LONDON // On a day that celebrated romance, Simon Davies ruined the mood for this season's FA Cup fairytale side.
The Fulham midfielder scored his first goal in 11 months to end the brave resistance of Notts County, the League Two team who were the lowest-ranked side left in the competition.
It took 23 minutes to break them as Davies moved on to a long ball from Brede Hangeland and fired through the legs of John Thompson and into the corner.
Bobby Zamora, Damien Duff and Stefano Okaka added other goals to send Roy Hodgson's side into the quarter-finals.
For County, economic survival and promotion are their targets now. Having been taken over for the third time on Friday, finances, not football, have dominated many of the headlines for them season. But their cup run through to Craven Cottage yesterday had lifted the spirits of their followers during the bleak times.
Their side did them proud again, but could not repeat the win over Premier League Wigan in the last round. On that occasion, they took their chances. This time, they could not.
Dave Kevan, County's caretaker manager, said: "We thought the scoreline flattered them. We have enjoyed our cup run and had a fantastic time, but promotion was always our aim and that's what we are fully focused on."
Ben Davies showed County's threat when he thumped a 25-yard shot that Mark Schwarzer, the Fulham keeper, did not expect, but reacted well to push over.
Lee Hughes, their 22-goal hero, created a bit of space for a shooting chance in the 18th minute, but Schwarzer saved to his left.
And the big Australian made the most important save of all in the 39th minute.
With his side only 1-0 ahead, Schwarzer stretched a left hand to turn away a low effort from Craig Westcarr after he had cleverly worked an opening by twisting and turning Chris Baird in the box.
With Fulham's next attack, they scored again through Zamora. Nicky Shorey made a good run, found David Elm, who flicked on for his strike partner to volley home his 13th of the season.
It was unlucky for County, whose efforts deserved more.
The second half was a similar story as County rallied, but were denied and then punished by the clinical Cottagers. The lively Davies was busy and bewitching and had three attempts on goal that might have given the visitors, winners in 1894, a lifeline. It never came and Duff showed how to finish, cutting in from the left before firing a rasping shot inside Kasper Schmeichel's near post.
The Dane, watched by his father Peter, had looked composed in the first half and made a superb block with his legs to deny David Elm.
But he could do little when Fulham added a fourth in the 79th minute. Stephen Hunt miscontrolled and Okaka needed no invitation as he latched on to the loose ball and finished calmly.
"It was a potential banana skin and we are happy we did not slip on it," said Hodgson, the Fulham manager. "We are in the hat for the quarter-finals and I think we have got as good a chance as the others. It would mean a lot to us to win it. It would be another major step forward in the progression of the club."
akhan@thenational.ae
Dubai World Cup Carnival Card:
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8.15pm: Cape Verdi Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,600m
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The specs: 2018 Genesis G70
Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000
Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
