Mark Stein’s superb second half volley kept Stoke City top of the Division Two table but the Potters had to settle for a point at Fulham this afternoon.
Stein’s special strike – which flew into the far corner of Jim Stannard’s net from eight yards after he had swivelled to get into a shooting position from Wayne Biggins’ cross – was a fitting reward for Stoke’s second half bombardment of the Fulham goal. The home side had taken a surprise lead in the first half when was left completely unattended inside the six-yard box to nod Glen Thomas’ header into the net.
Adrian Heath, who made his second debut for Stoke just six months after leaving the Potteries to sign for Everton, admitted that his team-mates were second best for the first half hour. Fulham have looked totally transformed since the arrival of Don Mackay and were stronger in the tackle and sharper in possession. Mark Kelly energetically dominated the midfield and almost set up Haag for a second, but the striker’s shot from 20 yards drifted wide of goal.
The visitors were far more effective once Heath, who started wide on the right, was deployed centrally and gradually began to show the quality that has seen them lead the automatic promotion race for much of the campaign. Carl Beeston’s 20-yarder flew fractionally wide five minutes into the second half and Sean Foley appeared to be brought down in the box by Stannard, but referee Gurnam Singh curiously awarded only an indirect free-kick.
Stein’s superb strike levelled the scores – and Stoke seemed set fair to claim all three points. Heath spurned a glorious opportunity to put them in front two minutes later when he stabbed a shot just wide of the far post from Stein’s searching ball and Stannard then saved superbly from Beeston, whose volley from the edge of the box flew through a forest of arms and legs and looked destined for the net.
The Fulham goalkeeper made another brave stop at the death, smothering Biggins’ best attempts to bundle home Vince Overson’s header from close range after the Whites had failed to clear Heath’s corner. But Mackay could be happy that his side had gone toe-to-toe with the league leaders and came away with a point.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, M. Kelly, Hails, Brazil, Haag. Subs (not used): Tucker, Onwere.
BOOKED: M. Kelly.
GOAL: Haag (20).
STOKE CITY: Sinclair; Sandford, Cranson, Overson, Butler, Beeston, Kevan, Foley, Heath, Biggins, Stein. Subs (not used): Grimes, Bent.
GOAL: Stein (70).
REFEREE: Gurnam Singh (Wolverhampton).
ATTENDANCE: 5,779
