Fulham’s under 23s were held to a goalless draw at Middlesbrough last night.
The hosts moved off the bottom of the table with a precious point and probably could have had more – creating the clearer chances throughout a ninety minutes where Steve Wigley’s side struggled to find their usual fluency with Alex Borto pulling off a string of fine saves before he sets off on international duty.
Wigley made changes from his regular line-up with this starting eleven having a particularly youthful look. Former trialist Martial Godo made a first start for the under 23s since signing from Margate, whilst Matt Dibley-Dias came back in the centre of midfield and Olly Sanderson led the line. Whereas the visitors took some time to get going, Middlesbrough were on the front foot from the off and very nearly caught the champions cold. Borto made a sharp save to deny Joe Gibson an early opener.
Daniel Dodds drove wide from outside the box before Borto got his fingertips to a rising strike from Stephen Walker. The American youth international then excelled himself just before half time, denying Sonny Finch in a one-on-one with a brilliant reaction save. Fulham had failed to fashion a clear chance in the entire first half, with Sanderson’s control eluding him when he looked to have been played in by Ollie O’Neill.
The pattern continued into the second half with Borto standing firm to block Jack Stott’s shot from close range. Walker then looked to have beaten Borto but dwelt decisively in the penalty area allowing the recovering Fulham defenders to clear the danger. The visitors’ best chance came the way of substitute Imani Lanquedoc, who clipped the top of the crossbar with a clever curling effort.
MIDDLESBROUGH UNDER 23s (3-5-2): Bryn; Dodds, Wood, Lindo; Collins, Gibson, Sykes, Cornet, Akono Bilongo; Walker, Finch. Subs (not used): Swan, Dijksteel.
BOOKED: Lindo.
FULHAM UNDER 23s (4-2-3-1): Borto; D’Auria-Henry, Larkeche, Odutayo, C. Robinson (Bowat 66); Pajaziti; Dibley-Dias; O’Neill, Godo, Hilton (Lanquedoc 45); Sanderson (Tanton 83). Subs (not used): Adams.
