Cairney is shooting star as Cottagers rescue a late point
FOOTBALL’S fist-bump era began with ice-cool captain Tom Cairney earning a point for Fulham that almost slipped through their sweaty palms.
Most players remembered not to shake hands after the EFL ditched fair-play handshakes but for Bristol City boss Lee Johnson the feverish climax had already brought a headache.
That was because Fulham skipper Cairney picked up a loose ball 25 yards out and drilled in a superb 84th-minute equaliser after Nahki Wells had put City ahead after 70 minutes.
Cairney’s strike was much to the delight of Fulham boss Scott Parker, who has been desperate for the midfielder to start pulling the trigger more.
“Cairney was simply brilliant today,” said Parker, whose side have only lost once in their last eight games.
“If there’s one criticism I’ve had in the past it’s that he doesn’t shoot and score more, so perhaps that’s changing.
“It looks like it was a penalty on Cairney at the end too. The keeper has taken him out to then land on the ball. But there is no time to dwell. We must keep pushing.
“The real positive for me is that when we’ve gone a goal down we’ve looked defeatist earlier in the season. But over the last 14-odd games we’ve shown real character.”
Parker’s side dominated possession and created more but they would have gone home empty-handed if Cairney had not finally beaten in-form home keeper Niki Maenpaa.
Bobby DecordovaReid’s return to Ashton Gate almost brought him a late winner against his former club – but his effort was blocked in the goalmouth as Johnson’s side clung to a point that keeps them a place behind the play-off spots.
Wells scored his 17th goal of the season – 15 of them coming while out on loan at QPR from Burnley – when he headed in from Pedro Pereira’s pass after Fulham failed to clear from a corner.
Johnson pointed to young shoulders lacking wise heads when it came to defending a narrow lead but otherwise found it difficult to be too hard on a team that could still finish in the top six.
“We showed really good effort and application, given there were three really young players in our side,” said Johnson.
“They really concentrated. It was a good performance against a good side. That’s four points we have taken off a top side, with a £100million start on us.
“But I’m disappointed we didn’t see it through. That’s happened now in two games. We’ve just got to find those moments to manage the game better.
“Their goal came from our throw-in and that’s happened in two or three games and needs to stop.”