Gary Brazil grabbed the only goal of the game as Fulham narrowly saw off Blackpool at Craven Cottage this afternoon after both sides were reduced to ten men.
Duncan Jupp helped the home side keep a clean sheet on his first-team debut just days after signing his first professional contract with the Whites – as the Scottish right-back recovered from being booked minutes into his first senior appearance to mark David Eyres out of the match. Eyre was eclipsed by the movement and intelligence of the talented Trevor Sinclair, who was watched by a number of Premier League scouts – including representatives from Queens Park Rangers.
Blackpool were made to pay for squandering a succession of early chances. Dave Bamber headed the best of them wide from Sinclair’s cross before Jupp blocked an Eyres effort and Jim Stannard smothered Sinclair’s shot as the attacking midfielder moved into a dangerous position. Julian Hails saw a fierce drive smartly saved by Matt Dickens before Brazil fired Fulham in front with a low shot into the bottom corner after the Tangerines had failed to clear their lines.
The complexion of the contest changed four minutes into the second half when Udo Onwere and Blackpool midfielder Andy Gouck were both harshly dismissed by referee Kevin Lynch after a set-to in the middle of the pitch that should have resulted in cautions at the worst. The game then became a scrappy, card-strewn affair that was only lifted once Mark Kelly came on for Peter Baah and added some craft to the Fulham midfield.
The visitors continued to create chances with Bamber, Davies and Horner all testing Stannard as Blackpool sought an equaliser but the Whites were able to keep a clean sheet and claim an impressive three points. Farrell and Brazil couldn’t convert one-on-one openings in stoppage time – but fortunately those failures proved not to be too costly for the Cottagers.
FULHAM: Stannard; G. Thomas, Pike, Morgan, Jupp, Bedrossian, Onwere, Hails, Baah (M. Kelly 60), Brazil, Farrell. Subs (not used): Haag.
BOOKED: Jupp, Farrell.
GOAL: Brazil (26).
SENT OFF: Onwere (49).
BLACKPOOL: Dickens; Briggs, Horner, Gore, Cook, Davies, Eyres, Gouck, Watson (Thornber 71), Sinclair, Bamber.
BOOKED: Briggs, Gore, Horner, Davies.
SENT OFF: Gouck (49).
REFEREE: Kevin Lynch (Wolverhampton).
ATTENDANCE: 4,633.
