There were mixed fortunes for Fulham's teams on Wednesday night, when the women marched into another cup final and the men slipped to another league defeat.

England international Rachel McArthur broke the resistance of a battling Aston Villa side to give the Cottagers a 2-1 victory and their second successive Premier League Cup Final appearance.

Villa, who play in the Northern Division, took a 15th-minute lead against Premier Division leaders Fulham thanks to a strike by midfielder Louise Carter.

But Fulham equalised 10 minutes later when defender Katrine Pedersen headed home Margunn Haugenes's corner kick.

However, it took them until six minutes from the end to seal their place in the final on March 30 McArthur hitting a superb 25-yard drive into the roof of the net.

Fulham will now meet either Doncaster Belles or Arsenal.

Defeat

Meanwhile, at Maine Road, goals from Nicolas Anelka, Ali Bernarbia, Marc-Vivien Foe and Shaun Wright-Phillips were condemning Fulham's men to yet another Premiership defeat.

The Cottagers' FA Cup hat trick hero Steed Malbranque opened the scoring after just two minutes and, moments later, crashed another shot against the foot of a post.

But City equalised with almost their first attack of the game. and, in the second half, Fulham's defence caved in.

Jean Tigana's side have now won just once in their last six Premiership games and visit Highbury tomorrow.

Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by Liverpool on Tuesday night Emile Heskey heading in the Reds' last-minute equaliser from a hotly-disputed corner kick.

Arsene Wenger's side will, therefore, be fired-up to rectify what they perceive as an injustice, making Fulham's hunt for points an even more onerous task.

Meanwhile, the club this week continued to try to rectify the public relations disaster that is the redevelopment of Craven Cottage by issuing a statement about the cost of the project.

Many fans were baffled when chairman Mohamed Al Fayed said original plans were no longer viable because costs had risen to more than £100m, after an original figure of £60m had been quoted.

"In fact, £60m was a budget figure, but when final costings were done it became clear outlay would exceed £100m," said the statement.

Challenge

Several reasons for the increase were given, including the stadium being a listed building and in a conservation area, and the statement ended with a rather pointed challenge.

"If any one of those fans who so genuinely want a return to the Cottage can come up with a financially viable business plan to enable us to stay at Craven Cottage, we would be more than happy to hear it."

January 31, 2003 15:30