Fulham played Glasgow Celtic at Loftus Road on Thursday evening in their second pre-season friendly and were watched by Fulham Chairman Al Fayed. The Cottagers' first game was away at Torquay on the previous Saturday and they won that 4-1.
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| Fulham striker Facundo Sava |
Of course Boss Coleman knew it wasn't going to be that easy against The Celts particularly as they had started their pre-season warm-up campaign earlier than Fulham. However the Fulham Manager, despite the strength of the opposition, gave a number of Academy players a chance to shine. In the first half he included Hudson at right back Rehman in midfield and Hammond up front. The remaining starters were Van der Sar, Knight, Djetou, Harley, Inamoto, Davis, Boa Morte and Saha.
The first half saw Celtic the stronger of the two teams scoring two and going close on a number of occasions. Fulham tried to take the game to the visitors but their efforts lacked incisiveness in the last third and the defence was bordering on the chaotic. The Londoners best chance of the first half came to the hard working Sean Davis following a free kick on the edge of Celtic's penalty area. Boa Morte, who had been fouled on an exciting goalbound run, casually slipped the ball sideways to Davis who found a space between surprised Celtic defenders for a decent shot that was pushed around the post.
After the break Cookie Coleman sent out a far stronger squad featuring Malbranque, Hayles, Sava, Clark, Legwinski, Goma and Taylor.
Fulham started the better of the two teams in the second half and were rewarded with a goal in the 59th minute from Sava. The Masked Bandit received the ball just outside the penalty area shrugged off his marker and slotted the ball coolly past the keeper.
The visitors came under increasing pressure from a rampant Fulham. In the 69th minute game Buari collected the ball outside the penalty area and unleashed a pile driver into the goal area where Hayles somehow got his head to it but had to watch his attempt cannon off the bar. Four minutes later it was Clark who released a volley after combining with Hayles but again the keeper saved Celtic's bacon.
Malbranque was on fire and displayed his excellence time and time again including a technically perfect volley unfortunately once again saved by the keeper. Fulham's last chance fell to Hayles in the 86th minute but the Celtic keeper, wearing number 13, was again in the right spot.
Overall Chris Coleman should be pleased with his team's performance particularly in the second half.
Fulham (4-4-2)
van der Saar (Taylor 46); Hudson (Rehman), Knight, Djetou (Goma 46), Harley (Green 46); Inamoto (Buari 46), Davis (Clark 46), Rehman (Legwinski 46), Boa Morte (Malbranque 46); Saha (Sava 46), Hammond (Hayles 46)
Celtic (3-5-2)
Hedman (Douglas 46); Mjällby (Sylla 46), Varga (Crainey 18), Valgaeren (Kennedy 46); Smith (Fernandez 62), Miller (Lambert 46) Petrov (Lennon 46), Thompson (Prunty 85), Petta (Guppy 45); Sutton (Wallace 62), Larsson (Beattie 62). Sub: Marshall
Att: 15000
Ref: Paul Taylor