Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the FA Cup third-round replay between Fulham and Norwich City at Craven Cottage.

A replay is less than ideal for both teams, as they sit perilously close to the relegation places in the Premier League, with Norwich currently 15th in the table, one position ahead of Fulham.

In the original third-round tie, Norwich came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road. Darren Bent had given the home side the lead in the 40th minute, but a goal by Robert Snodgrass on the stroke of half time got the Canaries back into the match, and with neither team able to add to their tally in the second half, the game finished level.

FULHAM XI: Stekelenburg, Riether, Hangeland, Burn, Richardson, Karagounis, Sidwell, Dejagah, Kasami, Kacaniklic, Bent

NORWICH XI: Bunn, Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Garrido, Fox, Johnson, Snodgrass, Redmond, Josh Murphy, Elmander

FULHAM SUBS: Stockdale, Hughes, Rodallega, Dempsey, Christensen, Tankovic, Dembele

NORWICH SUBS: Ruddy, Fer, Hoolahan, Becchio, Bennett, Murphy, Van Wolfswinkel

TEAM NEWS: Brede Hangeland makes his first start for Fulham after three months out following back surgery ,with Maarten Stekelenburg also returning from an injury lay off. New Norwich signing Jonas Gutierrez, who arrived on loan from Newcastle United yesterday, is unavailable for the visitors. Teenager Josh Murphy leads the line for the Canaries, while Mark Bunn is given a rare start in goal, in place of the rested John Ruddy.

The two teams may be getting sick of the sight of each other, as this will mark the third time they have met in less than a month. They clashed in the Premier League on Boxing Day, where Fulham ran out 2-1 winners at Carrow Road. A late goal from Scott Parker three minutes from time earned his side a vital three points on that occasion. They will meet again in the league in April at Craven Cottage.

The reward for winning tonight’s match will be a fourth-round meeting with League One side Sheffield United, after they beat Premier League opponents Aston Villa 2-1 in their third-round tie. With the way Fulham and Norwich are playing at the moment, there is every chance that we could see another upset at Bramall Lane.

Neither of these teams have ever won the FA Cup in their history. The closest Fulham have come is reaching the 1975 final, where they were beaten 2-0 by West Ham United. That occasion marked their only major final appearance until the 2010 Europa League final, where Atletico Madrid beat them 2-1. Norwich have never appeared in the final, but have reached the semi-finals on three occasions in their history, making the last four in 1959, 1989, 1992. They have achieved other cup success, winning the League Cup in 1962 and 1985.

Norwich manager Chris Hughton has a proud record in the FA Cup, having won the trophy with Tottenham Hotspur in 1981 and 1982. He was however given a shock last season, as the Canaries were beaten at home by non-league Luton in the fourth round.

The first time that these two sides ever met was during an FA Cup tie in February 1908. Fulham won that match 2-1 at Craven Cottage, and would go on to reach the semi-finals, where they were beaten 6-0 by Newcastle United.

The two sides could hardly be in worse form coming into tonight’s game. Norwich have not won in their last seven games and have scored just four goals in those fixtures. Fulham have lost 11 of their past 15 matches, and suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at home against Sunderland last weekend.

The defensive problems of each team has been clear to see this season. Fulham have the worst defence in the league, and have shipped 46 goals in their 21 matches. Norwich are not far behind and have the second worst record in the top flight, having conceded 35 goals this season.

There are a number of other FA Cup ties taking place tonight, with three third round games and six other replays to be decided. You can follow all of the latest from around the grounds with our live coverage.

Speaking before the game, Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen revealed his delight at having Brede Hangeland back in the team. "It's a massive boost to have him back because he has been here for so long and knows the club inside out," he told the Fulham Chronicle. "He knows how important it is to get things back on track and has been very frustrated with the injury. He's knocking on the door and is raring to go."

PREDICTION: Tonight’s match may give the two teams a welcome distraction to their troubles in the Premier League this season. The games between them in the past month have been closely fought and I expect the same tonight. This is a hard game to call given the form of the teams and the players that have been selected this evening, but I am going to for a 2-1 win for the hosts.

At some point in the evening, the two managers might think ahead to their team's Premier League fixtures this weekend. Norwich face Hull City in a match that they will surely be targeting three points, while Fulham travel to the league leaders Arsenal.

Fulham may look back to last season, where they faced a replay in the third round against Blackpool, after a 1-1 draw at home in the original tie. They won the replay 2-1 at Bloomfield Road after extra time, with Hangeland scoring a late winner. They would eventually succumb to Manchester United in the fourth round, losing 4-1 at Old Trafford.

REFEREE: Lee Mason will be taking charge of the match this evening.

We are less than five minutes away from kick off at Craven Cottage.

The players are making their way out onto the pitch and this FA Cup clash is just moments away from getting started.

KICKOFF! We are underway at Craven Cottage!

Fulham start the game with a number of passes, and Sidwell tries to get Dejagah in down the right side with a raking long ball, but the pass is too long and drifts out for a goal kick.

OFF THE BAR! Norwich come within inches of taking the lead, as Snodgrass picks up the ball just outside the box, before bending a brilliant strike against the bar. Just moments earlier Redmond came close after being slipped in by Murphy, but his effort was well saved by Stekelenburg.

The early signs of this game indicate a very open game of football, with both teams looking to get forward quickly and pass their way through.

Garrido comes forward and plays the ball into Elmander on the edge of the box, but after taking a good first touch, his shot on the turn lacks power, and is hit straight into the keeper's arms.

Norwich have looked threatening every time they come forward, and Elmander steals the ball from Hangeland at the touchline, but his pass across the box can't find any of his teammates.

CHANCE! Sidwell tries his luck from range after picking up the ball from Dejagah 25 yards out from goal, but his low strike is hit straight at Dunn, who manages to hold on.

It is end to end at the moment, and Redmond revieces the ball on the left wing, before cutting inside and firing in a low strike that fails to trouble the goal.

Fulham will have a good opportunity from a free kick, as Dejagah is brought down 25 yards out from goal.

Kasami steps up to take the set piece, but his curling low effort is hit straight into the path of Bunn.

Fulham have taken the lead, and it's Bent who has scored their goal. Kasami gets down the right hand side and delivers a low ball that evades Dejagah at the front post, but arrives at the feet of Bent to fire home a low effort past the keeper, with the help of a slight deflection.

The home side are seeing much more of the ball following that goal, which has understandably given them a huge boost of confidence.

Fulham continue to dominate the possession and Kacaniklic shows good skill to get into the box before being crowded out by the Norwich defence.

Riether is the next to try his luck for the home side, as he bursts into the Norwich half, before lashing in a low effort that just evades Bent, before drifting wide of the far post.

Kacaniklic has looked like one of the home side's biggest threats this evening and twice delivers dangerous balls into the box that the Norwich defence manage to scramble clear.

The Fulham full backs are keen to get forward tonight, and Riether travels deep into the Norwich half, before trying to thread a ball through to Bent, but his final pass is overhit and runs through to the keeper.

Norwich are looking frustrated at the moment and lack the early confidence of their good start to this match. The home side are keeping them at bay and forcing them to play the ball back into their half.

The visitors give the ball away cheaply just inside their own half and the lively Kacaniklic quickly latches onto it. He charges towards goal, and gets a shot away, but his low effort is directed straight at the keeper.

It has been fairly comfortable for the Fulham defence outside of the first three minutes, with Norwich lacking any real cutting edge to get in behind and test the keeper.

Norwich have a rare chance to get a number of their big players forward, after Murphy shows good skill to get to the byline and win a corner.

The home side have doubled their lead with four minutes of the half left to play. They break quickly from Norwich's corner, and Kacaniklic is slipped in down the right hand side of the area, before pulling the ball across the box for Dejagah to finish from close-range.

Fulham look in complete control at the moment and it will take a huge effort from Norwich to get back into this match.

CHANCE! The visitors almost pull a goal back immediately, as Johnson meets a corner from Snodgrass, but gets underneath the ball and heads his effort over the bar.

We are going to have one minute of added time at the end of the half.

After 45 minutes of this FA Cup third-round replay, Fulham have a two goal lead over Norwich City. Despite a strong start from the away side, Fulham took control of the game and they have been clinical in front of goal.

The statistics show that Norwich actually enjoyed more of the possession, having seen 52% of the ball, but it was the hosts who showed more attacking intent. Both teams have had six strikes on goal, with Fulham's two efforts on target both ending in the back of the net.

Norwich's hopes of getting back into this game seem unlikely, given their recent poor form in front of goal. They have not scored twice in a match for eight fixtures, since netting a double over West Bromwich Albion.

Rene Meulensteen will have been delighted at the response from his players given their defeat against Sunderland at the weekend. As far as Norwich are concerned, Chris Hughton may already be looking ahead to Saturday's league game against Hull City.

The teams are back out on the pitch and the second half is about to get back underway.

Norwich kick off and get the second half started.

SUBSTITUTION: Norwich have made a change at half time, with Van Wolfswinkel coming on for Redmond.

Norwich have started the half strongly, and have seen a lot of the ball deep in the Fulham half.

Snodgrass does well to get forward down the right hand side and beats a couple of challenges, before pulling the ball back across the middle, but the Fulham defence cut out the danger at the near post.

After the away side's fine start to the half, Fulham get on the ball and Kacaniklic again shows great skill down the left wing, before finding Sidwell. The midfielder then delivers a decent cross, but the keeper is out well to claim.

Fulham are starting to regain control of the ball and are playing it around between their midfielders in the centre of the pitch. They are looking the more likely of the two teams to score the next goal.

Elmander goes down after a crunching tackle from Hangeland, but the forward looks fine to continue and is back up on his feet again.

Norwich are looking short of ideas at the moment and Whittaker sums up how the game has gone for them this evening, with an attempted cross that he ends up putting over for a goal kick.

CHANCE! The visitors have a glimmer of a chance as Bassong gets free at the back post to meet Snodgrass's free kick, but his header lacks power and is directed kindly into the arms of Stekelenburg.

Fulham are surely through to the fourth round now. They break quickly and a cross from the left hand side by Kacaniklic is cleared by Norwich. They only manage to get it out to right wing, where the ball is played to Riether, and he delivers a fine cross that is headed in by Sidwell at the back post.

SUBSTITUTION: Norwich respond to conceding that goal by bringing Becchio on for Elmander.

YELLOW CARD! Karagounis is the first player to pick up a booking this evening for a late challenge on Snodgrass.

Fulham may not have wanted this replay before the match, but should they hang on to their lead, the win would be a huge confidence boost for them, as they look to move clear of the bottom of the table.

Murphy tries to spark some life back into his team by attempting an effort from long range, but it is well blocked, and loops through to the keeper.

SUBSTITUTION: Fulham make a change, with goalscorer Bent heading off to be replaced by Dembele.

Fulham continue to threaten, and Dejagah fizzes in a dangerous cross from that right that is just over the head of everyone in the box.

SUBSTITUTION: Sidwell heads off for Fulham to be replaced by Christensen.

CHANCE! Kacaniklic has been one of Fulham's stand out players tonight, and he comes close again by bursting into the box, before firing in a low strike that the keeper does well to hang onto.

SUBSTITUTION: The impressive Kacaniklic is given a rest, with Tankovic coming on for his first-team debut.

Youngster Demebele tries to get in on the action by attempting a strike from range, but he scuffs his low effort wide of the far post.

We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time.

Norwich will have one last chance to pull a goal back, with a free kick from the right-hand touchline.

Fulham clear the ball to the edge of the box, where Johnson arrives, but he hammers his strike over the bar, and that should be the last action of the match.

Fulham make it through to the fourth round of the FA Cup after a comfortable win this evening. They looked like winning from the moment Bent found the net, and the performance will certainly give them confidence in their battle against relegation from the Premier League.

That's all we've got time for here. Please stay with us at Sports Mole for all of tonight's FA Cup results and reaction, but from me, it's goodbye!