Fulham and Grimsby Town played out a dour draw that satisfied neither side at Craven Cottage this afternoon – with points precious for both teams at either end of the table.
The Mariners could console themselves with the fact that their promotion rivals had slipped up and they had hardly hit the high standards that they have set so far this season, whilst Alan Dicks seemed positively delighted at having claimed a point against one of the league’s leading sides. But there was little in Fulham’s play to suggest they could have pinched all three points – and Grimsby came close to nicking the win themselves at the death when substitute Mark Smith missed a glorious chance.
How much Dicks is in charge of first-team affairs with Jimmy Hill increasingly influential in tactics, training and team selection is a question only the tight-lipped pair can answer. Fulham were much more direct against Town this afternoon and successfully nullified the marauding midfield runs of John Cockerill and Shaun Cunnington. But for all their endeavour, Fulham only forced visiting goalkeeper Steve Sherwood into a single save, when he smothered a shot from Phil Stant at his near post before Garry Birtles cleared the danger.
But the grizzled veteran Paul Futcher organised Grimsby’s defence superbly, ensuring that Stant got little reward for another afternoon of honest toil up front. The Mariners rhythm was undoubtedly disrupted by an injury to Tony Rees, who battled manfully until the hour mark but struggled to run off a first half knock. The visitors were restricted to a first-time strike from Kevin Jobling that flew wide of Jim Stannard’s far post and Cunnington’s drive that was blocked by Simon Morgan,
Grimsby looked a lot more dangerous when Dave Gilbert was given a free role after the interval, with the former Northampton Town midfielder denied by a fingertip save from Stannard when he let fly with an effort from 22 yards that clipped the crossbar. Referee Roger Pawley missed the goalkeeper’s touch altogether – giving a goal-kick.
Substitute Smith should have snatched all three points with four minutes remaining but he might have been distracted by the presence of an onrushing Stannard as he weighed up what to do with Neil Woods’ clever pass. Defeat would have been harsh on Fulham – but you feel the Whites need more from their home games if they are to pull themselves out of the relegation mire at this late stage of the season.
FULHAM: Stannard; North, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan (Brazil 77), Newson, Onwere (M. Kelly 81), Skinner, Haag, Stant.
BOOKED: Morgan.
GRIMSBY TOWN: Sherwood; Cunnington, Futcher, Jobling, McDermott, Watson, Gilbert, Rees (Smith 60), Cockerill, Birtles, Woods. Subs (not used): Croft.
BOOKED: Cockerill.
REFEREE: Roger Pawley (Cambridgeshire).
ATTENDANCE: 5,464.
