Ward keeps Cardiff on song
‘WE’RE TOP of the league! We’re top of the league!’ the Cardiff City fans sang as this one came to a breathtaking end. But had substitute Danny Ward’s header not beaten Fulham goalkeeper David Button in the 83rd minute, then those fans would have been going back to Wales having witnessed their first defeat of the season.
Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon had struck minutes earlier to give manager Slavisa Jokanovic hope of his side’s first home league win of the season.
For Cardiff manager Neil Warnock, the result means 16 points out of 18, and an end to his 100 per cent winning record. Warnock was angry that a penalty was not awarded in stoppage time when Sean Morrison went down in the Fulham area.
‘I’m disappointed with the last second of the game because it’s a cert penalty to us,’ he said. ‘It was an absolute nailed on penalty and he [referee Tony Harrington] gives a free-kick against Morrison.’
Fulham were without creative spark Tom C air ney through injury. Step forward Floyd Ayite and Sessegnon. The pair hassled the Cardiff defence. Ayite, after being played in by substitute Aboubakar Kamara, forced a pointblank save by Neil Etheridge only for Sessegnon to follow up to put Fulham in front.
But as soon as they were ahead, his players dozed off. Liam Feeney, who had come on with 11 minutes to play, floated a left-footed cross into the Fulham box and striker Ward headed past Button.
‘In the last minutes we didn’t manage this situation well enough,’ Jokanovic said. ‘We made few mistakes before they scored the goal and in the end we can’t be satisfied.’