A standout goalkeeping performance from Marcus Bettinelli earned Fulham an FA Cup third-round replay with Wolverhampton Wanderers as the sides played out a goalless draw at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
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In what turned out to be a rather tame opening gambit to the game, Wolves were the first side to generate a chance and it came in the 20th minute, as Leon Clarke leapt highest to meet a cross, only to head straight at the keeper from the centre of the box.
Wolves appeared to be the more dominant force and they threatened again soon after when Bakary Sako cut inside to fire a shot off at Marcus Bettinelli, who moved smartly to make the save.
With clear-cut chances hard to come by, Sako took things into his own hands in the 30th minute with a clever drive forward, only to see his shot from distance rattle the right post with Bettinelli looking beaten.
Kenny Jackett's men continued the second half in much the same vein as the first, with Lee Evans forcing a good save from the Fulham stopper down in the bottom-left corner.
The visitors continued to push for a goal to send them into the next round and it almost came via James Henry, who sent a header towards the bottom corner, where Bettinelli was on hand to keep it out.
In a rare foray forward, Fulham striker Hugo Rodallega might have grabbed a surprise winner for the London club, but he wastefully slashed his effort wide of the post from just over six yards out.
Christopher Dodd
