Micky Adams rued a late defensive lapse as Derek Mountfield’s late header cost his Fulham side victory at Walsall this afternoon.
Former Everton defender Mountfield headed home with three minutes to play to send the Bescot delirious after the visitors spurned several chances to clear a corner. Adrian Vivash’s shot was blocked close to the line but midfielder Louie Donowa scooped the loose ball up to the far post where Mountfield arrived to gleefully head home from barely a yard out.
Fulham, who had started the season strongly with back-to-back wins over Wrexham and then Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup, had began the brighter in the Midlands, although they were fortunate with the manner in which they went in front eight minutes into the second half. The relentless Richard Carpenter raced along the right flank but his low cross appeared to have eluded any team-mates in the box only for the unaware Jon Keister to turn an attempted clearance past Jimmy Walker on the stretch.
WALSALL: Walker, Mountfield, Evans, Viveash; Keister, Keates, Porter (Watson 70), Donowa, Hodge; Platt, Boli. Subs (not used): Ryder, Beckford.
BOOKED: Keister, Viveash.
GOAL: Mountfield (87).
FULHAM: Walton; Lawrence, Cullip, Morgan; Herrera, Cockerill, Smith, Carpenter (McAree 68), Hayward (Brooker 90); Conroy, Newhouse (Scott 77).
BOOKED: Cullip.
GOAL: Keister (o.g. 53).
REFEREE: Guy Stretton (Leicestershire)
ATTENDANCE: 4,418.
