Fulham 3 Dnipro 0: Dempsey at the double as Cottagers close in on league spot

 By Laura Williamson
Martin Jol refused to talk about revenge after Thursday night's win against a team led by Juande
Ramos, the man who replaced him as Tottenham boss four years ago.
But the Fulham manager continued to have a dig at the Dnipro coach after his side strolled to a comprehensive first-leg victory in this Europa League play-off.

Dead-eye Dempsey: Clint celebrates after scoring his first goal with his Fulham team-mates

MATCH FACTS

Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs, Duff (Dembele 66), Murphy (Etuhu 67), Sidwell, Kasami (Johnson 88), Dempsey, Zamora.
Subs: Etheridge, Riise, Senderos, Gecov.
Booked: Duff, Zamora
Dnipro: Lastuvka, Kravchenko, Mandziuk, Kulakov, Giuliano, Konoplyanka, Cheberyachko, Denisov, Boateng, Rotan, Kalinic. Subs: Kanibolotskiy, Inkoom, Oliynyk, Strinic, Zozulya, Shakov, Antonov.
Referee: Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic)

First-half goals from Aaron Hughes and Clint Dempsey stamped Fulham’s authority on the tie before Dempsey added another after the restart.
Asked if he would consider managing in the Ukraine, Jol repeated his pre-match quip: ‘I’ve heard they pay well out there. If you get a dizzying offer you always have to think about that.’
Ramos said Spurs made him a ‘dizzying offer’ after he was photographed meeting club officials in July 2007, when Jol was still in charge. But here Jol was back in control, with Ramos left to field questions about his future.
Jol said: ‘It was important not to concede tonight because they are a strong team and you never know what to expect away. I was very pleased.

Finishing touch: Dempsey slots home Fulham's second as bobby Zamora looks on

Deadlock broken: Aaron Hughes (centre) slides the opening goal past Dnipro's Jan Lastuvka

‘It’s not about him or me. Everybody tells me he’s a good guy. I don’t have any problem with him. If I see him now I will shake his hand.’

Making his point: Striker Zamora calls for the ball at a Fulham set piece

Fulham have never been beaten at home in 20 European outings and Ramos’s side never looked like doing so. Dnipro, led by former Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic, failed to create many clear chances until Jol rang the changes in the latter stages.

Head boy: Dempsey rises highest to nod in the home side's third goal of the night

Fulham dominated, with Pajtim Kasami impressing on his full debut and Steve Sidwell and Brede Hangeland threatening from set pieces. Hughes scored only his second Fulham goal after 39 minutes, steering home Matthew Briggs’ cross.

Dempsey doubled the lead four minutes later from Sidwell’s perfect ball, and the American made it three after 49 minutes, heading Kasami’s cross past former Fulham goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka.

Familiar face: Ex-Spurs boss Junade Ramos (right) was back in town with his new side, Dnipro

Tussle: Steve Sidwell (left) gets to grips with Victor Giuliano (right) in a midfield battle