Source: Telegraph
Fulham 2 Wigan 1: match report
Fulham prepared for the Europa League quarter final return in Germany with their first Premier League win in six weeks, at Craven Cottage, and leave Wigan facing a fight to preserve their League status. [LNB]Wigan's Jason Scotland, who scored twice against Fulham for Swansea in last season's FA Cup, claimed his first Premier League goal before Stefano Okaka levelled. Brede Hangeland scored the 58th minute winner for Fulham. [LNB]West Ham will have little complaint about Fulham's team against another side in a relegation battle. [LNB]Fulham made only one change from the side that beat Wolfsburg 2-1 in the Europa League on Thursday with Bobby Zamora ruled out with an Achilles problem. [LNB]It was not thought to be too serious with the 18 goal striker rested ahead of the return to Lower Saxony. [LNB]That gave Swedish striker David Elm his first start for Fulham since February and only his fourth for the club. [LNB]Wigan were missing the banned Gary Caldwell but Chris Kirkland, their goalkeeper, returned after illness while Scotland was given his first start in nine games. [LNB]The visitors, who had conceded 13 goals in their previous two London visits, created the first chance with Maynor Figueroa setting up Hugo Rodallega for a chance that was blocked. [LNB]Fulham responded when a delightful ball from Simon Davies, playing again in an unorthodox right back position, found Damien Duff and his cross was met by Zoltan Gera but the Hungarian's diving header was held by Kirkland. [LNB]Wigan's Paul Scharner was booked for a 13th minute foul on Elm. [LNB]Soon afterwards Elm had a shot parried by Kirkland and in the 18th minute Wigan survived a penalty appeal when Gera fell following a challenge from Mohamed Diame but replays suggested he had caught his boot in the turf. [LNB]Wigan, in their fluorescent orange shirts, came close to an opening goal in the 31st minute when a slip by Mark Schwarzer allowed Scharner to lob towards goal only for Brede Hangeland to clear off the line. [LNB]And the Schwarzer had to alert to tip another effort, from Hugo Rodallega from under his cross bar. [LNB]Inevitably Wigan opened the scoring, in the 34th minute, when Mario Melchiot crossed, Marcelo Moreno pulled the ball back and though Scotland slipped he was able to find the bottom corner. [LNB]Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, was so angry he appeared to kick his chair in frustration. [LNB]Hodgson made a change at half time, replacing Elm with Okaka and after just 81 seconds he scored his first Premier League goal. [LNB]Scharner lost possession to Gera and his cross from the left found Okaka and the Italian responded with a neat near-post flick. [LNB]And in the 58th minute Fulham took the lead when, from Duff's left wing corner, Hangeland's powerful header beat Kirkland and found the net off the inside of the right post. [LNB]And in added time referee Mark Clattenburg rejected another penalty appeal when Titus Bramble upended Clint Dempsey. [LNB]
