Relegation rivals Fulham and Blackpool played out a dire goalless draw at Craven Cottage this afternoon – which helped both beleaguered sides hopes of avoiding the drop this season.
Blackpool’s fifth point from their last six away matches was build on a diligent and miserly defensive display that utterly stifled any creativity that the Cottagers’ could hope to come up with. It wasn’t as if Fulham were full of fluid football in the final third – it said everything about the lack of action in either penalty area that Jeff Eckhardt, an eager member of the home side’s back four, was voted man of the match.
Tangerines’ right back Neil Matthews, making his first start since October, was determined in defence and provided a peach of a pass for Gary Brook that gave the former Scunthorpe striker a rare sight of the Fulham goal before Mark Newson made a superb saving tackle. The visitors gradually got to grips with Fulham’s most dangerous player, Gary Barnett, and their goal was largely untroubled with the home side’s best moment coming when veteran winger Clive Walker had a shot deflected behind by Ian Gore.
Jim Stannard had earlier tipped over a rising drive from David Eyres, whilst Andy Gouck also drilled a effort just wide of the Fulham goal from long distance. The second half lacked quality, with the first shot on target coming fifteen minutes from time when Walker tricked his way into the area and denied by a wonderful save from George Wood. Eckhardt did beat the Blackpool goalkeeper six minutes from time but the angle of post and bar denied the home side an undeserved winner.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling, Pike, Newson, Scott, Mauge (G. Thomas 61), Barnett, Walker, G. Davies, Milton. Subs (not used): Skinner.
BLACKPOOL: Wood; Matthews, Morgan, Gouck, Methven, Gore, M. Davies, Brook, Eyres, Garner, Coughlin. Subs (not used): Groves, Richards.
BOOKED: Morgan, Gouck.
REFEREE: Roger Gifford (Mid Glamorgan).
ATTENDANCE: 3,816.
