Fulham recorded their first win of pre-season at Luton tonight thanks to goals from Collins John and Heidar Helguson.
John, who wants to establish himself in Chris Coleman’s first team this season, offered the manager an early reminder of his finishing ability as he put Fulham ahead in the sixteenth minute from eighteen yards out after linking up well with Heidar Helguson. Antti Niemi had to palm away a Luton free-kick before Michael Brown squandered a chance to double Fulham’s lead when clean through on goal.
Luton came close to an equaliser when Ahmet Brkovic rattled the crossbar and deservedly level on the half hour after a bout of head tennis in Fulham area. Northern Ireland international Warren Feeney punished some slack defending by firing past Antti Niemi. John could have restored Fulham’s lead when played through an excellent pass from Michael Timlin but shot straight at Marlon Beresford.
The visitors went back in front at the start of the second half. Brown regained possession in midfield, freeing Jimmy Bullard who drove at the Luton back four before playing in Liam Rosenior on the right. Beresford palmed out the full back’s shot but Helguson was on hand to sweep into the empty night. Tomasz Radzinski then forced the Luton goalkeeper into smart save from Ishmael Ehui’s cross and the Canadian international fired wide three minutes from time after being picked out by Claus Jensen.
LUTON TOWN (4-4-2): Beresford; Foley, Davis, Coyne, Perrett, Brkovic, Edwards, Langley, Vine, Feeney, Robinson.
GOAL: Brkovic (30).
FULHAM (4-4-2): Niemi (Crossley 45); Rosenior (Volz 60), Christanval (Zakuani 66), Pearce (Knight 66), N Jensen (Omozusi 66); Diop (Elliott 66), M Brown (Rehman 66), Bullard (C. Jensen 66), Timlin (Ehui 66); Helguson (Radzinski 66), John (Runstrom 66).
GOALS: John (16), Helguson (51).
