Barry Hayles and Luis Boa Morte grabbed the goals as Fulham eventually saw off a courageous Crewe Alexandra outfit at Gresty Road this afternoon.
High-flying Fulham had to come from behind after Mark Rivers had given the Alex a nineteenth minute lead when he fired a fine finish past Maik Taylor from Neil Sorvel’s cross. It was just what the home side deserved after dominating the first period and catching the Whites flat footed. They were unlucky not to be awarded a second minute penalty when Andy Melville handled a header from Colin Little that looked to be going in – although referee Tony Leake then refused to award a free kick when Luis Boa Morte was tripped by Steve Foster as he seemed set to burst through on goal.
Fulham’s frustrations saw Andrejs Stolcers cautioned for simulation as a combative and energetic Crewe side hassled and hurried the league leaders into a number of errors. The visitors struggled to make much of an impression on the home goal with Hayles tamely heading into the arms of Jason Kearton. The only disappointment for Dario Gradi, aside from failing to be more than a goal to the good at the break, was seeing David Wright stretchered off just before half time after he had clashed heads with Rufus Brevett.
Rob Hulse spurned the hosts’ best chance to increase their advantage when he failed to hit the target with just Taylor to beat and Fulham’s toothless first half display saw Tigana sent on top scorer Louis Saha at the start of the second half. The French forward supplied an equaliser within seconds playing in Luis Boa Morte, who lashed home his ninth goal of the season with an accurate left-footed finish.
The lively Hayles tricked his way past Foster before seeing a powerful effort parried to safety by Kearton before teeing up Saha, who was denied by the Crewe keeper in quick succession. It was suddenly all hands to the pump for the home side at the back with Efe Sodje superbly blocking a goalbound drive from Sean Davis but Fulham found the winner fifteen minutes from time. Boa Morte’s slide-rule pass sent Hayles clear of the Crewe defence and the former Bristol Rovers forward clinically drove home his fourteenth of an already impressive season to keep Fulham well clear of the chasing pack.
CREWE ALEXANDRA (4-4-2): Kearton; Wright (Collins 45), Smith, Sodje, Foster; Lunt, Sorvel, Little, Rivers; Hulse (Tait 80), Cramb. Subs (not used): Bankole, Gannon.
BOOKED: Little.
GOAL: Rivers (19).
FULHAM (4-4-2): Taylor; Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Coleman; Davis (W. Collins 70), Clark, Goldbaek, Stolcers (Saha 45); Hayles, Boa Morte. Subs (not used): Hahnemann, Symons, Lewis.
BOOKED: Davis.
GOALS: Boa Morte (46), Hayles (75).
REFEREE: Tony Leake (Lancashire).
ATTENDANCE: 6,935.
