Rovers through as Fulham pay the penalty

Bullard, who has appeared twice as a sub since the knee injury which threatened to end his career, had buzzed about in the centre of a muddy midfield on a pitch which staged both rugby union and football last weekend as rain lashed down on Bristol.

But when it came to the shoot-out, he saw his kick — Fulham's first — saved by Bristol Rovers keeper Steve Phillips, with home substitute Craig Disley keeping his nerve admirably as he tucked home the decisive penalty to earn an away tie at Barnet.

Scroll down for more

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has travelled the world coaching football but he knew he was back in England last night as his Fulham team struggled in the mud.

Rovers were more than a match for their visitors from the top flight in a classic FA Cup tie, summoning powers to make a mockery of their League One status.

If Hodgson had dared to hope this tie might provide a lungful of fresh air to change Fulham's season, he was disappointed as he saw Rovers dominate for long periods.

He had been busy in the transfer market before the game, completing the £3million signing of striker Daniel Cousin from Rangers and closing in on a £2m deal for Werder Bremen's defensive midfielder Leon Andreasen.

The Barclays Premier League men found themselves under pressure from the kind of set-pieces which caused them such problems in the original tie at Craven Cottage, when Rovers led twice before being pegged back to finish at 2-2.

The home side survived the blow of losing Steve Elliott when the centre half injured himself making a crucial tackle on Clint Dempsey.

It failed to break their spirit.

Fulham keeper Tony Warner had to save bravely from David Pipe as Fulham's back four allowed a low cross to squirt through from the left, just before half-time.

Then Andy Williams wriggled clear inside the penalty area but his tame shot with the outside of his right boot was easy for Warner to collect.

Rovers showed no less enterprise and ambition kicking up the slope in the second half. Aaron Hughes made a clearing header from Aaron Lescott's right-wing cross and Warner clung on to a swerving centre from Pipe.

Paul Trollope's team were quick and aggressive about the pitch but they passed the ball and looked for width, rarely resorting to launching it long.

Honest defending kept Fulham in the game as Rovers pinned them back and forced a succession of corners but David Healy, anonymous for much of the game, almost snatched the lead with a fierce volley from 25 yards, which Steve Phillips beat away.

Phillips saved again, low to his right from Dempsey.

With extra-time looming, both sides launched late efforts to seal the tie.

Moments after Fulham's Moritz Volz headed a Healy centre wide, Pipe blasted over from 18 yards at the other end. Then a Lines shot was blocked by Dejan Stefanovic.

There were chances at both ends during the added period — Dempsey going closest for Fulham, Phillips pulling off a fine stop, while Ricky Lambert shot into the side-netting.

And in the dying seconds Stefanovic was sent off for a second yellow card.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Lescott, Hinton, Elliott, Jacobson, Pipe, Campbell, Coles, Lines, Williams, Lambert. Subs: Igoe, Walker, Carruthers, Rigg, Disley.

Fulham: Warner, Baird, Bocanegra, Stefanovic, Konchesky, Volz, Bullard, Hughes, Brown, Healy, Dempsey. Subs: Ricardo Batista, Ki-Hyeon, Davis, Milsom, Leijer. Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)