Struggling Crawley put aside their depressing League Two kind to assert a 3rd Premier League scalp in 4 seasons by dumping Fulham out of the Carabao Cup with a shocking 2-0 success.
Kevin Betsy’s aspect sit second backside of the English Soccer League following a single level from 5 video games however deservedly progressed to spherical three due to targets from captain Tom Nichols and Liverpool loanee James Balagizi.
Marco Silva’s much-changed Cottagers provided little in response earlier than becoming a member of Norwich and Leeds on the record of top-flight golf equipment who’ve suffered cup embarrassment at Broadfield Stadium lately.
Fulham boss Silva made 10 alterations from the weekend win over Brentford, together with handing a debut to £16million centre-back Issa Diop.
His experimental aspect regarded shaky from the outset and fell behind with 16 minutes on the clock.
Striker Nichols claimed the breakthrough purpose, amassing Ashley Nadesan’s go to drill a low left-footed drive throughout Marek Rodak and into the far nook.
The Crawley skipper marked the assured end by copying the viral twerking celebration of Kansas Metropolis midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta and he had additional purpose for jubilation simply 4 minutes into the second half.
Fulham midfielder Tyrese Francois sloppily conceded possession deep inside his personal half and England Beneath-19 worldwide Balagizi, who was denied by Rodak simply earlier than the break, seized on Nichols’ pleasant reverse go to emphatically slot his third purpose of the marketing campaign into the underside proper nook.
A dismal Fulham debut for Diop was epitomised by him being booked for hauling down spectacular 18-year-old Balagizi, earlier than Rodak spared his aspect additional humiliation by beautifully maintaining out the energetic Nadesan.
Visiting ahead Jay Stansfield threatened to halve the deficit throughout seven minutes of added time however Crawley keeper Corey Addai delighted nearly all of the group of 5,577 with a uncommon save.
Regardless of warnings on the general public handle system and footballing authorities threatening stricter punishments this marketing campaign, many dwelling followers spilled on to the pitch at full-time.
