League leaders Southend United strolled to a convincing 3-0 victory at Craven Cottage this afternoon that pushed struggling Fulham closer to the relegation trapdoor.
The home side’s goalkeeper Jim Stannard had a day to forget after being one of the Whites’ most consistent performers in the past couple of months. Stannard – like his leaky defence – struggled in the blustery conditions by the banks of the Thames and Alan Dicks’ relegation candidates never really recovered from their number one misjudging an early corner from Steve Tilson.
The Fulham goalkeeper was favourite to claim Tilson’s flag-kick in the fifth minute but dropped the inswinging corner at the feet of Ian Benjamin under pressure from David Martin. The striker couldn’t believe his luck and stabbed home on the half volley at the near post from barely a yard out. Stannard compounded that mistake in the 21st minute when he got nowhere near another Tilson delivery with Martin sending a free header past the best efforts of Simon Morgan on the line.
The Blues made sure of all three points seven minutes from time. Dean Austin’s floated ball down the right wing looked as if it was going to be intercepted by Jeff Eckhardt but Andy Ansah got there first, won a fifty-fifty and drove towards the penalty area before lashing a low drive past Stannard from the edge of the area.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, North, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Scott, Skinner, Brazil, Davies (Milton 70), Stant. Subs (not used): Langley.
SOUTHEND UNITED: Sansome; Locke, Scully, Clark, Powell, Austin, Ansah, Tilson, Martin, Benjamin, Angell.
BOOKED: Powell.
GOALS: Benjamin (4), Martin (22), Ansah (83).
ATTENDANCE: 5,113.
