Sean Farrell scored his first goal since October to fire Fulham to their first win in six games as the Whites beat Brighton and Hove Albion at Craven Cottage this evening.
Farrell ended his five-month goal drought as early as the sixth minute when he punished Albion’s failure to clear a Mark Kelly cross by rifling a rising drive past Mark Beeney after a succession of ricochets in the penalty area. But the visitors missed a couple of good chances before half time with Kurt Nogan and Dean Wilkins going close as former Fulham winger Clive Walker enjoyed some joy down the right flank.
John Marshall came close to marking his 402nd Fulham appearance with a sublime strike moments before the interval but Beeney pulled off a brilliant save. Brighton were much more organised in the second period, but it was Don Mackay’s men who still made most of the running. Udo Onwere made sure of the points on the hour with a superb strike when his low drive beat Beeney after Wanderers had struggled to clear their lines from Julian Hails’ corner.
Fulham could have added further goals – with Kelly Haag particularly impressive throughout in place of the injured Gary Brazil – but Farrell had a header cleared off the line a few minutes after nodding an excellent Hails cross wide of the target.
FULHAM: Stannard; Morgan, Pike, Newsom, G. Thomas; Marshall, Onwere, Hails, M. Kelly; Farrell, Haag. Subs (not used): Baah, Ferney.
GOALS: Farrell (6), Onwere (60).
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION: Beeney; McCarthy, Chivers, Foster, Gallacher, Wilkins, Wilkinson, Nogan, Walker, Codner, Kennedy. Subs (not used): Munday, Funnelll.
ATTENDANCE: 5,402.
