Alan Pleased

Alan Pardew was at Loftus Road to see Fulham overcome Everton in the FA cup last night - and is happy that the Hammers now face Fulham.

"It was a very even game, I have to say, but in terms of the result I was pleased for a number of reasons," he says.

"One, it is in London, so our fans don't have to travel all the way up to Liverpool; and secondly, it could feel like a home game with our supporters there.

"A couple of fans I spoke to this week were really hoping it was Fulham so they didn't have the long journey and the cost of it - that is important."

The fifth round tie will kick off at 3 o'clock, with no live coverage, whereas had Everton won it would have been a 5:35 kickoff on television.

SHOULD A REPLAY BE REQUIRED THIS WILL TAKE PLACE AT UPTON PARK ON TUESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2004 KICK OFF 7.45PM.