Ian Branfoot claimed there is nothing he can do to arrest Fulham’s dismal form after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by ten-man Colchester United at Craven Cottage this evening.
The Whites, who failed to beat Hereford United at home on Saturday after the Bulls were reduced to nine men in the first half, looked set for more frustration when Steve Mardenborough side-footed home in acres of space at the back post in the 26th minute. Branfoot, who had dropped Mike Conroy from his starting line-up after the woeful weekend performance, watched as the Whites wasted good chances before the break with Michael Mison and Martin Thomas particularly culpable.
Colchester went down to ten men three minutes before the break when Tony Dennis received his marching orders for a second bookable offence. Fulham were gifted an equaliser just after the hour mark when a dreadful mix-up between visiting goalkeeper Carl Emberson and Paul Gibbs allowed Duncan Jupp to set up Nick Cusack for a tap-in, but the Whites couldn’t force a winner despite another thirty minutes of prolonged pressure.
An under-pressure Branfoot insisted afterwards that he is powerless to act because the Cottagers are penniless and will be unable to sign Sunderland loan star Martin Gray permanently because the club can’t afford his wages. He said: “There’s nothing I can do. I haven’t got any money. None. At one time or another over the past few weeks I’ve been of anything up to seven vital players.”
FULHAM: Lange; Jupp, Herrera, Gray, Moore, Mison, Thomas, Morgan, Brazil, Hamill, Cusack. Subs: Taylor, Conroy, Brooker.
GOAL: Cusack (61).
ATTENDANCE: 2,870
