Norwood’s penalty gives Fulham victory over Millwall
Fulham 1 Millwall 0
Oliver Norwood’s penalty was enough for Fulham to overcome Millwall and secure back-to-back wins for only the second time this season.
The midfielder netted his fourth goal of the season in first-half injury time after Rui Fonte had been fouled by Millwall’s Conor McLaughlin.
But the home side were unable to kill the contest and had to withstand some anxious moments, with Millwall’s George Saville hitting the woodwork.
There were few scoring opportunities during the first 45 minutes, although each goalkeeper answered a single call to action.
Home keeper David Button kept the game scoreless early on, flinging out his right arm to parry a glancing header from the dangerous Tom Elliott.
At the other end, Jordan Archer stretched to claw away Sheyi Ojo’s cross-shot.
But, apart from that, Fulham’s patient build-up failed to pierce a robust Lions defence.
However, as the board was raised to signal an extra minute before half-time, McLaughlin hauled back Fonte at a corner and Norwood stepped up to drill home the resulting spot-kick.
The visitors threatened to hit back at the start of the second half, pressuring Fulham’s back line, and Fred Onyedinma was denied by Button at close range.
But Ojo should have doubled the Whites’ advantage soon afterwards, heading weakly at the keeper from a few yards out after Ryan Sessegnon had teed him up.
Millwall switched to a three-man forward line in their efforts to rescue a point and Steve Morison went close with two first-time attempts, while Saville’s 25-yard punt clipped the post.
Fulham found themselves hanging on in the closing stages and it needed a couple of crucial interventions from the impressive Tomas Kalas to see them over the line.
Fulham: Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Odoi, Sessegnon; Norwood; Ojo, Cairney, Johansen (Kamara 45), Kebano (Djalo 78); Fonte (Edun 58).
