Match Report
Fulham (0) 1-1 (0) Burton Albion
Championship Match Day 07 1617 at Craven Cottage
Tuesday 13th September 2016 KO: 19:45
Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
|
Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon grabbed a last-gasp leveller to earn Fulham a deserved 1-1 draw with Burton Albion.
Burton were on course to add Fulham to their list of shock Championship scalps thank to Jackson Irvine's opener.
But Sessegnon hit back in added on time, scrambling home for a late point Burton could have no complaints about.
Burton, the favourites for relegation, had surprised many following their start to the season.
But they had shipped in their fair share of goals and they were indebted to goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin throughout.
That began in the fourth minute when Sone Aluko wriggled through two challengers before his low shot was palmed out by the Albion keeper.
It set the tone for a one-sided first half. Sessegnon flashed a cross across the six-yard box where striker Chris Martin was inches away from converting in the 16th minute.
| Match Stats |
Fulham
|
Burton
|
| Goals |
(0) 1 |
1 (0) |
| |
| Scorers |
Sessegnon 90+3 |
Irvine 51 |
| |
| Goal attempts |
20 |
7 |
| On target |
6 |
3 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
30% |
43% |
| Possession |
71% |
29% |
| Passes |
646 |
270 |
| Pass Success |
90% |
69% |
| Crosses |
32 |
14 |
| Crosses Success |
9% |
21% |
| Corners |
9 |
3 |
| Tackles |
12 |
23 |
| Tackles Success |
50% |
78% |
| Saves |
2 |
5 |
| Fouls |
11 |
12 |
| Offsides |
1 |
3 |
| Yellows |
2 |
4 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: Fulham FC/Soccernet |
Moments later the full-back repeated the trick, only for Burton to be saved by John Brayford's last-ditch clearance with Martin and Auko waiting to pounce.
Fulham were enjoying joy down Burton's right flank and teenager Sessegnon, who became the Championship's youngest ever scorer last month, found space but saw his shot beaten out by McLaughlin in the 25th minute.
Burton's goal was continuing to live a charmed life as Tomas Kalas' header somehow stayed out and then Scott Parker came close from distance.
Nigel Clough's side were happy to pack men behind the ball and Fulham found themselves increasingly frustrated at their attempts to find a breakthrough.
And they would have to do it the hard way if they wanted all the three points after falling behind against the run of play in the 50th minute.
A patient build-up saw Stuart Beavon prod the ball into Irvine's pass who stroked the ball home from 20-yards out. Craven Cottage was stunned into silence as Burton, who had already beaten the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Derby on home soil this season, this time sensed an upset on their travels.
Fulham, were struggling to find any rhythm to their play and it took until 16 minute of the second-half until they finally threatened when Tom Cairney curled his shot wide.
Slavisa Jokanovic decided to go long by bringing on giant striker Matt Smith as there seemed no way through an organised Burton side.
And Burton would have been home and hosed had substitute Jamie Ward not fired inches wide from a rare attack in the 83rd minute.
Fulham continued to lay siege but just as they looked set to slip to successive home defeats, Sessegnon pounced on the rebound after Aluko's initial shot was saved.
Fulham: Button; Odoi, Kalas, Sigurdsson, Ryan Sessegnon; Parker, McDonald (Jozabed 79); Cairney, Sone Aluko, Kebano (Matt Smith 62); Martin (Floyd Ayite 78)
Unused substitutes: Bettinelli, Ream, Johansen, Lucas Piazon
Goals:
Sessegnon 90+3 (left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner.)
Booked: Sigurdsson (81,d), Jozabed (90+4,arguing)
Burton Albion: McLaughlin; Irvine, Tom Naylor, Brayford, McCrory (Turner 45); Williamson, Palmer, Choudhury (Barker 90), Dyer; O'Grady, Beavon (Ward 60')
Unused substitutes: Bywater, Fox, Will Miller, Myers-Harness
Goals:
Irvine 51 (right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stuart Beavon.)
Booked: Turner (75,f), Ward (90+2,f), Palmer (90+4,arguing), Irvine (90+7,f)
Referee:: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
Attendance:: 15,288