Fulham were held by MK Dons in their first pre-season friendly, with the League One side grabbing a late equaliser in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Motspur Park this afternoon.
The visitors went in front from their first attack when Carlton Morris’ deep cross ran for Callum Brittain, who scored at the second attempt after Marek Rodak had clawed away his first header. Morris drew a fine save from Rodak shortly afterwards and it took a while for Fulham to get into their stride. Neeskens Kebano almost levelled after an excellent move involving teenage winger Sylvester Jasper and Anthony Knockaert but some smart goalkeeping denied the Congolese international as he attempted to skip around Lee Nicholls. Joe Bryan drove a long-range effort wide and Knockaert failed to find a finish when located by Jasper’s cut-back. Bobby Decordova-Reid lashed over after MK Dons failed to fully clear a Bryan cross.
Scott Parker made eleven changes at half-time, with a first appearance in a Fulham shirt for summer signing Antonee Robinson. Australian midfielder Tyrese Francois had the second half’s first opportunity, firing over after Aboubakar Kamara had burst away down the right. The promising Fabio Carvalho saw a low drive twenty yards fielded by Nicholls and Francois shot fractionally wide after a quick break from the back.
Fulham did eventually equalise when Kamara powered home a finish after Francois’ corner was only half-cleared and he almost laid on a second for Ivan Cavaleiro shortly afterwards, but the former Wolves’ man saw his strike saved at the second attempt. At the other end, Marcus Bettinelli made three sharp saves to keep the scores level before a fine Fulham move gave the Premier League side the lead with five minutes to play. Carvalho teed up Tom Cairney and the Fulham skipper found the bottom corner with a precise finish.
Russell Martin’s men kept pushing for an equaliser and they got their reward three minutes from time. Welsh defender Regan Poole, who was close to joining Fulham a few years ago, punished some slack marking to fire home a second goal that the visitors’ enterprising approach fully merited.
FULHAM: Rodak (Bettinelli 45), Odoi (Christie 45), Bryan (Robinson 45), Hector (Mawson 45), Le Marchand (Ream 45); S. Sessegnon (Onomah 45), Johansen (Cairney 45), Decordova-Reid (Carvalho 45), Knockaert (Francois 45), Jasper (Kamara 45), Kebano (Cavaleiro 45).
MK DONS: Nicholls; Brittain (Poole 60), O’Hora (Trialist 60), Lewington (Nombe 60), Cargill (Davies 60), Sorinola (Harvie 60), Houghton, Gladwin (Freeman 60), Kasumu (Boateng 60), Morris (Jallow 60), Mason (Bird 60).
Good to see plenty of players getting run out good training session
Fulham definitely on to win the prem next year! Maybe second after Arsenal, actually.