Vital victory leaves Fulham all but safe

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Blackpool 0 Fulham 1  

Matt Smith’s early goal earned Fulham victory at Bloomfield Road and all but guaranteed their Championship survival.

Smith nodded in Sean Kavanagh’s cross in the eighth minute and Millwall’s failure to beat Cardiff means the Whites are effectively safe.

Already-relegated Blackpool did have their chances, most notably just before Smith scored, when Henry Cameron hit the post and also forced a save from Marcus Bettinelli.

Jazz Richards cleared off the line in the second half and Bettinelli made a great save in injury time as Fulham held on for only their third league win in 17 games.

With promotion-chasing Middlesbrough and Norwich to play in their final two matches, Fulham knew this game represented their best chance of rubber-stamping safety after a troubled season.

But Blackpool, whose relegation was confirmed on Easter Monday, began brightly.

Cameron was left to rue two early misses, as he rolled a shot against the post after being released by Jamie O’Hara and then had an effort tipped over by Bettinelli.

The only goal of the game came with Fulham’s first attack. Kavanagh was played in down the left and he picked out Smith who headed past Elliot Parish.

Jose Cubero nodded a corner just over for Blackpool midway through the first half and early in the second Jamie O’Hara’s volley narrowly cleared the bar.

By that stage, goalscorer Smith had limped off and Fulham’s forward line lacked a focal point.

At the other end, Richards was in the right place to hack clear after Blackpool substitute Nathan Delfouneso threatened to turn in a loose ball, while Bettinelli’s fine save from Gary Madine’s effort deep into stoppage time preserved the vital three points.

Fulham (4-4-2): Bettinelli; Richards, Turner, Burn, Husband; Hoogland, Tunnicliffe, Guthrie, Kavanagh; McCormack, Smith (Woodrow 50).
Subs not used: Kiraly, Grimmer, Hutchinson, Fofana, Ruiz, Rodallega.

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