Fulham 2 - 2 Blackburn Rovers

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Sunday Nov 25 2007 04:00

Blackburn Rovers twice came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw at Fulham which helped them extend their unbeaten Premier League run to six games.

A goal ten minutes from time from the outstanding Stephen Warnock snared a point after a Danny Murphy penalty and a tap-in from Diomansy Kamara had twice given Fulham the lead.

Blackburn were hindered by the early withdrawal of Benni McCarthy, who felt the full force of Dejan Stefanovic's clattering thigh-high fifth minute challenge.

The South Africa striker was replaced by Jason Roberts after a lengthy delay which seemed to unsettle Blackburn.

From their first attack Fulham manufactured a clear opportunity when Clint Dempsey's cute pass released Kamara. The Senegal striker delayed his finish, however, and Brad Friedel was able to stop his weak effort with an outstretched leg.

Lifted by the reprieve, the visitors grew into the contest with the evergreen Tugay and dependable Aaron Mokoena bossing the midfield.

Despite exerting their control, without their first-choice strike pairing, Blackburn looked strangely toothless upfront.

Jason Roberts provided a case in point in first-half injury time when he dwelled too long, having been offered a clear shot at goal thanks to the inventiveness of David Bentley.

Blackburn were made to pay for their lack of ruthlessness within five minutes of the restart when Fulham took the lead via the penalty spot.

Kamara just beat Ryan Nelsen to Hameur Bouazza's low cross and was felled by the New Zealand defender and Murphy kept his composure to send Friedel the wrong way.

Blackburn's response was immediate and should have equalised when Morten Gamst Pedersen missed a free header from Bentley's expertly flighted free-kick.Antti Niemi was then alert to deny Roberts moments later and Aaron Hughes cleared Brett Emerton's follow-up off the line.

The Australian didn't have to wait long to restore parity, however, when in their next attack he drew his side level with a close-range effort teed up by Warnock's cross and Roberts' flick-on.

Just as it seemed Rovers would steamroller their hosts, Fulham regained the lead. Murphy's inch-perfect pass opened Blackburn up and Simon Davies supplied the cross for Kamara to convert at the far post in the 63rd minute.

Fulham could not hang on to their advantage and were caught out when Blackburn drew level through an unlikely source.

Roberts was allowed to twist into the penalty area and his low cross was prodded home by the outstanding Warnock with ten minutes remaining to snatch a draw.

  • 90
    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
    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
    In a double change, Ki-Hyeon Seol is also on for Kamara
  • 83
    David Healy is on for Fulham, replacing Murphy
  • 82
    Roberts did extremely well for the goal, beating two Fulham defenders with ease
  • 80
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Murphy slots home from the spot and Fulham lead
  • 50
    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
  • 45
    The second half gets underway - with everyone hoping for an improvement after that poor first 45 minutes
  • 45
    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
    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
    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
    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
  • 0
    The action gets underway at Craven Cottage
  • 0
    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

Statistics

Fulham
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 3
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 19
Offsides 2
Corners 3

Blackburn Rovers
Shots on target 10
Shots off target 2
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 10
Offsides 4
Corners 6

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