Babel’s brilliant goal gives Fulham victory
Fulham 1 Cardiff 0
A stunning second-half strike by Ryan Babel gave relegated Fulham a deserved victory at Craven Cottage, ensuring their third win in succession.
The in-form Dutchman curled home beautifully in 78 minutes, breaking the struggling Bluebirds’ resistance. However the afternoon was marred with a sickening injury to Whites’ full back Denis Odoi, who was carried off following an early collision with team mate Maxime Le Marchand.
There was just one personnel change for the Whites, captain Tom Cairney returning to the starting line-up, with Jean Michael Seri dropping to the bench. Fulham were confident after their victory last Saturday away to Bournemouth, against a Cardiff City side who were desperate to take all three points in their battle against the drop.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was the first to cause concern for the Bluebirds, when the powerful Fulham striker brought a smart save from Neil Etheridge from 20 yards after a neat assist by Babel. Proceedings were then halted considerably for treatment to Odoi, who was accidentally kicked in the 20th minute by Le Marchand, resulting in the Whites’ right back being stretchered off and replaced by Cyrus Christie.
Fulham enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but struggled to create any real chances, while Neil Warnock’s outfit offered precious little up front themselves.
Mitrovic should have netted three minutes after the interval but the Serbian striker lazily blasted the ball over the bar after good work from both Babel and Cairney.
Although the Whites were in the ascendancy, Mitrovic was beset by further profligacy in front of goal. The forward was saved, though, when Babel curved a superb shot from 25 yards past the despairing Etheridge after receiving Christie’s pass. And although Rico had to resist a late Cardiff revival, saving from Danny Ward with Junior Hoilett also hitting the bar, it was a fully deserved outcome for Parker’s side.
