Source: Eurosport
Dempsey at the double to down City
Two goals from Clint Dempsey saw Fulham recover from a half-time deficit to earn a rare away win as Manchester City went down 3-1 at Eastlands.
Steven Ireland had given City a first-half lead, but two goals from Dempsey either side of a Dickson Etuhu strike turned things around in the second period, earning the Cottagers only their second away victory of the season.
The three points take Roy Hodgson's side to eighth in the Premier League while Mark Hughes' beleaguered side remain in the bottom half of the table.City started slowly and the hosts had to be grateful to Shay Given after the keeper smartly blocked Bobby Zamora's effort after Richard Dunne had misjudged a ball over the top in the fifth minute.
Cottagers' midfielder Dempsey then lashed an effort horribly wide of the target only two minutes later when City gave the American too much time and space in the box.
The opening goal, when it came, was against the run of play but like so often this season, it was Ireland leading the way for City.
The Irishman carried the ball from the halfway line and after Fulham had backed off into their own box, Ireland attempted to bend an effort around Mark Schwarzer, which clipped Etuhu before nestling in the far corner of the net in the 27th minute.
The goal seemed to stir City from their slumber and Valeri Bojinov saw his effort fly wide of Schwarzer's goal four minutes later as the Bulgarian went in search of his first goal in a City shirt.
Mark Hughes' side however began the second half as they had the first, but Fulham this time made their hosts pay by grabbing the equaliser five minutes after the break.
Pablo Zabaleta needlessly presented the ball to Zamora deep in the City half and despite Micah Richards' tackle stopping the striker's progress, Dempsey pounced on the loose ball, showing the composure he lacked in the first half to neatly side-foot home from the edge of the box.
Things quickly got worse for the Eastlands faithful when a former City player put Fulham ahead.
Dickson Etuhu latched on to another loose ball on the edge of the box before charging on and lashing a wonderful shot past Given from 18-yards.Hughes responded to the scoreline and his side's lacklustre performance by introducing Robinho and Daniel Sturidge, and the pair almost made an immediate impact when City's record signing latched onto the academy graduate's pass but Schwarzer was equal to Robinho's drilled effort.
Brede Hangeland headed over from close range in the 73rd minute but the visitors sealed the points with seven minutes remaining when Dempsey latched onto Zamora's pass to slide the ball through Given's legs.
Substitute Ched Evans' header brought a fine save out of Schwarzer late on, but it was all too little too late for City, who must now pick themselves up for their crucial UEFA Cup quarter-final second-leg against Hamburg on Thursday night.
