Justin Skinner’s second-half penalty provided Fulham with a vital victory over Blackpool in their push for a play-off place this afternoon.
The hosts were furious at the decisions of referee Paul Danson, who dished out four bookings for innocuous challenges for Tangerines players, before awarding what Blackpool believed to be a controversial spot-kick when veteran striker Gordon Davies was pushed in the penalty area. Skinner stepped forward to beat home goalkeeper Vince O’Keefe from twelve yards to give the Londoners the lead.
O’Keefe then produced excellent saves to keep the Seasiders in the contest. He blocked a drive from Davies and showed all of his agility to tip a header from Michael Cole over the bar. Cole, excellent again up front had a header cleared off the line by Blackpool defender Colin Methven, but Fulham survived a late period of home pressure to secure the slenderest of successes.
Ray Lewington’s side will feel the margin of victory might have been greater. Davies and Peter Scott linked up well in the first half and after the midfielder’s effort was blocked, the ball broke kindly to Fulham’s record goalscorer only for the Welsh forward to fire fractionally over the bar. O’Keefe then saved superbly from Clive Walker’s low drive as the Cottagers pushed for the opening goal just before the break.
Blackpool actually had the clearest opening of the first half. Keith Walwyn found space in the eighteen yard-box and lashed a low drive past Jim Stannard only for Doug Rougvie to scramble the ball clear having dashed back onto his own goal-line.
BLACKPOOL: O’Keefe; Methven, Elliott, Morgan, Burgess, M. Davies, Coughlin, Deary, Thompson (Wright 81), Walwyn, Garner.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Thomas, Rougvie, Langley, Marshall, Scott, Skinner, Walker, Cole, G. Davies. Subs (not used): Wilson, Gordon.
BOOKED: Scott.
GOAL: Skinner (pen 53).
REFEREE: Paul Danson (Leicestershire).
ATTENDANCE: 3,014.
