Ray Lewington raved about his little and large strike partnership after Gordon Davies and Colin Gordon inspired Fulham to come from behind and thrash Preston North End 4-1 at Deepdale this afternoon.
The vital victory, which saw Fulham leapfrog their promotion rivals in the race for a play-off place, looked very unlikely when Tony Philliskirk put Preston ahead in only the third minute. The striker’s right-footed finish from Warren Joyce’s pass flew past Jim Stannard and he could have put North End further ahead as Stannard made two smart saves inside the first 25 minutes.
Davies drew the Londoners level with an unerring right-footed finish just before the half hour after a deft touch from the gangly Gordon. The Welsh veteran added a second seven minutes later after more excellent approach play from Gordon and Jeff Eckhardt. The game was still in the balance until two minutes from time when former Chelsea winger Clive Walker lashed in a left-footed third from Justin Skinner’s superb ball.
Gordon got his reward for an afternoon of hard graft in the third minute of added time – turning home a shot from Davies to give the scoreline a more resounding look.
PRESTON NORTH END: Tunks; Swann (Harper 66), Jones, Atkins, Allardyce, Wrightson, Williams, Joyce, Ellis, Mooney (Bogie 45), Philliskirk.
GOAL: Philliskirk (3).
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Rougvie, Marshall, Scott, Skinner, Mauge, Walker, Cole, Davies, Gordon. Subs (not used): Wilson, Sayer.
GOALS: Davies (28, 35), Walker (88), Gordon (90+3).
ATTENDANCE: 8,190.
