Blues exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle with a disappointing performance, losing 3-1 to Fulham at Loftus Road.

Goals by Facundo Sava, Bjarne Goldbaek and Louis Saha put Fulham's name in Mondays' draw for the fourth Round.

Today's game saw the debut of Senegalese full back Ferdinand Coly replacing the injured Michael Johnson in defence, with Jeff Kenna switching to centre half.
Darryl Powell replaced the suspended Aliou Cisse in midfield.

Fulham took the lead in the 11th minute with the first real chance of the game.

Steed Melbranque fed the ball through to Facundo Sava who finished with a low shot past Nico Vaesen and although the keeper got his hand to it, the ball still found it's way into the net.

Two minutes later Grainger tested the keeper with a trademark free kick from 20 yards which keeper Maik Taylor could only push round the post for a corner.

Fulham were now dictating the play as Blues struggled to cope with their quick passing football. 

The Cottagers doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Robbie Savage's clearance fell into Bjarne Goldbaek's path who ran on into the box before hitting the ball low past Vaesen.

Blues could not get their game together as they tried to claw something back.

On the half hour Vaesen had to race out to clear from Malbranque following
Kenna's slip.

Savage was showing his mettle with a shuddering tackle on Alain Goma which eventually resulted in a drop ball and a hand shake.

Vaesen had to be alert again racing out to clear Malbranque's through ball, under pressure from Saha.

Blues were finding it difficult to get out of their own half and Saha volleyed wide following Sava's knock down.

Steve Bruce made a couple of changes at half time, replacing Jovan Kirovski and Clinton Morrison with Craig Fagan and Stern John, the latter making his return after a knee operation.

However Fulham were three up inside 45 seconds of the restart when Sava passed back to Saha who turned the defence and placed the ball past Vaesen from just inside the box.

Fagan almost grabbed his first senior goal for Blues when John's flick-on dropped for the youngster who hit a first time volley that the keeper just got his hand to.

Moments later Sava almost grabbed his second when the impressive  Malbranque crossed inside but the Argentinean striker hit the ball over the ball with just Vaesen to beat.

Paul Devlin was first in the book for a foul on goalscorer Sava in the 57th minute.

The game began to get a bit heated with tackles flying in from both sides but still Blues could not create any further chances.

Midway through the half Louis Saha had another chance to double his tally when Sean Davis set him up, but Vaesen was there to save the shot, conceding a corner.

Bryan Hughes replaced Paul Devlin in the 68th minute.

One of the few bright lights of today's game was the substitute performance of Fagan.

Fulham continued to dominate and Davis flashed a header wide of Vaesen's far post from Goldbaek's cross.

Fulham replaced Sylvain Legwinski with John Collins in the 76th minute.

Ten minutes from time Fagan tackled Saha who went to the ground rather easily, much to the annoyance of the teenager who let the Fulham striker know what he thought.

A minute later Davis shot over the bar from close range following a long range effort by Goldbaek.

With time running out Fulham had a further effort ruled out for offside following John Collins earlier shot.

Savage got his obligatory yellow card by Mr Barry, for a foul on substitute Collins.

In the dying moments Louis Saha hit the post and Sean Davis skimmed the bar of the empty net with the rebound.

John registered a consolation goal for the visitors in injury time when he fired in a 26-yard shot that Taylor could only palm into his own net.

Match Report by Jon Shaw