Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham 1 Blackburn 2: Roberts nicks a big win for Sam
Blackburn breathed life into their survival campaign with a stunning comeback against Fulham last night to leave Roy Hodgson's side nervously looking over their shoulders with just 10 games to go. [LNB]Jason Roberts was the hero, blasting home from close range with five minutes left after El-Hadji Diouf had offered the visitors a glimmer of hope by cancelling out Clint Dempsey's opener for Fulham after just 98 seconds. [LNB] Rover and out: Jason Roberts celebrates his late winner at Fulham.[LNB]The result meant Blackburn climbed to 15th. Portsmouth have dropped into the bottom three and only goal difference keeps Newcastle out. [LNB]Fulham suffered their first back-to-back defeats at Craven Cottage in the league this season after last Wednesday's smash and grab by Hull City. And, given Hodgson's men have failed to win a single away game in the league this season, recapturing their home form will prove vital to avoid relegation nightmares. [LNB]Recapturing any kind of form was the requirement for Blackburn after just one league win from their previous six games. And having set a minimum target of a point from their trip to Craven Cottage, their manager Sam Allardyce was understandably delighted to have come away with three. [LNB] Fulham 1 Blackburn 2: All the action as it unfolded[LNB]BLACKBURN ROVERS FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB]FULHAM FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB]He said: 'It is the most important win since I have been here, to win this catch-up game. You have got to make it pay and we did so, 100 per cent. This was our second away victory on the trot. We are a team in form on the way up, rather than some of those above us who are sliding down.' [LNB]It has not quite reached that stage for Fulham yet, but Hodgson admitted he is looking forward to getting back to one game a week for his side after the rigours of a cup run had taken their toll on his small squad. [LNB]'It was a very fierce, competitive Premier League match,' said Hodgson. 'I am very disappointed but Blackburn played with a lot of energy and we struggled to match them. [LNB]First blood: Clint Dempsey beats Ryan Nelsen to the ball to give Fulham the lead.[LNB]'Of course we haven't stopped looking over our shoulder. We really do need to get back to playing one game a week. We are a small squad and tiredness was always going to be a factor.' [LNB]It took its toll on Bobby Zamora who was ruled out with a hip problem, although his absence was greeted with some suspicion by Fulham fans given his meagre return of just two goals this season. [LNB]Goals have not exactly been in abundance for Blackburn either so the absence of Roque Santa Cruz with a swollen knee did little to help, but Allardyce was boosted by the return of Paul Robinson after his first-choice keeper was forced to sit out the stalemate at home to Everton with a shoulder complaint. [LNB]The Blackburn manager might well have been wishing he had given reserve keeper Mark Bunn a run-out as Fulham raced into an early lead with Robinson partly culpable.[LNB] Keen to make Zamora's absence a more permanent feature, Dempsey held off both Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelson before stabbing the ball past Robinson who had remained inexplicably rooted to the six-yard line rather than dive at the striker's feet. [LNB]ulham could have been two to the good inside 10 minutes, but Andy Johnson dithered when he shot have struck Dempsey's back-heel first time, allowing Stephen Warnock to block. [LNB]Blackburn did manage to impose themselves a little as the half wore on and Warnock was desperately unlucky to see his sweet left-foot curler strike the base of a post with Mark Schwarzer well beaten. [LNB] Back in it: El-Hadji Diouf (no18) is on hand to equalise for Blackburn.[LNB]The introduction of Benni McCarthy 10 minutes after the break and a switch to 4-4-2 proved to be the catalyst for a Blackburn comeback. With 69 minutes played, Brede Hangeland could only clear as far as Tugay whose header back into the box was flicked on by Christopher Samba before being tapped over the line by Diouf. [LNB]And, with Warnock having tested Schwarzer earlier on with two powerful strikes, Blackburn finally got the winner their commitment to the cause deserved when Morten Gamst Pedersen crossed for Roberts who rolled beyond substitute Tony Kallio with ease before crashing home from close range. [LNB]Fulham stay six points above the drop zone. But Manchester United won 4-0 at Craven Cottage in the FA Cup last weekend and they are the next visitors to Fulham in the league. It is little wonder Hodgson has not stopped looking over his shoulder just yet.[LNB]MATCH FACTS[LNB]FULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer 6; Pantsil 6, Hangeland 6, Hughes 6 (Kallio 77min), Konchesky 6; Davies 7 (Nevland 90), Murphy 6, Etuhu 6, Gera 6 (Kamara 80); Johnson 6, Dempsey 7. Booked: Murphy BLACKBURN (4-5-1): Robinson 5; Ooijer 6, Samba 6, Nelson 6, Givet 6; Diouf 6, Andrews 6 (McCarthy 56, 6), Tugay 6 (Mokoena 82), Warnock 7, Pedersen 6 (Dunn 86); Roberts 5. Booked: Diouf. Man of the match: Clint Dempsey. Referee: Rob Styles.[LNB] Fulham 1 Blackburn 2: All the action as it unfolded[LNB]BLACKBURN ROVERS FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB]FULHAM FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
