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Date: 29 August 1998
This was a creditable performance for the Cherries against a team that looked greatly improved from the Fulham we saw in February. Fulham are strong in defence and also look dangerous on the break.
Ovendale was trusty in defence, although in fairness none of his saves were especially difficult. He was ably supported by Howe, Young and Vincent, although the latter two both sadly got bookings (Young, his second in a fortnight).
Cox had a particularly bad day, in terms of both distribution and defending, so it was fortunate that on this occasion Tindall was playing just in front of the back four (for three quarters of the match).
An early injury to Howe looked worrying but he lasted the 45 minutes, and Dean - who was shirted and ready to play in the first half - eventually took over Tindall's place twenty minutes from the end. Tindall then relieved Berthe, who was having a mediocre day on the right wing.
Hughes had a good day on the left wing, and his passing of the ball gets better and better. Our three forward players had a quiet game.
Fulham dominated the first half and the opening moments of the second, so we did well to hold out, and were perhaps aided by the fact that the referee blew for time what seemed like two minutes early - as Town was just preparing to come on.
The team lined up as follows at the start of the game (my scores out of ten):
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Ovendale (8);
Young (6), Cox (5), Howe (7), Vincent (6);
Tindall (7);
Berthe (5), Robinson (6), Hughes (8);
Fletcher (6), Stein (6)
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