Fulham – fighting to keep up the pacesetters in the Third Division promotion race – fought hard to earn their first away league point of the season at Southend United this afternoon.
But Ray Lewington’s side had the woodwork to thank for preserving a rare clean sheet as full back Shane Westley’s header late in the first half bounced off the crossbar and away to safety. The hosts kept their first clean sheet since September and had the better of the first half as they showed spadeloads of spirit in their bid to move away from the relegation zone.
Fulham struggled to create clear-cut chances but looked much more threatening after the interval with winger Clive Walker wasting their best chance when he fired wide with only Southend goalkeeper Paul Newell to beat.
SOUTHEND UNITED (4-4-2): Newell, Westley, Clark, Roberts, Johnson, Hall, Ling, Butler, Martin, Crown, Bennett. Subs (not used): Smith, McDonagh.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Thomas (Cawley 50), Elkins, Marshall, Scott, Barnett (Donnellan 82), Wilson, Walker, Cole, Davies.
BOOKED: Wilson, Cawley.
ATTENDANCE: 4,844.
