Substitute Brian Griffiths came off the bench to bag brace – including a last minute penalty – as Wigan Athletic came from behind to beat Fulham at Springfield Park this afternoon.
Fulham looked the better side in the first half and took the lead five minutes into the second half when Gordon Davies converted a cross from Clive Walker. Bryan Hamilton replaced Jimmy Carberry with Griffiths and the striker came with the goods. He levelled within seconds – tapping in after a goalmouth scramble – and then kept his cool to convert a last-minute spot kick after Andy Piling had been fouled by Jeff Eckhardt.
Griffiths admitted afterwards that he changed his penalty-talking strategy when he saw Davies passing on advice to Fulham goalkeeper Jim Stannard. “My policy is usually to close my eyes and whack it. It was nerve racking, but I decided to change my mind after I saw Davies talking to their keeper. Fortunately, it paid off.”
WIGAN ATHLETIC: Hughes; Patterson, Tankard, Beesley, Senior, Thompson, Piling, Rimmer, Ward, Carberry (Griffiths 51), Daley.
BOOKED: Tankard, Patterson.
GOALS: Griffiths (52, pen 89).
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling, Pike, Scott, Bremner, Mauge, Barnett, Walker, Davies, Milton. Subs (not used): Lewington, Ferney.
BOOKED: Pike, Eckhardt, Nebbeling.
GOAL: Davies (50).
REFEREE: Alan Dawson.
ATTENDANCE: 2,163.
