A late screamer from Sean Farrell rescued a point for a flaky Fulham against Bradford City at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The Bantams travelled to south west London in highs spirits after a strong start to the new season, but they took a while to get into their stride as the Whites made the stronger start. Farrell fired a second minute volley just wide before Gary Brazil headed a good chance over the bar before Martin Pike turned a shot wide when it seemed simpler to score from close range after more expert approach work from Brazil.
Farrell headed wide from a Pike corner, but Fulham were dealt a massive blow on the stroke of half time when Sean McCarthy, watched by scouts from Crystal Palace, outfought Simon Morgan for a loose ball and stroked his tenth goal of the season past a startled Jim Stannard. City had hardly been in the game as an attacking force, but led 1-0 at the interval.
Mark Cooper came on at half time and played a part in Fulham’s first chance after the resumption when Brazil headed Peter Baah’s cross wide of Paul Tomlinson’s goal. Brazil ballooned a shot over after Cooper had opened up the visiting defence before Bradford, with the excellent Noel Blake proving an adept organiser sought to shut up shop. They were only denied the three points when Farrell latched onto Pike’s throw in and found the net with a dipping drive from fully 30 yards.
Bradford looked the likelier winners in a frantic final quarter of an hour but McCarthy’s chip clipped the crossbar and Peter Showler also went close with a powerful drive.
FULHAM: Stannard; G. Thomas, Pike, Jupp, Marshall, Morgan, Ferney, Hails (Cooper 45), Baah, Brazil, Farrell. Subs (not used): Harrison, Angus.
GOAL: Farrell (75).
BRADFORD CITY: Tomlinson; Blake, Richards, Williams, Heseltine, Robson (Stapleton 55), Showler, Steele, Reid, Jewell, McCarthy. Subs (not used): Lawford.
GOAL: McCarthy (45).
REFEREE: Alan Gunn.
ATTENDANCE: 4,221.
