Josh Bowler denies Fulham a fifth-successive league win as Blackpool draw

Posted Sunday, January 30, 2022 by PA

Josh Bowler’s second-half strike denied Fulham a fifth-successive league win as Marco Silva’s Championship leaders were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackpool at Craven Cottage.

Aleksandar Mitrovic struck his 28th league goal of the season in the sixth minute, shortly before the game was halted for 41 minutes while a supporter received medical treatment.

But Fulham were unable to hold on to the lead with Blackpool working their way back on to level terms when Bowler fired home in the 57th minute.

Silva’s side had scored 22 goals in their previous four games and it was clear they were brimming with confidence from the way they took control of the game.

And it did not take the Cottagers long to find a way through the visitors’ defences and establish the lead.

Neeskens Kebano and Fabio Carvalho created the opening with a well-worked passing move before Mitrovic was give the simple job of finishing from close range from Carvalho’s cross.

Blackpool’s priority then was to prevent the game slipping away from them and they held firm until referee Peter Bankes halted play in the 13th minute.

Both teams left the field of play while the supporter received treatment in the stand before being transferred to hospital.

And when play did resume, Blackpool – who were aiming to stage a repeat of the victory over Silva’s side in September – were able to establish more of a foothold in the game.

Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak was forced to dive full length to keep out Callum Connolly’s free-kick.

And Seasiders midfielder Bowler was unlucky to see a left-footed shot strike the crossbar after cutting in from the right-hand flank.

But Fulham continued to test Blackpool goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw who did well to deny Mitrovic’s follow up after Jordan Thorniley’s attempted clearance had hit the post.

And the keeper did even better when he produced a fine double save to prevent Harry Wilson adding a second goal immediately before half-time after the winger had been sent clear by Harrison Reed’s pass.

Fulham carried on where they had left off at the start of the second half with Carvalho capping a run from halfway with a shot that rebounded to safety off Grimshaw’s near post.

But the visitors showed more purpose after the break and began to apply pressure on Rodak’s goal.

The Fulham stopper was forced to save well from Jordan Gabriel’s shot but had little chance of preventing Bowler’s 56th-minute equaliser.

The opening came after a misplaced pass from home centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo was picked up by CJ Hamilton, who surged forward before finding Bowler who finished with a first-time shot from 16 yards out.

Fulham pressed forward in an attempt to re-establish their lead but they rarely looked like finding a way through as the spoils were shared.