• Date: Sun 25 November 2007
  • Venue: Craven Cottage
  • Ref: Dean, M
  • Attendance: 22,826
Fulham

Fulham

Murphy (51) P

Kamara (63)

2 - 2
Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers

Emerton (57)

Warnock (79)

Fulham vs Blackburn Rovers

Team Lineups

Fulham

Antti Niemi
Dejan Stefanovic
Paul Konchesky
Aaron Hughes
Chris Baird
Danny Murphy (David Healy, 83)
Steven Davis
Simon Davies
Clint Dempsey
Hameur Bouazza (Shefki Kuqi, 68)
Diomansy Kamara (Ki-Hyeon Seol, 83)

Blackburn Rovers

Brad Friedel
Christopher Samba
Ryan Nelsen
Stephen Warnock
Aaron Mokoena (Steven Reid, 89)
Andre Ooijer
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Brett Emerton
David Bentley
Kerimoglu Tugay
Benni McCarthy (Jason Roberts, 8)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's finished 2-2, after a poor first half the game burst into life after the break with Murphy's penalty and Kamara's goal cancelled out by efforts from Emerton and Warnock.

90

Bentley's effort is collected by Friedel as Samba falls awkwardly and appears to be badly injured

90

Four minutes of stoppage time again to be added

88
Substitution
 

Steven Reid makes a return to action after a lengthy spell out injured, Mokoena goes off

88

Dempsey's cross is defended well by Rovers as time begins to run out

87

Healy's cross is dangerous but Friedel does well to grab the ball

85

It could go either way still with five minutes left of normal time

83

Bentley's free-kick doesn't get past the wall for Rovers

83
Substitution
 

In a double change, Ki-Hyeon Seol is also on for Kamara

83
Substitution
 

David Healy is on for Fulham, replacing Murphy

82

Roberts did extremely well for the goal, beating two Fulham defenders with ease

80
Goal
 

Warnock makes it 2-2 - the full-back slots home Roberts' cross at the back post for Rovers' second equaliser

78

It remains finely balanced at Craven Cottage with Fulham holding a slender lead but Rovers are very much in this game

77

Kuqi forces Friedel into a fine finger-tip save at the other end

75

From the corner, Chris Samba's header is saved well by Niemi - three great saves in a minute from the Fulham keeper

75

Pedersen shot is saved brilliantly by Niemi before the ball falls for Emerton but Niemi saves again to deny Rovers

74

The second half has been much better than the first with action at both ends

72

Aaron Mokoena needs treatment now but he's soon back up

70

Ooijer escapes a booking when the Fulham fans called for it after a poor challenge

68
Substitution
 

Bouazza goes off - replaced by former Rovers forward Shefki Kuqi

66

Emerton's cross is disappointing and very easy for Niemi

64

Andre Ooijer breaks well but Bentley can't make the most of the opening and Rovers waste the chance for another quick equaliser

62
Goal
 

Fulham go back in front as Kamara slides the ball home from Davies' cross but there was a hint of offside

62

Tugay's shot from distance is easy for Niemi

60

Rovers definitely deserved the equaliser after responding really well to going behind

58
Goal
 

Warnock does brilliantly well and his cross is eventually turned home by Brett Emerton to give Blackburn an equaliser

56

Niemi makes a fine save from Roberts as Rovers attack again

55
Yellow Card
 

Stefanovic is booked for a foul on Bentley this time

54

Pedersen's header from a free-kick is just over, that was a great chance for a quick equaliser for Rovers

51
Goal
 

Murphy slots home from the spot and Fulham lead

50
Penalty
 

Kamara is pulled down in the box by Ryan Nelson and it's a penalty for Fulham

48

Warnock is up and appears to be fine

47

Warnock is injured and will need treatment

Second half
 

The second half gets underway - with everyone hoping for an improvement after that poor first 45 minutes

Half time
 

A lively stoppage time is brought to an end and it's half time

45

Bouazza's shot is wide, chances galore all of a sudden

45

Bentley is thwarted by good defending from Chris Baird as the game to comes to life in injury time

45

Roberts' shot is blocked before Pedersen wastes a great chance - his shot is blocked though as well

45

Four minutes of added time after that McCarthy injury as Friedel saves well to deny Dempsey

43

The Fulham fans try to lift their team - they've had very little to shout about so far in the first half

41

Antti Niemi gathers the ball at the other end with Roberts on the prowl

40

Friedel claims Paul Konchesky's cross well

39

As we edge towards half-time, there's been very little in the way of goalmouth action

37

The Turkey midfielder is OK though and back involved in the action now

36

It would be a big blow if Rovers lose Tugay after already losing McCarthy

35

Tugay goes down with a knock and Morten Gamst Pedersen puts the ball out so he can get treatment

33
Yellow Card
 

Murphy is booked for a poor challenge on Bentley - the second man to be shown yellow so far

30

Davis' through ball is too long for Kamara and Friedel can gather it

28

Hameur Bouazza's whipped-in cross is cut out well by the Blackburn defence for a Fulham corner, but nothing comes of it

27

It's been a poor game in truth so far, very few chances at either end

25

Stefanovic clears Bentley's cross behind for a Rovers corner but the delivery fails to find anyone and it goes out

23

Warnock aims for Bentley but his pass is overhit and Fulham can regroup

21

Blackburn have steadied the ship now after a poor opening

18

Stephen Warnock's cross is dangerous but Blackburn fail to make the most of it as no-one can get on the end of it

17

Kamara's is the only real chance so far but Fulham are definitely looking the more likely side to open the scoring

15

Rovers seem to have been unsettled by McCarthy going off as they are struggling at the moment

13

Dempsey's shot from distance is wide and never really troubling Friedel as the Cottagers continue to dominate early on

11
Yellow Card
 

Bentley is booked for attempting to win a penalty in the box - the decision seems correct as it looked like a dive

10

Roberts is fouled by Danny Murphy

8

Kamara is clean through but Brad Friedel makes a great save with his legs and the chance goes begging for Fulham

7
Substitution
 

It's an early blow for Blackburn, McCarthy is forced off and Roberts replaces him

5

McCarthy has been bandaged up and he hobbles off, Jason Roberts is set to come on for him

4

The South African striker's injury seems serious and the game is held up, it looks like he may need a stretcher and will have to come off

4

McCarthy has collided with Dejan Stefanovic and has picked up a knee injury

3

The home side have settled slightly better early on

2

Simon Davies' cross is deflected behind for an early Fulham corner

Kickoff
 

The action gets underway at Craven Cottage

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Blackburn are without Roque Santa Cruz so David Bentley is set to play just off Benni McCarthy, Fulham go with Diomansy Kamara with attacking midfielders Clint Dempsey and Hameur Bouazza supporting him