SWANSEA 1, FULHAM 1
Mark Gower fails to seize the moment for Swans
COMETH the Gower, cometh the man. Sadly for Swansea, their man failed to seize the moment.
The script was written for Mark Gower to seal his side's place in the quarter-finals for the first time in 45 years - and his own name in FA Cup folklore. But with the goal at his mercy, the former Tottenham trainee fluffed his lines.
Angel Rangel fired over a cross from the right and Gower arrived completely unnoticed in the box without a defender in sight.
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Just four yards out and with all the time in the world, the Swansea winger sent a tame shot straight at Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer, who gratefully palmed the ball away. Gower looked on in anguish, while his Premier League opponents breathed a sigh of relief.
The 25th-minute gaffe convinced Fulham they could weather the Swans' early storm, having been stretched to breaking point. As for Gower, he must have known it wasn't going to be his day.
Hammered
With the game just three minutes old, he hammered a left-foot shot past Schwarzer but against the post - and then later hit the crossbar to choke back cheers in Welsh throats.
Fulham rode their considerable luck and, on the stroke of half-time, were handed another slice of good fortune when Swansea's Garry Monk scored a comical own goal after keeper Dorus de Vries missed his punch from a corner.
Star striker Jason Scotland conjured a magical equaliser for the Championship club seven minutes after the break. But this was Fulham's day to survive and not Swansea's day to dump another Premier League outfit.
Craven Cottage boss Roy Hodgson heaped praise on goalkeeper Schwarzer who kept the hosts at bay with a string of stunning saves. In reality, he should have been thanking Gower.
The wideman has still not scored since arriving from Southend on a free transfer last summer - but boss Roberto Martinez was quick to leap to his defence.
The Spaniard said: "Mark was outstanding and he got into great positions. It doesn't bother me that he didn't score. He is here not to score goals but to create them. He gives the team so much with his movement."
Maybe Gower should ask the prolific Scotland for some finishing lessons. The Trinidad and Tobago striker is having no trouble hitting the back of the net, securing a rematch at Craven Cottage with his 12th goal in as many games.
Scotland made a mockery of the £20,000 Swansea paid St Johnstone for his services by slipping away from his marker Aaron Hughes and unleashing a left-footed drive past Schwarzer.
It was a goal that deserved to settle the game. Instead it prevented a Fulham win that would have been utterly unfair. Swansea have been earning rave reviews for their performances in the Championship and they caught the nation's attention by knocking holders Portsmouth out of the competition at Fratton Park.
They came desperately close to claiming another top-flight scalp as Fulham struggled to cope with their movement and slick passing.
Martinez was spoilt for choice when it came to heroes. Leon Britton, one of the smallest players on the pitch, was a giant in the Swansea midfield, protecting his defence and setting up attacks.
Alongside him 18-year-old Joe Allen looks another Wales star in the making while right-back Rangel, another of Martinez's bargain buys, proved he has what it takes to play in the Premier League. As for Scotland, Fulham's defenders must have been relieved to hear the final whistle.
This was an afternoon Hodgson will want to forget. His side was sluggish and unimaginative. Olivier Dacourt, making his first start since arriving from Inter Milan on loan, looked way off the pace. Zoltan Gera was offered a chance to impress but failed to take it.
Simon Davies, back in his native Wales, was anonymous and Erik Nevland cannot complain if Hodgson does not pick him again this season. The visitors did have opportunities to break away and test Swansea's rearguard but all too often the killer pass was sloppy and the movement poor.
"Premier League? You're 'aving a laugh!" sang the Swansea fans. It was hard to disagree.
The only way Fulham were going to score was if Swansea pressed the self-destruct button and that's exactly what happened in the 44th minute.
De Vries went to clear Paul Konchesky's corner, completely missed it and the ball struck captain Monk on the leg before bouncing into his own net. But Swansea hit back.
Savage
Gower linked up with Scotland in the 50th minute and produced a savage effort which Schwarzer tipped on to the bar.
It was merely a reprieve, though, and two minutes later Scotland beat the Aussie goalkeeper with a piece of Caribbean magic.
The Soca Warrior scored 29 goals as Swansea stormed to the League One title last season and he already boasts 17 this term.
It is hard to believe there was no interest in the 29-year-old during last month's transfer window. Sensing glory, the Swans flew forward. But despite all their efforts, they were unable to come up with a winner.
Jordi Gomez fired over the target before Nathan Dyer, the man who destroyed Portsmouth, shot into the side-netting.
Hodgson has promised a very different Fulham in the replay. He had better be right. Another display like this and their FA Cup hopes will lie at the bottom of the Thames.
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