Source: PA
Dempsey strike thwarts Rovers
Clint Dempsey ensured Fulham maintained their unbeaten start to the Barclays Premier League season with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn after Rovers had threatened to overwhelm Mark Hughes' side on his return to Ewood Park.
Chris Samba had given Sam Allardyce's Rovers the half-time lead in controversial circumstances while Fulham had barely had a sniff of goal.
The second half was a different story, however, as Hughes' men had much the better of the match and secured a scoreline that was on balance a fair result.
Blackburn deservedly took the lead when Paul Robinson hoisted the ball high and with Mark Schwarzer again looking uncertain - and some shoving by El-Hadji Diouf not helping Fulham's cause - Samba won the heading lottery to loop the ball into the empty net.
Hughes reacted with anger on the touchline, provoking good-natured jeers from the home crowd, and his mood would not have been improved when Robinson displayed superb agility to turn aside Carlos Salcido's impressing curling strike.
Fulham looked much more positive in the second half and Dempsey struck in the 56th minute, when Salcido floated across an inviting cross from left, beating Ryan Nelsen to the ball to plant a powerful header past Robinson for the equaliser.
