Caretaker manager Karl-Heinz Riedle admitted he can’t wait to get back to trying to score goals on the pitch after Fulham slipped to a surprise defeat at relegation-threatened Swindon Town this afternoon.
The German striker, who stepped in to succeed the sacked Paul Bracewell on a temporary basis earlier this month, will be succeeded by French manager Jean Tigana at the start of July – a date which can’t come soon enough for the ex-Liverpool forward. He told the press after the Cottagers’ toothless attack failed to fire without him:
“I can’t wait to get back to playing myself. The new management have left it to me and Roy Evans up to now, but they probably want to see what other players have to offer now. And that includes me!”
Riedle was too much of a diplomat to blame his side’s woeful finishing for a defeat which helped Swindon starve off the drop for another week. But the visitors totally dominated this contest with Barry Hayles both failing to hit the target when through on goal and then finding himself in the way of a fierce drive from Bjarne Goldbaek that looked likely to test Town goalkeeper Frank Talia.
The Cottagers were punished for their prolificacy when a dreadful error from Andy Melville, who trod on the ball when receiving a simple pass from central defensive partner Chris Coleman, allowed Giuliano Grazioli to steal all three points for Swindon seven minutes from time.
SWINDON TOWN (5-3-2); Talia; A. Williams (Steve Davis 67), Hall, Robinson, Willis, Reeves; Leitch, Meaker, L. Collins; Grazioli (Cowe 89), Griffin (Gray 57). Subs (not used): Mildenhall, J. Williams.
GOAL: Grazioli (83).
FULHAM (4-4-2): Taylor; Finnan (Uhlenbeek 83), Phelan, Melville, Coleman; Hayward (W. Collins 83), Clark, Goldbaek, Lewis (Peschisolido 68); Horsfield, Hayles. Subs (not used): Thompson, Symons.
BOOKED: Coleman, Melville, Hayward, Horsfield.
REFEREE: George Cain (Bootle).
ATTENDANCE: 12,696
