A brace from Nathan Blake secured three points for Cardiff City at Fulham but the Bluebirds’ victory was marred by ugly scenes within the Putney End on an unsettling afternoon by the banks of the River Thames.
Unruly scuffles started by the visiting supporters broke out shortly after kick-off and left terrified children sprinting from the scene of the trouble disconsolate at the disorder they had witnessed. The game was delayed by 25 minutes after the visiting fans climbed over the Putney End railings to threaten Fulham fans, with one hooligan carrying a knife. Cardiff boss Eddie May went onto the field to appeal for calm and eventually the Bluebirds were able to demonstrate their prowess on the pitch but some of the gloss was taken off a wonderful exhibition of centre forward play by the brilliant Nathan Blake.
The peerless young striker opened the scoring with a ferocious free-kick before scoring his second with a fine bit of opportunism after a dreadful error from Sean Farrell. Gary Thompson headed a third to seal the points for the visitors despite the desperate efforts of Jim Stannard and, although Fulham briefly threatened a revival when Lee Baddeley put through his own goal, their fightback petered out once Gary Brazil had missed a glorious chance to reduce their deficit to a single goal ten minutes from time.
FULHAM: Stannard; G. Thomas, Pike, Jupp (Baah 45), Marshall, Morgan, Cooper, Ferney (Onwere 45), Hails, G. Brazil, Farrell. Sub (not used): Harrison.
GOAL: Baddeley (o.g. 77)
CARDIFF CITY: Kite; Searle, Cornwell (Millar 85), Perry, Ratcliffe, D. Brazil; James (Baddeley 60), Richardson, Bird, Blake, Thompson. Subs (not used): Grew.
GOALS: Blake (14, 47), Thompson (55).
REFEREE: Ian Hemley.
ATTENDANCE: 5,696.
