McCormack back on form as Fulham beat nine-man Sheffield United

Fulham 3 Sheffield United 0

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Ross McCormack struck twice and Moussa Dembele grabbed his first of the season as Fulham progressed through the Capital One Cup second round via nine-man Sheffield United.

McCormack converted a penalty after he was fouled in the box by Craig Alcock on 62 minutes and then swept home the second 13 minutes later from the edge of the box.

The League One visitors finished the game two players down after substitute Jose Baxter and defender Kieran Wallace were both shown straight cards in the final moments of the game.

And Dembele found an empty net in stoppage time after a scramble in the United penalty area.

The scoreline will point towards a dominant Fulham performance but United were not without their chances to win the game, especially in a frustrating first half for the Whites.

Blades striker Martyn Woolford forced Andy Lonergan to tip a long-range shot round his left-hand post early on and, after Fulham’s Ryan Tunnicliffe smashed a half-volley against the bar on 12 minutes, Marc McNulty made Lonergan save well again, this time to his right.

Fulham enjoyed a 15-minute spell of dominance that saw Dembele almost find the far corner with a low shot from an acute angle, while McCormack, looking sharper than his previous outings, startled United keeper George Long early in the second half with a quick turn and shot.

The breakthrough came when McCormack attempted an overhead kick and was pulled backwards by Alcock and the Whites forward sent Long the wrong way from the spot.

United responded well and should have done better with a chance given to substitute Connor Dimaio but they then gave McCormack too much space on the edge of the box and allowed him to double Fulham’s lead.

Captain Baxter deserved to be dismissed after a late and dangerously high tackle on substitute Tom Cairney on 88 minutes and then Wallace hauled down Dembele as the last defender deep into stoppage time.

But there was still enough seconds left for Dembele to add a third in the aftermath of the resulting free-kick.