Fulham have showed they are a very capable side without Clint Dempsey by putting a handful of goals past Norwich City in today's 5-0 season-opening win.
Summer signing Mladen Petric, who joined for free from Hamburg, was an immediate hit with Cottagers fans, scoring twice, and setting up one goal to kick off his career in Southwest London in fine fashion whilst Chris Hughton's beginning as Canaries boss did not quite go to plan.
Martin Jol's men, who were without star scorer Dempsey who is looking for a move elsewhere, kicked things off prior to the half-hour mark when John Arne Riise's long ball across field found Damien Duff who managed to squeeze it past John Ruddy who ended up having a very busy afternoon picking the ball out of the back of the net.
Next was Petric's maiden goal in English football which came in the 41st minute when he got on the end of Duff's corner and glanced home a header which was almost cleared off the line by Jonny Howson.
Soon enough it was 3-0 to Fulham when Petric grabbed his second from 30 yards just under ten minutes into the second half thanks to a massive deflection off Michael Turner.
Cottagers young gun Alex Kacaniklic added another in the 66th minute when he received a clever backheel from Petric to finish neatly before Steve Sidwell wrapped it up from the penalty spot after Turner had coomitted a poor tackle on summer signing Hugo Rodallega.
Fulham: 5 (Damien Duff 26', Mladen Petric 41'/54', Alex Kacaniklic 66', Steve Sidwell (p) 87') Norwich City: 0
Craven Cottage, London - 25,062
Yellow cards:FUL - nil
NOR - nilMatch notes: - Chris Hughton (first game in charge of NOR), Sascha Riether, Mladen Petric (FUL & Premier League debut), Michael Turner (NOR debut), Robert Snodgrass (NOR & Premier League debut), Hugo Rodallega (FUL debut)
