Fulham were frustrated by the predatory instincts of Norwich City striker Iwan Roberts after the Welsh forward grabbed an equaliser for the Canaries in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The Whites made a strong start and took the lead in the ninth minute after a rampaging run down the right flank from full back Gus Uhlenbeek forced a corner. Steve Hayward’s superb delivery was emphatically headed home by Kit Symons, who punished poor marking from the set-piece, to give the home side the early advantage. But Paul Bracewell’s men were made to pay for their failure to add to their lead. City goalkeeper Andy Marshall made amends for bringing down Karl-Heinz Riedle by superbly saving Lee Clark’s first half penalty and the visitors were much improved in the second half once Malky Malkay was introduced as an early substitute.
Norwich earned a point when Roberts made the most of a mistake eight minutes after the interval from Fulham goalkeeper Maik Taylor. The Northern Ireland international made an ill-advised dash from his line to try and reach a cross from French midfielder Jean-Yves de Blasiis, which allowed Welsh international Roberts to nod past the stranded goalkeeper. His header crept over the line before Chris Coleman’s desperate attempt to clear sparking joyous celebrations from the travelling supporters.
Fulham paid for a lack of potency in the penalty area, which was perhaps a legacy of injuries robbing Bracewell of his regular front pairing of Paul Peschisolido and Geoff Horsfield, who were both injured in midweek.
FULHAM (5-4-1): Taylor; Uhlenbeek, Brevett, Morgan, Symons, Coleman; Davis, Clark, Hayward, Trollope (W. Collins 64); Riedle. Subs (not used): Hahnemann, Neilson, Selley, Brooker.
BOOKED: Hayward, Trollope, Coleman, Symons.
GOAL: Symons (9).
NORWICH CITY (4-5-1): Marshall; Jackson, Sutch, Kenton, Fleming (Mackay 48); de Blasiis, Carey (Milligan 64; Anselin 84), Russell, Forbes, Eadie; Roberts. Subs (not used): Green, Llewellyn.
BOOKED: Carey, Marshall, Roberts.
GOAL: Roberts (53).
REFEREE: Clive Wilkes (Gloucesteshire).
ATTENDANCE: 13,552.
GOAL: Roberts (53).
