Jimmy Bullard returned to Reserve Team action on Monday evening, playing the full 90 minutes as Fulham secured victory over Arsenal at Underhill. Two second half goals from Ismael Ehui and Wayne Brown ensured the points for the Whites.
The match, played under the watchful eyes of both Roy Hodgson and his Arsenal counterpart, Arsene Wenger, got off to a good start for Fulham.
In the second minute Lee Cook played a good ball into the box which was cleared only as far as Rob Milsom whose shot forced a fine save from the Arsenal goalkeeper.
The Whites’ next chance came in the 9th minute and Lee Cook was once again a central figure in the move. The winger won possession in a dangerous area and delivered another telling cross into the area which was headed on to the crossbar by an unmarked Wayne Brown.
The home side managed to establish a foothold in the game with 15 minutes on the clock, playing their typical brand of possession football. Their first chance of the encounter saw Kieran Gibbs test Tony Warner with a low shot. The Whites responded well and almost immediately won a free kick in a dangerous position. Lee Cook stepped up and saw his effort fly just wide of the goalkeepers’ left hand post.
The remainder of the half was a relatively even affair with the home side making a number of attempts to take the lead, all of which were comfortably dealt with by Warner.
With the scores looking as though they would remain level going into the interval, good work from Michael Timlin and Cook released Ehui in the box. His shot was saved and the rebound was fired over the bar by a stretching Timlin.
Fulham started the second half brightly and took the lead on 51 minutes when Ehui ran on to a Jimmy Bullard through ball, the Fulham attacker rode a late challenge from Kerrea Gilbert before slotting the ball past the keeper. Bullard entered the referee’s book soon after the restart for a late challenge.
Arsenal came close to levelling in the 56th minute when a goal-bound shot was deflected wide for a corner by Matthew Briggs. The home side continued to look for an opening and it nearly came in the 76th minute but the danger was averted thanks to some fine last-ditch defending from Nathan Ashton.
Fulham doubled their lead on the 81 minute mark when Ehui spotted Wayne Brown’s late run into the box, the French striker held the ball up well before playing a pass into Brown who finished the move in style.
Fulham: Warner; Anderson, Briggs, Moncur, Ashton; Brown, Milsom (Saunders 72), Bullard, Cook (Hudson-Odoi 60); Ehui (Smith 88), Timlin
