Substitute Gordon Davies grabbed an 86th minute winner to give promotion-chasing Fulham a precious win over a spirited Southend United side at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Veteran Welsh striker Davies, who replaced Michael Cole with an a quarter of an hour remaining, showed that he hasn’t lost the knack of sniffing out a crucial goal with four minutes left on the clock. He linked up with fellow substitute Kevin Hoddy, collecting the midfielder’s perceptive pass, and finding half a yard inside the box before his shot was deflected over the helpless Paul Sansome by luckless defender Danny O’Shea.
The result was something of a travesty as the struggling Shrimpers passed up a number of presentable chances to take the lead themselves. Strikers Roy McDonagh and David Crown were denied by sharp reaction saves from Fulham goalkeeper Jim Stannard, whilst Martin Ling sent a free header wide from a set play.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, G. Thomas, Elkins, Langley, Skinner, Barnett (Hoddy 74), Wilson, Walker, Cole (Davies 74), Sayer.
GOAL: Davies (86).
SOUTHEND UNITED: Sansome; Westley, Brush, Johnson, O’Shea, Hall, Ling, Martin, Butler, McDonough, Crown.
BOOKED: Sansome.
ATTENDANCE: 4,754.
