Source: Telegraph
Fulham 1 Portsmouth 0: match report
Drowning off the field in a sea of uncertainty and debt but fighting like fury to keep their heads above water on it, Portsmouth, nevertheless, were once more holed under the water-line. It was again of their own making with Nadir Belhadj gifting the goal that earned Fulham a victory and left their opponents sunk at the bottom of the Premier League table. [LNB]Their efforts deserved more. But how often has that been said this season? [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tablePremier League actionPremier League fixturesTelegraph player raterSport on televisionTransfer TalkThey may be a shambles as a club right now but not as a team. Whatever fate holds for manager Avram Grant after this season, he knows he has — like Paul Hart before him — fashioned a competitive team in trying circumstances. They fight. Still, they appear certainties for relegation. [LNB]Given the serenity surrounding Fulham, particularly compared to the chaos at Portsmouth, it's an arresting statistic that Roy Hodgson's side went into the contest with a record of five successive league defeats. [LNB]They began, however, as if drained of belief, blunted of intent. Portsmouth, for all their woes, were far sharper with Angelos Basinas, the Greek international restored through expediency, biting into the challenges and Frederic Piquionne, perhaps offside, wasting an opportunity when released down the left. Mark Schwarzer was the far more occupied of the goalkeepers. [LNB]Aruna Dindane who, like Piquionne, didn't know until late on Monday whether he would be in Portsmouth blue for this match, the first after the closure of the transfer window, threatened to wriggle free on two occasions before the Ivorian combined with Nadir Belhadj. [LNB]The attack broke down but, again, the clearance was ineffective and Kevin Prince Boateng worked his way back into the Fulham penalty area only to shoot weakly at Schwarzer. [LNB]Fulham continued to struggle. Passes were over-hit, crosses mis-directed. [LNB]Both debutants — Nicky Shorey, signed from Aston Villa and the Roma striker Stefano Okaka — were finding it difficult to integrate while the visitors continued to gain control of midfield and attacked with far greater purpose. [LNB]Still, it was Fulham who eventually fashioned the first clear chance when Aaron Hughes met Damien Duff's corner. His header was comfortably palmed away by David James. Soon after and Duff carved out another opportunity from a set-piece with Okaka, just, failing to touch in his inswinging free-kick. [LNB]If the Italian went close on that occasion, he soon perpetrated a terrible miss. Danny Murphy snapped into a challenge and his deep cross was met by Jonathan Greening who guided his header to Okaka who was on-side and almost on the goal-line. [LNB]It appeared he simply had to nod the ball beyond James — and did so, but it bounced past the post as well. The 20-year-old striker, who had scored against Fulham in the Europa League earlier this season and who has arrived on loan until the end of the campaign, held his head in anguish. [LNB]Still the balance had swung. Fulham were in the ascendancy and Okaka seemed to have been pricked into action, laying a pass off neatly to Greening who found Bobby Zamora. Just as he appeared to have gone through on goal he was halted by Marc Wilson. [LNB]Soon after and Zamora was appealing for a penalty, after tangling with Tal Ben Haim, while, for Portsmouth, Piquionne and Dindane both wasted headed chances and the former had a shot charged down. [LNB]Portsmouth's ambition was faultless. They sensed points could be gained and soon after the re-start Dindane twisted to reach Basinas's corner — but failed to guide the ball over Schwarzer, who held on while Piquionne stuck out a boot, only for Belhadj's curling cross to brush narrowly wide. [LNB]Once more Fulham gradually gained as a degree of ascendancy and Duff, increasingly appearing their most likely source of danger, centred towards Zamora. Wilson beat him to the ball it skimmed wide. Seconds later and Zamora was denied by the same defender and then, finally, the breakthrough. [LNB]Duff, inevitably, was involved, stealing possession inside the Portsmouth area from Belhadj and squaring across goal for Greening. The midfielder steadied himself and side-footed a low shot beyond James and into the net. [LNB]It was Greening's first goal for Fulham since he arrived from West Bromwich Albion. [LNB]It was a desperate blow for Portsmouth. They poured forward, frantically in search of a goal. Fulham were pushed back, forced into their own area but, finally, held on.[LNB]
