), Safri (Holt 33), Francis, Huckerby, Ashton, McKenzie.
Subs Not Used: Charlton, Ward.

Booked: Helveg.

Att: 21,927

Ref: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).