Micky Adams revealed an early-morning training session was the reason Fulham were able to perfect a set-piece routine that delivered a precious point on the road at Rochdale this afternoon.
Adams, in charge of the Whites in the absence of Ian Branfoot, ordered his players out of their beds early to practice corners and their extra sessions paid dividends when Mike Conroy headed in his eleventh goal of the season at Spotland. He told his post-match press conference:
“It was very rewarding to score from a set-piece. I got the lads out of their beds this morning, took them out on a training pitch in Manchester and had them practising that kind of thing for three quarters of an hour. It obviously did them good.”
Adams was pleased with Fulham’s spirit and attractive brand of football, especially after Duncan Jupp’s 47th minute red card for elbowing Rochdale striker Steve Whitehall. The Scottish under-21 international was fortunate to still be on the pitch after a rash challenge on Dean Martin.
The Whites began brightly enough with Rochdale goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington, on loan from Manchester United, called into action after two minutes to thwart Conroy after excellent build up play from John Marshall and Rodney McAree. At the other end, Mark Stuart shot straight at Tony Lange having beaten Jupp and Marshall to the ball just outside the box. He then delivered the opening goal just a few minutes later when Fulham went to sleep from a short corner where the Rochdale striker fired in at the back post from eight yards after taking down a cross from John Deary.
Fulham equalised in the 28th minute through the corner routine that so delighted player-coach Adams. Deary couldn’t clear Phil Barber’s corner at the near post and Conroy headed home at the far stick to bring the visitors level. The visitors were arguably still the stronger side after being reduced to ten men shortly after half time.
Cusack watched his free-kick scrambled off the line by the Rochdale defence and Adams praised his side afterwards for restricting Rochdale to just two long-range efforts from Peter Valentine and David Thompson despite the home side’s numerical advantage.
FULHAM: Lange; Jupp, Herrera, Blake, Morgan, Cusack, Blake, Marshall, McAree, Conroy (Hamill 75), Scott (Williams 75), Barber. Sub (not used): Moore.
GOAL: Conroy (28).
ATTENDANCE: 1,923.
