Match Report
Fulham
(0) 1 -1 (0)
Sheffield Wednesday
Championship ~ Match Day 37 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 14th March 2015 KO: 15:00
|
Fulham striker Matt Smith equalised 15 minutes from time as struggling Fulham battled to a 1-1 draw at mid-table Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship.
The striker flicked in via the underside of the crossbar for his second in two games to cancel out Stevie May's 55th-minute header at Hillsborough.
In an uneventful first half, Fulham striker Ross McCormack was twice off target with wayward efforts from long range.
Wednesday winger Chris Maguire had the game's first effort of note when his 20-yard drive was palmed away by diving Cottagers goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli in the 21st minute.
Owls captain Tom Lees had to be alert two minutes before the break when a long free-kick into the box almost dropped to the feet of Fulham debutant Michael Turner.
| Match Stats |
Sheff Wed
|
Fulham
|
| Goals |
(0) 1 |
1 (0) |
| |
| Scorers |
Matt Smith 66 |
Pitman 29 |
| |
| Goal attempts |
14 |
11 |
| On target |
5 |
4 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
36% |
36% |
| Possession |
53% |
47% |
| Corners |
5 |
1 |
| Offsides |
2 |
2 |
| Passes |
420 |
373 |
| Pass Success |
72% |
68% |
| Crosses |
22 |
10 |
| Crosses Success |
27% |
10% |
| Tackles |
19 |
28 |
| Tackles Success |
74% |
71% |
| Saves |
3 |
4 |
| Fouls |
17 |
12 |
| Yellows |
2 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: Soccernet/Fulham FC |
The home side should have taken the lead in the first of six minutes of stoppage time added on following injuries which forced off Owls' pair Liam Palmer and Will Keane.
Jeremy Helan's cross from the left was nodded down by Austrian striker Atdhe Nuhiu to unmarked substitute May but the Scotland international sliced his effort into the arms of Bettinelli.
Striker May, who replaced Keane, saw a volley blocked behind for a corner before putting the hosts ahead from the resultant set-piece in the 55th minute.
Lewis McGugan's initial kick was returned to the on-loan Watford midfielder and his curling, left-footed cross was flicked into the left corner by May's head.
Nuhiu then narrowly failed to convert from close range when another McGugan corner was headed to the back post by defender Lees.
Wednesday substitute Marnick Vermijl, a first-half replacement for Palmer, tested Bettinelli in the 61st minute with a low shot from the right corner of the box as the hosts continued to press for a second.
Fulham's Tim Hoogland went close to an equaliser when his powerful half-volley from the edge of the box flew towards goal before it was bravely blocked by the head of Claude Dielna.
Smith, in his third game back at Fulham following a loan spell at Bristol City, then finished substitute Cauley Woodrow's centre to level the contest.
Fulham began to have the upper hand and Smith was denied by Owls keeper Keiren Westwood after being played through by captain Scott Parker before Kostas Stafylidis lifted the rebound over.
McCormack threatened a winner when his 20-yard free-kick hit the roof of the net five minutes from time before Nuhiu struck the top of the bar at the other end, although he was flagged for offside.
Sheff Wed: Westwood, Palmer (Vermijl 29), Lees,Dielna, Helan,
Maguire, McGugan, Hutchinson, Lee (Maghoma 90), Nuhiu,
Keane (May 42).
Subs Not Used: Buxton, Mattock, Filipe Melo, Kirkland.
Goals: May 55.
Booked: Vermijl, Lee.
Fulham: Bettinelli, Hoogland (Woodrow 70), Turner, Hutchinson,
Richards, Kavanagh (Fofana 70), Parker, Tunnicliffe, Stafylidis,
Smith, McCormack.
Subs Not Used: Kiraly, Bodurov, Roberts, Rodallega, Grimmer.
Goals:
Smith 75 (left footed shot from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Tunnicliffe.).
Booked: Turner (78,f).
Ref: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).
Att: 22,182