Source: PA
Hughes the happier after draw
Mark Hughes enjoyed the sweetest of revenge on Manchester City as Damien Duff's second-half strike proved enough to earn Fulham a 1-1 draw at Eastlands.
Mario Balotelli had put the Blues in front with his ninth goal of the season. But City never looked convincing and Fulham could easily have claimed victory instead of merely extending an impressive run of just one defeat in eight away clashes in the league with City.
City needed to produce something to raise a very flat atmosphere and Balotelli provided it. The Italian exchanged passes with Carlos Tevez but appeared well marshalled by Danny Murphy on the edge of the box.
However, Murphy offered Balotelli too much room and, from a central position, the striker hit a crisp shot that flew past Mark Schwarzer and into the bottom corner.
Aleksandar Kolarov wasted an excellent chance to double the lead when he went for goal himself rather than squaring to better-placed team-mates.
City were pegged back within a couple of minutes of the re-start. Kolarov was the guilty man for conceding possession and Brede Hangeland swiftly released a pass down the right. Andrew Johnson quickly advanced to the by-line, where he drilled a fierce low cross into the box for Damien Duff, who tucked home at the far post from close range. All of a sudden, City were wobbling and were fortunate to hold on for a point.
