Fulham eased into the next round of the Carabao Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over League One side AFC Wimbledon on Thursday, marking the first competitive win of Álvaro Arbeloa's tenure as manager and setting up a London derby against West Ham in the next round.
The match, played in muggy conditions on the riverside, drew a lively crowd of around 5,000, many of them boisterous Wimbledon supporters attending the first meeting between the two clubs since 2001, prior to the old Wimbledon's controversial relocation to become Milton Keynes Dons.
Arbeloa made ten changes from Fulham's previous outing against Chelsea, with only Oscar Bobb retaining his place, while Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson made six alterations of his own. Despite the heavy rotation, Fulham's quality told, with Emile Smith Rowe and Rodrigo Muniz both finding the net before halftime to effectively settle the contest.
Wimbledon, true to their Crazy Gang heritage, threatened early through set pieces. Their best opportunity came when a corner was only partially cleared, allowing captain Alistair Smith a shooting chance that was straight at goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte.
Fulham's response was swift and decisive. Smith Rowe opened the scoring after Wimbledon defender James Tilley inadvertently deflected the ball into his path, though the England youth international's celebration was subdued despite having earlier been visibly frustrated after skying an earlier chance. Muniz then doubled the advantage, nodding home a cross from Kenny Tete for his first goal since the opening match of last season.
The second half brought further encouragement for Fulham as Arbeloa turned to youth, introducing 18-year-old Macaulay Zepa at the interval alongside fellow academy graduate Chibby Nwoko. Both showed flashes of promise, with Zepa's pace and directness down the flank catching the eye. Gonzalo García, one of Fulham's high-profile summer arrivals from Real Madrid, completed the scoring late on with a composed finish after rounding Wimbledon goalkeeper Nathan Bishop.
Arbeloa praised the impact of his fringe players and the depth now available to him. "You need the energy and different qualities," he said, reflecting on a night of squad rotation. "They need to feel they are important." He also highlighted the emergence of academy talent, adding: "One of the best news today. We know very well that academy players are very important."
The Fulham manager singled out summer signing Shea Charles, who made his first start for the club and impressed in midfield. "He's ready," Arbeloa said of the Northern Ireland international. He also had words of praise for Smith Rowe, saying the forward "deserves more minutes," and offered a simple explanation for Muniz's delight at finally breaking his scoring drought: "Goals are very important for strikers."
There was a minor scare when young defender Calvin Bassey, who had replaced the experienced Joachim Andersen at the back, was forced off after pulling up following a block tackle. Arbeloa downplayed the issue afterward, insisting there was "nothing to worry about."
For Wimbledon, despite the scoreline, Jackson took pride in his side's performance and the occasion itself. "A good night for the club because we get to test ourselves against the very best," he said. "And 5,000 fans got to enjoy themselves. They were a credit to the club."
Fulham will now turn their attention to a London derby against West Ham in the next round, buoyed by encouraging displays from both fringe first-team players and academy prospects under their new manager.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.