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Emile Smith Rowe opened the scoring as Fulham eased to a 3-0 win against AFC Wimbledon, setting up a third-round trip to West Ham
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Football — John Brewin at Craven Cottage
Fulham’s second London derby this week, a first competitive win for Álvaro Arbeloa. If AFC Wimbledon represent a different echelon to Chelsea, Monday’s visitors, Thursday’s easy progress past League One opponents supplied several reasons for optimism in the new Fulham.
Marco Silva, Arbeloa’s predecessor, frequently offered sullen dismissal of the depth of his Fulham squad and yet left behind plenty of talent on departing for Benfica. Getting a better tune from Emile Smith Rowe and Rodrigo Muniz than Silva managed last season will help. The pair scored first-half goals to take the tie from Wimbledon’s reach, making for a second half of comfort and experimentation, glimpses of a different Fulham, teenage talent handed its chance to shine. Gonzalo García’s late strike, rounding Wimbledon keeper Nathan Bishop for a second goal of the week, increased the excitement surrounding one of the summer’s most eye-catching signings.
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“You need the energy and different qualities,” said Arbeloa of an evening where squad rotation had paid dividends. “They need to feel they are important.”
A muggy riverside evening attracted a decent crowd. More than enough to disrupt the dog walkers and evening strollers of a genteel locale, the Wimbledon contingent boisterous. The first meeting between the clubs since 2001, before the old Wimbledon was franchised to Milton Keynes and a phoenix club rose from that rotten affair.
The respective team selections revealed priorities; 10 changes for Arbeloa, only Oscar Bobb remained from Chelsea; six for Johnnie Jackson, the Wimbledon manager. Shea Charles, the summer’s other headline signing, made his first start and played well. “He’s ready,” said Arbeloa of the young Northern Ireland midfielder.
Luc de Fougerolles, fresh from the summer’s World Cup for Canada, made only his second Fulham appearance. Down each team’s left, a Sessegnon brother, Ryan for Fulham and Steven, formerly of Fulham, for Wimbledon.
“A good night for the club because we get to test ourselves against the very best,” said Jackson. “And 5,000 fans got to enjoy themselves. They were a credit to the club.”
Wimbledon, maintaining Crazy Gang traditions, were dangerous from set pieces. When De Fougerolles could only head away a corner, the ball fell to Dons’ skipper Alistair Smith. The shot was straight at Benjamin Lecomte, the best chance on offer to Wimbledon all evening.
Thereafter, Fulham piled up opportunities. Goals soon followed. Smith Rowe was furious after a sliced miss. Muniz was just as self-flagellating when ballooning a Smith Rowe flick.
Smith Rowe’s redemption came swiftly, from close range after Dons defender James Tilley deflected the ball into his path. The celebration was minimal from a player Arbeloa said “deserves more minutes”. Muniz was far more rapturous after nodding in Kenny Tete’s cross. Small wonder. This was his first goal since the opening game of last season. “Goals are very important for strikers,” said Arbeloa, stating the clear and obvious.
At half-time Macaulay Zepa, 18, arrived. Arbeloa’s appointment was accompanied by heralding of his youth development work at Real Madrid, a departure from Silva’s preference for hard-bitten pros. Zepa, a speedy and direct winger, showed real promise, as did fellow youth team graduate Chibby Nwoko. “One of the best news today,” said Arbeloa. “We know very well that academy players are very important.”
Fulham featured an assured youth-and-experience central defensive combination of De Fougerolles and Joachim Andersen. Calvin Bassey replaced the senior partner on the hour and the youngster did not last much longer, pulling up after a block tackle. “Nothing to worry about,” soothed Arbeloa
The arrivals of García and César Palacios, young Madrilenos who accompanied Arbeloa, supplied further excitement, the former’s goal another taste of a new Fulham.
Marco Silva, Arbeloa’s predecessor, frequently offered sullen dismissal of the depth of his Fulham squad and yet left behind plenty of talent on departing for Benfica. Getting a better tune from Emile Smith Rowe and Rodrigo Muniz than Silva managed last season will help. The pair scored first-half goals to take the tie from Wimbledon’s reach, making for a second half of comfort and experimentation, glimpses of a different Fulham, teenage talent handed its chance to shine. Gonzalo García’s late strike, rounding Wimbledon keeper Nathan Bishop for a second goal of the week, increased the excitement surrounding one of the summer’s most eye-catching signings.
This report is published with credit to The Guardian. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on The Guardian →
Source: The Guardian · John Brewin at Craven Cottage. Published 27 Aug 2026, 09:01 pm.
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