One wonders how many spectators will bother to turn up for the replay after Fulham and Wolves played out a bore draw at Craven Cottage on Saturday. 

This was the tragedy of the FA Cup, where most of the excitement comes from hearing about events and goals at other grounds.

Even when chances presented themselves, they were squandered. In the only moment of note in the first half, Wolves’ Bakary Sako did brilliantly on the left before firing a 25-yard shot across the face of the goal and onto the foot of the post, the ball fell kindly to Leon Clarke but somehow the striker conspired to send the ball wide.

“It was the standout chance of the game,” admitted Kenny Jacket, who was the more pleased of the two bosses. “We wish he scored, he wishes he scored.” Add to that list every neutral in the sparse crowd.

Sako was once again Wolves’ standout player and he will not be available for the replay as he will be at the African Cup of Nations. 

There is a chance that this might be his last game in a Wolves shirt. “Every window, I’m worried that we will lose him,” said the Wolves manager. 

“There is constant speculation on him. He’s done very well in the last 18 months, both in League One and the Championship and has been very consistent. Of course I hope that we keep him.”

The second half produced more goalmouth incident, with Fulham’s Marcus Bettinelli the busier of the two goalkeepers. 

James Henry had efforts saved, while Fulham’s best moment came in the dying moments when midfielder Seko Fofana burst through on goal but failed to beat the advancing Carl Ikeme.

Kit Symons tried to put a brave face on the performance. “There was a lot of blood and guts,” he said. “We lacked that bit of quality, graft and guile for either team to get a goal.” 

One imagines that Symons will be knocking on his chairman’s door asking for players to be brought in in a bid to resurrect Fulham’s flagging season.