The 2001-02 campaign delivered a respectable return to the top flight for Fulham as The Cottagers secured 13th place in their first Premier League season in 33 years. Leading the attack were the joint league top scorers Barry Hayles and the new French signing Steed Malbranque, who both netted 8 crucial goals. It was a successful year that saw the club comfortably avoid relegation, reach the FA Cup Semi-final for the first time in 27 years, and achieve European qualification via the Intertoto Cup, marking their solid establishment in the top division.