Goals from Bryan Griffiths and Mike Pilling gave Wigan Athletic a comfortable win over travel-sick Fulham at Springfield Park this afternoon.
The Whites were up against in from the off and could have conceded in the first minute when a poor back pass from John Marshall allowed Griffiths to intercept and run in behind the Fulham defence but the Latics midfielder dragged his shot wide of Jim Stannard’s goal. Stannard then kept the visitors in the contest turning aside a Brian Griffiths drive after the forward had reached a through ball from Neil Rimmer and surged away from Simon Morgan. The Fulham goalkeeper kept out a header from the lively Brian Griffiths and then gathered a tame effort on the follow-up from Phil Daley.
It was no surprise that Fulham, whose only threat in the first fifteen minutes came from a powerful drive by Steve Milton that whistled wide of the far post, went behind. Ian Griffiths unlocked the visiting defence with a wonderfully weighted through ball that saw Brian Griffiths burst clear and, after taking his time, lash the opening goal past Stannard high into the roof of the net. The Cottagers did come close to an equaliser before half time as Gordon Davies’ acrobatic overhead kick flew just over Phil Hughes’ crossbar.
The Latics started the second half strongly with Stannard stopping a near post header from Phil Daley before brilliant denying Scottish midfielder Ronnie Hildersley’s venomous volley. The Fulham number one then did superbly to deny Daley again ten minutes after the break. Stannard was alert to the danger when Daley capitalised on some hesitancy in defence to reach a lofted ball from Pilling, whilst Morgan had Fulham’s best chance – slaloming his way past three Wigan defenders – only for Hughes to advance off his line and end that dangerous run.
Fulham’s hopes of a fightback were finished in the final minute when substitute Pilling produced a peach of a finish from 25 yards, taking advantage of being afforded far too much room by the Fulham defence to tee himself up and unleash a powerful drive that Stannard could do nothing about.
WIGAN ATHLETIC: Hughes; Johnson, Tankard, Atherton, Patterson, Rimmer, Hildersley (Jones 63), Langley, B. Griffiths (Pilling 60), I. Griffiths, Daley.
GOALS: B. Griffiths (15), Pilling (90).
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling (Ferney 75), North, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Skinner, Brazil, Davies (Haag 65), Milton.
REFEREE: Gurinder Singh (Wolverhampton)
ATTENDANCE: 2,258.
