Julian Hails poached an equaliser midway through the second half as Fulham fought their way to a draw with Bradford City at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
More than 4,000 fans packed into the historic venue for Fulham’s first home game since the announcement of a deal with the Royal Bank of Scotland that should see the Whites’ future at the Cottage restored, but Bradford were determined to dispel any sense of a party atmosphere. Gavin Oliver grabbed an early goal by beating Simon Morgan and Jim Stannard to Paul Read’s corner and the skipper’s switch to the heart of the back four left the hosts without much impetus in the middle of the park. Fulham were fortunate not to be further behind as Sean McCarthy spurned several glorious chances before being replaced by manager Frank Stapleton.
In contrast, Don Mackay’s men looked particularly toothless up front, with Gary Brazil still seeming some way short of match sharpness and Sean Farrell easily marked out of the game by the Bradford defence. Hails was the shining light on the right flank, almost creating a goal for Brazil when one brilliant run took him past three City players only for Michael Duxbury to cut out his through ball. But Hails was not to be denied in the 70th minute when an intelligent run saw him prod home Mark Kelly’s ball.
Lee Duxbury might have won it late on for the away side but his shot struck the post and bounced away to safety. Stapleton admitted afterwards that this was a case of two points dropped for the Bantams.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, M. Kelly (Ferney 86), Hails, Brazil, Farrell. Subs (not used): Tucker.
BOOKED: M. Kelly.
GOAL: Hails (70).
BRADFORD CITY: Tomlinson; Williams, Heseltine, L. Duxbury, Oliver, Hoyle, Jewell, M. Duxbury, McCarthy (Stapleton 76), Torpey, Reid. Sub (not used): Tinnion.
GOAL: Oliver (7).
REFEREE: Roy Biggar (Croydon).
ATTENDANCE: 4,343.
