Fulham midfielder Simon Morgan scored the only goal of the game as Preston North End suffered a fifth successive scoreless trip to London at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Morgan’s header four minutes before half time proved decisive but North End boss Les Chapman wouldn’t have been happy with how his his defenders switched off. Both Morgan and Mark Newson found it far too easy to get free from a corner, with the latter guiding an intelligent finish over the stranded Alan Kelly – and all of Preston’s hard work in keeping their former forward Gary Brazil and on-loan striker Andy Cole quiet had gone to waste.
Fulham had chances to extend their lead in the second half but Kelly saved smartly from Cole and Peter Scott before substitute Kelly Haag headed wide from a Martin Pike cross. Right winger David Thompson, who came on as a substitute midway through the second period, created a good chance for Graham Shaw but the striker dragged his shot wide of Jim Stannard’s goal.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, Onwere (Cobb 68), Scott, Brazil, Cole (Haag 85).
BOOKED: Cole, Pike.
GOAL: Morgan (41).
PRESTON NORTH END: Kelly; Cross (Williams 55), Swann, Flynn, Wrightson, Senior, Joyce, Ashcroft, Cartwright, Thomas (Thompson 68), Shaw.
ATTENDANCE: 4,022.
