Slick Fulham cruise past Crusaders at the Cottage

Fulham enjoyed comprehensive 4-0 victory over Crusaders in the Europa League second qualifying round at Craven Cottage. The west Londoners' second leg win came after a 3-1 success at Seaview and sets up a trip to Croatian side RNK Split next week.

Fulham were frustrated in the first half and Andrew Johnson's neat finish to a team move was the only goal to show for their barrage of attacks.

However, goals were much easier to come by after the restart as Damien Duff, Bobby Zamora and Steve Sidwell all netted to send the majority of the 15,767 supporters home happy.

Martin Jol sent out a strong-looking side as the Cottagers looked to secure safe passage into the third qualifying round, handing recent signing John Arne Riise his Fulham debut.

Crusaders made one change to the side that lost the first leg, with the Northern Irish team starting Ciaran Gargan in place of David McMaster.

Despite needing a huge swing to progress, Crusaders' substantial travelling support bellowed choruses of "We're going to win 3-0" from the offset.

The visitors went close to keeping their hopes alive in the third minute when Stuart Dallas found space to turn and send in a 20-yard shot that sailed just over the bar. However, Fulham exerted pressure without too much effort and converted that dominance into an opening goal with a slick team move in the 19th minute.

Riise squared a cross from the left flank and Zamora's step-over gave Johnson the opportunity to jink wide of his marker and strike low into the bottom left corner. Fulham continued in the same vein after the break and goals from Duff, Zamora and Sidwell ended any lingering hopes the Northern Irish had of a comeback.