Fulham twice came from behind to draw with promotion-chasing Swansea City in south Wales this afternoon with second half strikes from Simon Morgan and Julian Hails earning Don Mackay’s men a share of the spoils.
The home side looked in total control in a first half that saw Frank Burrows’ men in complete command with Russell Coughlin dictating play imperiously from the middle of the park. They took the lead when Paul Wimbleton rifled an effort past Jim Stannard after Fulham failed to deal with a long throw from Andy Legg. But the Swans failed to add to that goal despite dominating the first half and, once the Whites had man-marked Coughlin and kept an eye on the forward runs of Des Lyttle, they were able to get back into the contest.
There was definitely a stroke of luck about Simon Morgan’s leveller ten minutes after the interval, though. The Fulham captain’s ambitious effort from fully 35 yards didn’t look to be troubling Roger Freestone until it took a wicked deflection off the unfortunate Keith Walker and looped over the helpess ex-Chelsea goalkeeper. But Swansea shrugged off that setback to restore their lead within four minutes as Colin West raced onto a through ball from Steve Jenkins, burst past the attentions of Glen Thomas and beat Jim Stannard with a lovely low effort from 25 yards.
But a bad error from Freestone handed Fulham a second equaliser only two minutes later. The goalkeeper came to collect a cross from John Marshall but spilled it under pressure from Jeff Eckhardt and Hails was on hand to score. Freestone did make amends with a fine save from Hails late on and Burrows admitted afterwards that his side were hanging on for a draw at the death.
SWANSEA CITY: Freestone; Harris, Walker, Legg, Lyttle, Jenkins, Cornforth (Ford 80), Coughlin, Wimbleton, Hayes (Bowen 58), West.
BOOKED: Harris, Legg.
GOALS: Wimbleton (19), West (59).
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, Onwere, Cooper, McGlashan (Ferney 45), Hails. Subs (not used): Tierling.
GOALS: Morgan (55), Hails (61).
REFEREE: R. Hamer (Bristol).
ATTENDANCE: 5,048.
