CITY 0 FULHAM 0
Canon League 2nd Division
7th September 1983
attendance 23,356
Ref Alan Seville
City Williams, Ranson, May, Bond, Power, Caton, McNab, Reid, Parlane, Baker, Tolmie – sub Wilson(unused)
Fulham Stannard, Parker, Lock, Marshall, Brown, Gale, Davies, Wilson, Tempest, Houghton, Scott – sub Carr(59)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PATRICK BARCLAY WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 8TH SEPTEMBER 1983
Fulham failed to score their first goal of the season at Maine Road last night, but were more than capable and hard-working
enough to warrant thelr first point in a scoreless match against a Manchester City side of depressing ineptitude.
The Mancunian public, having turned out in force for the second time in four days, left the ground glum after seeing nothinlg to suggest that Billy McNeill’s team, scraped together as cheaply as possible. are capable of being promoted from the Second Division in the foreseeable future.
The moderate promise of Saturday’s victory over Barnsley was almost wholly dissipated and although McNelll rightly complimented Fulham afterwards. “ I haven’t seen four midfield players work so hard in a long time.” he said.
Stannard the 20-Year-old visiting goalkeeper, had to wait until the 81st minute before being required to make a difflcult save and, although he then needed to exhibit, outstanding reflexes, it was significant that the test| came from a mis-directed header by his own defender, Brown.
That apart, there were few alarms for the solid Brown and his excellent partner, Gale. Partly because of a spasmodic service from the City midfield, Tolmie, the slightly built Scots striker signed by McNeil! from the Belgian club Lokeren for £30.000, seldom threatened to add to his total of three goals, while Parlane struggled vainly against the challenges of taller, stronger men.
Fulham, without giving any indication that they are capable of surging back to the lofty positions they occupied for most of last season, had plenty of opportunities to win but were several times frustrated by Williams, the City goalkeeper, who did particularly well in clutching a cleverly-struck effort from Davies inside the angle of post and bar.
The latter stages became increasingly anxious for the home side, but another useful save by Wllllanis, this time from Wilson. denied Fulham as City’s always fragile defence cracked alarmingly.