New Fulham manager Micky Adams watched the Whites win their first game in seven matches against Exeter City this afternoon and then said: “If I did not have confidence in the players here, I would have taken the job.”
“I took charge for the two matches before this and we drew both games and this win can only be a good sign.”
Adams denied he would be a puppet of the man who brought him in from Southampton, Ian Branfoot, who has been moved upstairs into a newly-created post of general manager. He said: “I’m the boss and I work with the players.” The 34 year-old, who has been a player-coach since signing from Southampton on a free transfer in the summer of 1994, pointed to the fact that he had already implemented a change in style since taking the reigns. “I don’t want aimless long balls. I want quality balls played up to front men with crosses and shots firing in [on the opposition goal].”
Striker Rob Scott profited from the new manager’s approach by scoring his first Fulham goals since his £30,000 move to Craven Cottage from Sheffield United in January. Fulham had begun brightly with Phil Barber curling a free-kick just over the bar before Scott broke his Fulham duck in the fifth minute. The striker beat Noel Blake to the ball and burst clear, cutting inside before beating visiting keeper Peter Fox with a fine finish from fifteen yards out.
The visitors tried to hit back immediately and Fulham goalkeeper Tony Lange saved well from Mark Gavin and Mark Cooper, who was booed by the home fans on his return to Craven Cottage. But it was the Whites who had by far the better of the play. Mike Conroy might have had a hat-trick on another day. The Scottish striker couldn’t get on the end of a fine cross from Martin Thomas, before somehow missing the target altogether when he seemed simpler to score after a superb one-two with Thomas.
Scott glanced in his second of the afternoon from a fine left-wing cross from Barber after lovely link-up play between Thomas and Cusack. Adams’ side could easily have been home and drive but a brilliant double save by Fox – denying Conroy and Cusack in quick succession – kept Exeter in the contest and substitute Leon Braithwaite set up a frantic finale when he beat Mark Blake to a right-wing cross and squeezed a shot through Lange, but the hosts hung on for a vital three points.
FULHAM: Lange; Marshall, Herrera, Morgan, Cusack, M. Blake, Thomas, McAree (Williams 89), Cusack, Scott, Barber (Hamill 85). Subs (not used): Moore.
GOALS: Scott (6, 70).
EXETER CITY: Fox; Chamberlain (Sharpe 88), Hughes, Buckle (Parsley 54), Blake, Richardson, Gavin, Cooper, Bradbury (Brathwaite 64), Bailey, Came.
GOAL: Braithwaite (74)
REFEREE: Paul Taylor (Cheshunt).
ATTENDANCE: 4,018
