Phil Stant scored the only goal as Fulham beat ten-man Mansfield Town 1-0 in a relegation six-pointer at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Former Notts County striker Stant stabbed home from close range after the Stags had failed to deal with a free-kick that was worked out wide to John Marshall by full back Martin Pike. The visitors were furious that referee Rodger Gifford had sent off teenage centre back Kevin Gray for a foul on Jeff Eckhardt more than thirty yards from goal just a minute earlier. It seemed a mundane foul, much more worthy of a booking than a straight red card, and Gray’s dismissal definitely changed the complexion of this tense contest. Mansfield had barely got their breath back before Stant snuck away from his marker to deliver the game’s decisive moment.
Fulham had the better of the early stages with long balls from Jim Stannard posing serious problems for the Mansfield defence in blustery conditions down by the banks of the Thames. Gary Brazil nearly fired Fulham in front after latching onto a long throw from Stacey North and shooting at goal from the acutest of angles but visiting goalkeeper Andy Beasley did well to push the audacious effort over his crossbar.
Beasley saved smartly from Eckhardt on the hour mark after the dangerous Stant had dummied a Pike cross to give the midfielder a shooting chance, but Stant stole all three points for Fulham with a clever close range finish to give the Cottagers’ hopes of avoiding the drop a real shot in the arm.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, North, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, Scott, Brazil, Stant (Haag 84). Subs (not used): Onwere.
GOAL: Stant (68).
MANSFIELD TOWN: Beasley; Fairclough, Gray, Smalley, Whittle, Chambers, Spooner, Ford, Smith (Charles 23), Christie, Wilkinson. Subs (not used): Stringfellow.
BOOKED: Fairclough.
SENT OFF: Gray (67).
REFEREE: Rodger Gifford (Llanbradach).
ATTENDANCE: 3,555.
