Fulham boss Martin Jol was delighted with their FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic.

Clint Dempsey's hat-trick helped a strong-looking Cottagers side avoid a potential third-round upset against the npower League One leaders.

"I wasn't here for the last four or five years but I still think the FA Cup is the best competition in the world," the former Tottenham manager said.

"I told the players that and maybe they think differently, but I don't think so.

"For a club like Fulham, maybe you can discuss about [the importance of] the Carling Cup but the FA Cup for me is not sacred, but it is one of the best competitions.

"The only thing that is amazing is I looked at Birmingham v Wolves, for example, and I said to Ray Lewington 'I thought it would be a sellout?'

"Even when I played it was a sellout and it was the same when I was at Spurs.

"20,000 is okay and I hope and that appreciation for the FA Cup will remain the same."