A brilliant brace from Gary Brazil guided Fulham to a comfortable win over ten-man Plymouth Argyle at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The silky striker has missed much of the early part of the season due to injury but his return to the starting line-up gave Don Mackay’s attack the penetration needed to make the most of the numerical advantage handed to them when right back Gary Poole was sent off for a second bookable offence ten minutes before half time after bringing down John Marshall. The enduring excellence of Argyle’s former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton kept the visitors in the game before half time with the 43 year-old making magnificent saves to deny Brazil, Julian Hails and Mark Kelly.
Shilton’s clean sheet remained intact for only two minutes in the second half but the veteran custodian was blameless. Kelly parted the Plymouth back four with a peach of a pass that Brazil was able to control without breaking stride and stroke into the net. Gavin Nebbeling’s first Fulham goal doubled the home side’s advantage as the centre half turned in a terrific Hails cross on the hour mark.
Brazil’s second of the afternoon wrapped up the three points after excellent approach play from Hails and, even though Tony Adcock grabbed a consolation for Argyle with seven minutes remaining, the home fans went home very happy. They sportingly applauded Shilton at full time with the Plymouth keeper proving that class certainly is permanent following a fabulous performance in a losing cause.
FULHAM: Stannard; Nebbeling; G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Ferney, M. Kelly, Hails, Brazil, Farrell. Subs (not used): Onwere, Baah.
GOALS: Brazil (48, 75), Nebbeling (60).
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE: Shilton; Marker, Morgan, Poole, Edworthy, Skinner (Barlow 70), Joyce, McCall, Nugent, Regis (Marshall 60), Adcock.
BOOKED: Poole.
SENT OFF: Poole (34).
GOAL: Adcock (83).
REFEREE: Graham Poll (Hitchin).
ATTENDANCE: 5,439.
