David McGoldrick came off the bench to score the decisive goal as Town beat Fulham 2-1 in their opening day fixture at Portman Road. McGoldrick added to Daryl Murphy’s first-half goal in the 61st minute with Tim Hoogland pulling one back late on for the visitors.

Mick McCarthy handed Hungarian frontman Bajner his debut alongside Murphy, while Elliott Hewitt was at right midfield with Jay Tabb on the left and Luke Hyam and Cole Skuse in the centre.

At the back, skipper Luke Chambers retained his right-back position with Tyrone Mings at left-back and Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra at the centre of the backline. Dean Gerken was in goal.

McCarthy named no defenders on a bench which included strikers David McGoldrick, Frank Nouble and Jack Marriott.

Fulham included eight debutants in their starting line-up, including £11 million striker Ross McCormack.

Despite the Cottagers enjoying most of the early possession, the Blues were first to threaten in the fifth minute. A freekick on the left was played short to Mings, who whipped over a cross but Fulham debutant keeper Jesse Joronen superbly tipped over.

After the resultant corner had been cleared, Skuse left the ball to Hyam, who hit a low shot across the face of goal and wide.

Chris David wasted a good opportunity for the visitors in the 11th minute when he scraped well wide of the post from the edge of the box after Hoogland had broken strongly from the back.

The Blues went close again in the 17th minute when Hewitt aimed a long throw from the right towards Bajner. The ball defected out to Skuse on the edge of the box and the former Bristol City man smashed a shot only just over Joronen’s bar.

There was a big scare for the Blues in the 25th minute when Gerken spilled David’s 20-yard shot. But, having made the initial error, the keeper reacted brilliantly to block Moussa Dembele’s close-range rebound.

Fulham continued to enjoy significantly more of the ball but just after the half hour Skuse again went close, this time with a looping 25-yard effort which went a couple of yards beyond Joronen’s right post.

And two minutes later the Blues went in front. Hyam won the ball and burst through the middle before finding Murphy, who left Whites centre-half Shaun Hutchinson standing as he took the ball into the area and hit a right-foot strike which beat Joronen.

Soon after the restart goalscorer Murphy curled another effort wide after good work Mings. On 37 Hyam got his name in referee Stephen Martin’s book for a late tackle on Dembele.

As the half moved into its final five minutes Town continued to threaten, the previously quiet Bajner winning a couple of Hewitt’s dangerous long throws into the area.

On 42 Emerson Hyndman misjudged a long ball down the middle, causing Hutchinson to make a desperate clearance which cannoned off Bajner which, fortunately for the home side, flew through to Joronen.

Two minutes later, after David had shot over for the Cottagers, Bajner was replaced by McGoldrick, returning to competitive action for the first time since suffering a knee injury in February.

Fulham will have counted themselves unfortunate to have gone in behind after a half which they had controlled for the most part.

However, aside from Dembele’s opportunity handed to them by Gerken’s error, the visitors hadn’t created too many chances.

Prior to Murphy’s well-taken goal, only an excellent save from Joronen had prevented Berra from opening the scoring, while Skuse and Hyam might have done better with efforts from the edge of the box.

Fulham replaced midfielder David with Thomas Eisfeld, a summer signing from Arsenal, ahead of the second half.

Late first-half sub McGoldrick was quickly into the thick of the action, cleverly finding himself space on the edge of the area but Hutchinson blocked his shot.

On 48 Hewitt blazed high from distance, having been found by Hyam, when feeding Chambers to his right would have been a better option.

Three minutes later, Fulham left back Konstantinos Stafylidis hammered a powerful strike just over Gerken’s bar, the Blues having made heavy weather of getting the ball out of their final third following an earlier attack.

The game returned to the pattern of the first half with the visitors having most of the ball but without particularly threatening Town’s lead. McGoldrick’s introduction had improved the Blues’ quality on the ball.

Three minutes before the hour mark the largely peripheral McCormack was replaced to chants of ‘what a waste of money’ from the home fans.

McGoldrick felt he ought to have been awarded a penalty in the 59th minute when he appeared to be hauled back as he looked to beat two defenders and break into the area on the left, but referee Martin was unimpressed with his appeals. A minute later, the Blues striker lashed a freekick from distance well over.

But the 26-year-old only had to wait another minute for his first goal since his return from injury.

Murphy did well to hold off Hutchinson on the left before cutting across the edge of the six-yard box towards Tabb. The ball was stabbed away from the midfielder but only as far as McGoldrick, who confidently hit a low shot into the net from 18 yards before hopping away in away in celebration.

Joronen claimed Tabb's header from the edge of the box on 69, a corner having been half-cleared to the midfielder on the edge of the box. A minute later, Anthony Wordsworth replaced Skuse in the Town midfield.

Town had been well on top since scoring their second goal but the visitors threatened to pull one back in the 78th minute when sub Patrick Roberts found Eisfeld with a clever pass, but Chambers did well to block.

Wordsworth should have made it 3-0 in the 80th minute after Chambers had tricked his way into space in which to cross from the right. The Town skipper sent over the perfect cross, but Wordsworth headed over from six yards.

Mings was booked for a foul on 81 and from the resultant freekick taken by Stafylidis the Blues’ left-back blocked from sub Cauley Woodrow. Moments later, Hyam made way for Kevin Bru, Town’s second debutant of the day.

The Mauritian international was quickly involved in the game but was caught in possession as he looked to pass as the Blues broke after a Fulham corner.

In the 85th minute, Tabb found McGoldrick with a quickly taken freekick on the left but the striker’s shot failed to trouble Joronen.

A minute later, the visitors pulled a goal back. Hoogland cut in from the right and hit a shot which deflected off Smith, past Gerken and into the net. Not long after, Berra picked up Town’s third booking of the afternoon.

The Cottagers continued to press in the closing stages with the Blues failing to settle after their substitutions. Lively sub Roberts first shot wide, then as the game moved into its penultimate scheduled minute hit an effort which fortunately for Town deflected to Gerken.

Fulham kept pushing for the equaliser during four minutes of injury time but the Blues weren’t to be denied an opening day victory.

While the visitors had had most of the ball for the much of the game, Town had created more of the game’s better chances with Murphy and McGoldrick both confidently taking their best opportunities.

Once the Blues had gone 2-0 in front, the match looked to be over - Wordsworth ought to have made it three - until Fulham’s late rally and Hoogland’s goal. But Town dug in and claimed their first three-point haul of the campaign.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse (Wordsworth 70), Hyam (Bru 81), Tabb, Hewitt, Bajner (McGoldrick 44), Murphy. Subs: Bialkowski, Henshall, Marriott, Nouble.

Fulham: Joronen, Hoogland, Stafylidis, Hutchinson (Roberts 74), Bodurov, Parker (c), Dembele, Hyndman, David (Eisfeld 46), Burgess, McCormack (Woodrow 57). Subs: Bettinelli, Rodallega. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire). Att: 17,218 (Fulham: 1,539).

Photo: Action Images

Cakeman added 21:53 - Aug 9 All the lads deserve much credit for the effort put in which realised our win. They also deserve a kick up the backside for nearly giving me heart failure in the closing stages. PS I note that Gerken still receives some not so positive comments from some. True he spilled one today and got away with it but I thought his handling of crosses was first class and he was certainly a much more assured keeper than what Fulham had.

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NoelTheDub added 22:01 - Aug 9 Great performance today lads did a super on Fulham.Everyboby gave 110% thats what our team is all about and hope we can do this every week but thats the big question.Can we push on v teams like ourselves who defend very well as a team or have a player to open up a tight team.We would have dropped points in a game like this last season so well done again MM,TC,and the team great job I for one did not see that coming credit were credit is due...

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Jimmy86 added 22:08 - Aug 9 What a great start to the season and you cant really ask for anything more. Despite having players missing we made fulham look fairly average and deserved our win. It was a shame to concede and was perhaps lucky it was towards the end as it was a bit nervy and we were left hanging on. We looked a better team and kept posession of the ball much better and didnt just hoof it if we came under pressure. Was great to see. Mcgoldrick added some much needed class, hewitt and tabb were combative and tenacious, tabb had a great game in my opinion. Murph took his goal really well but for me, probably one of his biggest critics, Hyam was brilliant today and deserved his ovation when subbed, was good on the ball along eoth the tenacity you get from him every game. A much more rounded performance, no aimless punts forward, no easy way out sideways or backward passes and was typified with his ball for the first goal. Great win, great 3 points, what a start

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TractorBoy666 added 22:21 - Aug 9 You'd have thought we had lost with the amount of comments there are already!! Firstly, defensively we were very solid today and admittedly Tabb did very well today having previously questioned him on the wing. Hyam was motm for me, he was everywhere and the challenges he made got the crowd up! Great to see McGoldrick back and scoring as well and also what a finish from Murphy. All in all I am very pleased with the performance tonight. Norwich City we're coming for yooooou! COYB

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jamesmostevens added 22:46 - Aug 9 Great meeting of the North West Shropshire supporters branch in The Oak, Oswestry...both of us. This season could be tricky in scary provincial areas due to the Gaelic football coverage on a Saturday afternoon. I'll not be looking to watch us in Cefn Mawr anytime soon.
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samsonblue added 22:48 - Aug 9 Just watched sky sports news and they made a big thing of mcgoldricks first goal since February. Nothing about the fact that only 30 odd mins of football since then. #skysportsnumpties
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BlueMachines added 23:00 - Aug 9 I thought Tabb disappeared first half but greatly improved after the break. Mings grew in confidence during the game too. If McGoldrick had pace he'd be as good as Thierry Henry!!
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KiwiTractor added 23:03 - Aug 9 Well done lads, great start to the season and you've made my day!
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bluemagic74 added 23:23 - Aug 9 Good day great game everyone played well and as a team great 3 points frm team, jus game down from prem, well done towm and hope to see lots more games like this over the season, well done mm and tc you've done wonders with fu*k all. COYB UP THE TOWN........
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TheMysteryTownFan added 23:25 - Aug 9 What a great way to start the season. In my six years as a season ticket holder I have to say that was one of my favourite matches to date. I thought we showed real determination throughout and the players worked their arses of for each other. Some seem to think Tabb played poorly but I actually thought him, Hyam and Berra were the best on the pitch for sheer workfare and without Tabb I think Fulham would have actually been able to play the ball around much more effectively. Murphy was excellent and his goal was fantastic in both a skilful and resilient way fighting off what he made look a very poor defender. Great to have McGoldrick back and the atmosphere, especially when that final whistle went, made it a game unvrivalled by any last season (the closest being Derby) with the euphoria of victory being so much greater knowing we just held on. Very optimistic for the season and while I dont expect a top six finish if we can consistently play like this it will be a great year. COYB!!!

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blueboy1981 added 23:34 - Aug 9 Good three points to start the season off - can't ask for more than that. Fulham with eight debutants today were no great shakes, and there is a long season ahead for us - therefore some of the euphoria (expected) is probably a bit premature to say the least. Squad strength and depth has to be seen as a concern, at even this early stage as some have rightly said. We will need more 'flair' and 'creativity' - especially at home !!! - let's hope it's found from somewhere. But hey, let's enjoy - 3 points is 3points - a win is a win - we can but hope for more of the same.

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stantheman added 23:40 - Aug 9 Excellent start for us. Murphy played his heart out and looked goosed for the last 15 minutes. Berra and Smith colossal all match. Tabby worked his socks off but sometimes the game passed him by I thought. Mings a work in progress as well as Bayner. Not sure about Bru, raw in the extreme but Hewitt looked good. My MOM was Murphy just pipping Hyam. I must admit Luke is not my favourite player but he had a stormer today. Just hope he keeps it going and turn into the player he has the potential to be.

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dawoolah added 23:42 - Aug 9 Thought Hewitt was awesome today and the only reason they scored was because Mings slipped and the shot was deflected. Fulham will be a good side with a few more months together and 3pts off them is a great start to the season. Well done boys, proud of you all !
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battyblue added 05:43 - Aug 10 jas0999 completely agree with your post its funny how some people see the game completely different to one or two others i believe three points has clouded their vision.
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Pendejo added 06:07 - Aug 10 3 points thanks very much. Have only seen Murphy's goal so far, excellent finish. Well done to all..... Welcome back McGoldrick.... now how about a 40 goal partnership with Murphy this season?
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battyblue added 07:47 - Aug 10 bohslegend you are correct i was a bit harsh saying bringing on Bru nearly cost us .Wordsworth should have scored with the header but at least he got himself in that position which is very rare with our midfield and i am sure if he had had more time in the team would have been more confident and buried it without a second thought ,Skuse and Hyam did well today and we missed their defensive quality's when they were both taken off.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:03 - Aug 10 Very solid performance today all round. We dealt with Fulham's possession without getting flustered mostly, and we created a few dangerous moments of our own in a match that lacked very many real chances. I thought the win was well deserved. It would be unusual for a team not to have some part of a match, but Fulham's most dangerous pressure - the last five minutes - was actually fashioned only on the back of a rather lucky goal. I'm not getting too carried away yet, but this was a match I feel we might not have won last season. Like many, beforehand, I'd have definitely taken a draw. I reckon Fulham will be a force this season; this was hardly their "PL" team - it was a new team that will take time to gel - so to beat them now was perhaps a plus. Other thoughts: I think Mings did ok. He made a few errors, but did quite a lot of good defending too. He'll be fine. Another positive compared to last season was that we didn't just sit back, defend a lead, and let nervousness creep in. We seemed controlled and confident. We also appear to have more flexible options this season - feels more like a squad, with several players who can come in and do a job, and the younger players (Hewitt, Hyam, Mings) have taken a step up. Hope for Bajner's sake he can claim a starting place because he seems so positive and willing, but I reckon he will be mostly on the bench, depending of course on the injury situation. Reading away will be at least as difficult, so we'll need as much support as possible there. Disappointed only 17,000-ish turned up, but Sky and prices have already been debated elsewhere as probable causes for this. Apparently those who were there created a good atmosphere (although hard to tell on tv). COYB!

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BlueandTruesince82 added 08:19 - Aug 10 We played like Chelsea yesterday, not as silky, not as stylish but set up to counter attack (which should be even scarier if Henshall and Stewart play down the wings together) it felt as if the entire mentality was come and have a go if you think your good enough and they wernt. 8 debutants yes but they have spent some dosh so not to shabby. A good time to get them no doubt but a great start. Remember we could be Blackpool,. Remember

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Cattee11 added 09:27 - Aug 10 I think certain individuals need to cut Mick some slack. I hear nothing but moaning about negative tactics. If we lost the game then fair enough. We beat a Fulham side that are able to spend what they want on players. We have not spend a penny. As far as im concerned Mick can play "that way" all season. These people seem to forget the 4-0 drumming we used to get week in week out with Jewell. I was very happy with today. First game of the season is such a buzz. Seeing Didsy back is awesome. I'm excited about this season. Mick's not stupid, we will get a midfielder. Impressed with Tabb and Hewitt. Murphy works so hard for the team and I really admire that. Hyam had a great game too. Bring on next game. COYB

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tractorintheloft added 10:33 - Aug 10 Wow loads of comments following a positive result - whatever next :-) Thought we played the right game in right circumstances. Fulham had too many debutants and we got in amongst them early and never let them settle. Great to come out of traps flying but a long season and squad already looks thin due to injuries. Hoping MM can do his usual rabbit out of a hat trick in next few days.

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Langdon_Blue added 11:01 - Aug 10 The best thing about yesterday's win was they all play for each other. The effort and team spirit we have money cannot buy. Well played lads...one and all!
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blue_moon09 added 11:36 - Aug 10 Good start yesterday very happy, pity the attendance was low hang your heads in shame stay away fans, got a feeling you will be back next home game....
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TimmyH added 12:03 - Aug 10 re: Tabb - a few on here thought he didn't particularly have a good game and to be honest as regards to his quality on the deck and from dead ball situations your probably right. What Tabb did well yesterday and mainly second half was closing players down, getting tackles in and stopping the opposition playing but unfortunately actually seemed a bit slow on Fulham's goal to commit. MOM for me probably Hyam over Murphy. On another note does anybody how we can see the player ratings? (as voted) it seems to have changed from last season.

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theobald1985 added 12:09 - Aug 10 great result against a decent enough fulham side who lacked quality in the final third-mcormack looked unfit. great to see mcgoldrick back and defence looked good although the left side would be the weak spot with mings and tabb who did not do alot for me as a left winger.
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chippyblue added 12:12 - Aug 10 Don't think I have seen so many posts for a win in a long time ' great win yesterday lads let hope for more of the same . Think the best I have seen hyam play COYB
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