Fulham continued their unbeaten run in November with a hard-fought goalless draw against Bury at Gigg Lane this afternoon.
The improving Cottagers have now only lost one of their last eight league matches and had to be pleased with a share of the spoils against a Bury side who are unbeaten at home since the opening day of the season. The visitors began brightly and fashioned an early chance when John Marshall’s ball in from the right saw centre back Mark Blake head narrowly wide.
Simon Morgan then saw a shot cleared off the line by former Brentford defender Roger Stanislaus as the away side dominated the first half an hour. It took Bury 32 minutes to test Jim Stannard with Kevin Moore and Blake largely keeping the home forwards quiet. The visiting goalkeeper spread himself well to deny Chris Lucketti and Fulham might have profited from that miss towards the end of the first period but for Gary Kelly bravely blocking a threatening cross from Micky Adams.
Miguel de Souza’s arrival at the start of the second half perked up the Bury forward line, but Lucketti was still found wanting for close range – somehow spooning a shot over the bar from five yards just after the hour when it seemed simpler to score. Iain Hulme came close to breaking the deadlock but he was inches away from turning home a Stanislaus cross and the home side got even nearer to the opening goal when Chris Pugh headed a through ball beyond Stannard, only for Mark Blake to clear the danger.
Veteran midfielder Terry Hurlock was furious when his progress towards goal was halted by an incorrect offside decision by referee William Burns. The visitors had to endure a testing finale as de Souza beat three defenders before cracking a shot across the crossbar with Stannard beaten and Pugh then missed an open goal, but Fulham fully deserved to become the first team since August to leave Gigg Lane with a point.
FULHAM: Stannard; Jupp, Herrera, Hurlock, Moore, Blake, Marshall, Morgan, Cusack, Cork, Adams. Subs (not used): Harrison, Angus, Brazil.
REFEREE: William Burns (Scarborough)
ATTENDANCE: 3,323.
