Martin Pike converted a contentious last-minute penalty to earn Fulham a deserved point against AFC Bournemouth at Craven Cottage this evening.
The Cherries hotly disputed the late penalty given when Morgan was pushed as he dribbled into the penalty area in search of another late goal. The decision definitely looked dubious but Pike, who had earlier been robbed by Paul Wood for Bournemouth’s goal, stepped up to send Fulham’s first spot-kick of the season perfectly into far corner. Fulham boss Don Mackay said afterwards: “I don’t know if it was a penalty, but Morgan was definitely pushed. What should he do? Not fall down? I thought we should have had a penalty earlier when he was pushed the goalkeeper at a corner”.
Fulham were lightweight up front without the suspended Sean Farrell and Gary Brazil, who was missing through injury. Bournemouth’s Efan Ekoku, watched by a host of Premier League managers, had little impact on proceedings but the visitors were the sharper in the early stages. They took the lead when Wood pinched the ball from Pike and raced past Glen Thomas to shoot beyond stunned Stannard. The Fulham goalkeeper saved superbly shortly afterwards from Alex Watson’s header after the home defence dozed off at a corner.
Mackay’s men finally got going shortly before half-time and could easily have gone in level at the break. Morgan saw a shot well saved by Vince Bartram from twenty yards before Julian Hails hammered a free-kick straight at the Bournemouth goalkeeper. Mark Newson then had an effort stabbed off the line by Adrian Pennock.
A dull second period was enlivened as both sides pushed for a goal in the closing stages. Neil Masters came exceptionally close with a long-range effort that Stannard somehow kept out before a Mark Kelly curler flew fractionally wide from thirty yards. Bartram palmed a powerful Pike drive over the bar – before the late penalty drama that incensed Bournemouth boss Tony Pulis. Even he couldn’t argue that the Whites didn’t deserve a point, however.
FULHAM: Stannard; Nebbeling, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, Ferney (Baah 75), M. Kelly, Hails, Haag. Subs (not used): P. Kelly.
GOAL: Pike (pen 90).
AFC BOURNEMOUTH: Bartram; Murray, Morrell, Watson, Pennock; Wood, Mundee, Mean, O’Driscoll; Fletcher, Regis.
BOOKED: Pennock.
GOAL: Wood (7).
ATTENDANCE: 3,424.
