Blackburn Rovers 1 - 1 Fulham

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Saturday Mar 08 2008 03:00

Jimmy Bullard curled home a last-minute free-kick to snatch a precious point for struggling Fulham.

After a dour first half, Morten Gamst Pedersen headed Blackburn Rovers in front from Jason Roberts' cross, but with just seconds of normal time remaining, Bullard struck a sublime set-piece to earn his side a share of the spoils.

Before the game, Rovers boss Mark Hughes made one change to the side that won 1-0 away at Newcastle, with Tugay coming in for the injured Brett Emerton.

Roy Hodgson, on his return to Ewood Park, made three changes to the side that lost 3-0 at home to Manchester United, with Kasey Keller, Leon Andreasen and Clint Dempsey replacing Antti Niemi, Moritz Volz and Brian McBride.

In torrential conditions, both sides took time to find their feet.Zurab Khizanishvili was possibly lucky not to be penalised on 11 minutes when he appeared to tug back Eddie Johnson, as the American striker looked to run through on goal, while at the other end Rovers persistently looked to get balls into the box from the left.

The home side passed and probed, with Roque Santa Cruz twice denied by last-ditch tackles, while Khizanishvili headed a David Bentley corner straight into keeper Keller's arms.

As the rain eased off after the break, the chances duly followed, with both sides denied by the woodwork inside the opening quarter of an hour.

On 54 minutes, Paul Konchesky looped the ball onto his own bar as he made a vital interception to halt Steven Reid's run and just four minutes later Khizanishvili allowed Johnson time and space to shoot, but the Fulham forward's crisp effort skimmed off the stanchion.

And just 60 seconds later, Rovers took the lead. Hughes had gambled with the introduction of both Matt Derbyshire and Roberts and the latter claimed the assist.

Roberts delivered the cross from the right and Pedersen, who appeared to hall his marker Paul Stalteri to the ground, powered home a free header from close range.

The home side started to dominate, with Roberts' deflected shot comfortable for Keller, Pedersen curling a fantastic free-kick inches past the post and Bentley drilling the ball into the side net.

Roberts ought to have sealed a third straight win for the team in blue and white six minutes from time, only to be denied by the onrushing Keller.

And the miss proved costly as the visitors, who have now gone 31 games without an away league win, equalised with their next attack. Chris Samba was penalised for high feet and Bullard fired home the free-kick from the edge of the box.

Live Commentary

90
FULL TIME: Blackburn have thrown away two points and their hopes of Europe will be dented after a late Jimmy Bullard equaliser. Mark Hughes will be furious, but it could turn out to be a crucial point for Fulham.

90
Brian McBride is booked for failing to move ten-yards back from a free-kick.

90
The fourth official indicates three minutes of added time.

89
Blackburn respond immediately and Bentley gets a shot away from close range but sends it wide of the mark.

87
BLACKBURN 1 - 1 FUlHAM: Konchesky lays the free-kick off for JIMMY BULLARD who lifts the ball up and over the wall and into the back of the net.

86
Fulham win a free-kick in a very dangerous position, just outside the 'D' on the penalty area.

84
Danny Murphy makes way for David Healy as Fulham change to an attacking 4-3-3 formation.

83
Roberts looks certain to score as he gets a shot away inside the box but Keller is quick off his line to turn the ball away.

81
Paul Stalteri is cautioned for a late challenge on Jason Roberts.

80
Bentley bursts into the Fulham penalty area and hits the side netting from a tight angle. A better option may have been to pull the ball back for one of his awaiting team-mates.

78
The Rovers defence is left gaping as Fulham beat the offside trap, and Pedesen saves a certain goal by turning a low cross behind for a corner

75
Fulham look very low on confidence at the moment and there is no urgency in their play, but Blackburn will have to stay focused and not get complacent if they are going to see this game through.

73
Pedersen strikes a free-kick at goal and it whistles inches past the far post

70
Pedersen picks out Roberts with a cross, but the striker's shot is straight down the throat of Keller.

67
Warnock is booked for the challenge and looks bemused at the decision.

67
Bullard goes down after a challenge from Warnock and play stops for a few moments as he receives treatment.

66
Fulham's top scorer leaves the field to be replaced by Brian McBride - an attacking substitution from Hodgson.

65
The game has opened up since the goal and both sides have had chances to score, but Fulham look like they have lost belief in the game.

63
Matt Derbyshire takes the ball down the other end and looks for the far corner with a curling shot but it is blocked by Konchesky.

63
Simon Davies finds space for a shot on the edge of the box but Samba gets himself in the way of the ball again.

62
Andreasen tries his luck from outside the box but his shot sails harmlessly over the crossbar.

61
Rovers fail to clear their lines and Danny Murphy gets a shot away from the edge of the box but Samba throws himself in the way of the ball.

61
Paul Konchesky gets a low cross into the danger area but his team-mates fail to get onto the end of it, and it would have only taken a touch to put it in the back of the net/

61
That was an inspired substitution by Mark Hughes, with Jason Roberts the architect of Pedersen's goal.

59
BLACKBURN 1 - 0 FULHAM: Jason Roberts puts a pin-point cross onto the head of MORTEN GAMST PEDERSEN who beats Kasey Keller with a bullet header.

58
Johnson latches onto a long ball and gets a shot away which cannons back off Brad Friedel's near post.

56
Jason Roberts replaces Tugay.

56
Benni McCarthy makes way for Rovers' hero at St. James' Park - Matt Derbyshire

55
Mark Hughes has seen enough of his teams performance and signals for a double substitution.

53
There is almost a comical own goal from a Fulham defender after they failed to deal with a Pedersen cross, but the ball bounces behind for a corner.

51
Johnson gets behind the Blackburn defence and runs at goal, but Samba puts in a last ditch challenge to knock the ball to safety.

49
Steven Reid gets his head on a Bentley corner but directs the ball over the crossbar

46
Bentley hits an ambitious shot from over 30-yards out and unsurprisingly fails to work Keller.

45
The weather has brightened up for this second-half, let's hope the match follows suit.

45
HALF TIME: Mike Riley brings a poor first-half to a close and there has been very little to talk about.

44
Tugay picks up the first booking of the game after a rash challenge on Jimmy Bullard.

44
There are several Rovers players completing vigorous warm-ups on the touchline and it seems Mark Hughes may make immediate changes at half-time.

42
Pedersen gets into a good position and has team-mates in the box but his delivery is awful and ruins a good opportunity for Blackburn.

40
Tugay hits a trademark curling shot from just outside the box, but fails to trouble Keller on this occasion.

39
Fulham win a corner but Santa Cruz clears the danger with a towering header.

38
Clint Dempsey tries his luck from range but his shot is blocked by Khizanishvili

37
That move was a lot more sharp from the home side and hopefully this will bring the game to life as we approach half-time.

35
McCarthy plays an intricate one-two with Santa Cruz who looks certain to hit the back of the net, but a strong challenge from Aaron Hughes knocks the ball behind for a corner.

32
The game is being littered with scrappy free-kicks and the game has become very stop-start.

29
The crowd are now trying to urge their sides forward but there is no drive coming from the centre of the park. Mark Hughes has had his substitutes warming up and he may start considering his options if this continues through to half-time.

27
Benni McCarthy gets behind the Fulham defence but is pulled back for offside.

25
Neither side seems able to retain possession and continue to gift the ball to each other in the centre of the park.

23
There is very little happening at the moment and both managers are on the edge of their technical areas trying to spark some life into their players.

21
The pitch is looking very heavy and looks a little boggy due to the masses of rain pouring down on it, but this is still no excuse for Fulham's sloppiness.

19
Blackburn are well on top at the moment but are just lacking the final ball, leaving them increasingly frustrated

16
Stephen Warnock curls an inviting cross into the danger area but his team-mates are too slow to react and do not connect with the ball.

14
Rovers are having a lot of joy down the flanks but Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Bentley have not yet been able to pick out their front-men with crosses.

11
Eddie Johnson is brought down in the box by Zurab Khizanishvili and appeals for a penalty, but Mike Riley waves away the protests.

9
Rovers break forward and the Fulham defence looks very disorganised. Tugay tries to pick out one of his strikers but his pass is poor and runs straight through to Keller.

7
The game has started with a very slow tempo but the crowd are livened up a little as Blackburn win the first corner of the game.

5
Rovers win a free-kick in a decent position but the delivery is poor and Eddie Johnson heads the ball clear.

4
It looks like Fulham may be taking a 'safety first' approach to this game, as Roy Hodgson will know that every point counts in the last ten games of the season.

0
Blackburn are enjoying an early spell of possession but have not threatened Kasey Keller as of yet.

0
Referee Mike Riley gets the game underway.

0
FULHAM STARTING XI: Keller, Stalteri, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey, Bullard, Andreasen, Murphy, Davies, Johnson. SUBS: Niemi, Volz, Bocanegra, Healy, McBride

0
BLACKBURN STARTING XI: Friedel, Ooijer, Samba, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Kerimoglu, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy. SUBS: Brown, Mokoena, Dunn, Derbyshire, Roberts

0
Roy Hodgson makes three changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Manchester United, with Antti Niemi, Brian McBride and Maurice Volz making way for Kasey Keller, Leon Andreasen and Eddie Johnson respectively.

0
The only to change to the Blackburn side that won at St. James' Park last week sees Tugay come in for Brett Emerton. David Dunn is passed fit for Mark Hughes' side but will start the game on the bench.

Statistics

Blackburn Rovers

Shots on target	4
Shots off target	10
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	19
Offsides	2
Corners	7

Fulham

Shots on target	4
Shots off target	3
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	16
Offsides	1
Corners	7

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