- Lescott (53), Petrov (60)
- Duff (62), Dempsey (68)
- Date:2009-10-25
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:City of Manchester Stadium
- Attendance:44906
- Referee:Friend, K
Live Commentary
90mins
Man City 2 Fulham 2: Fulham claw their way back from two goals down to nick a valuable point thanks to goals from Duff and Dempsey, cancelling out earlier goals from Lescott and Petrov.
90mins
Cross from the left by Bridge and it's off the substitute Ki-Hyeon Seol for a corner to City.
90mins
Fulham substitution: Kamara comes off and on comes Ki-Hyeon Seol. They take rather more time than City to make their change as Kamara trudges off.
90mins
Man City substitution: Kolo Toure comes off and is replaced by Vincent Kompany.
90mins
The referee's assistant indicates that there will be a minimum of five minutes added time.
88mins
Tevez tries to thread a ball forward inside the penalty area but it's deflected away for a corner on the City left.
87mins
Fulham are just sitting a little deep now looking to hang on for a valuable point.
85mins
Good run from Wright-Phillips down the right, but his cross is cut out by Hangeland. Wright-Phillips second cross is deflected away again, but this time for a corner.
83mins
Wright-Phillips does well to close Kelly down and force a corner off the Fulham man. Ball goes in to Adebayor but it drifts away for a goal-kick.
82mins
Bridge tries to clear under pressure from Duff, but the ball rebounds back off the City man and it's a corner to the visitors. Corner comes in the box but Dempsey heads over.
81mins
City try to push forward and look for a winner, but they've found it really tough to create any worthwhile chance in this past 15 minutes.
78mins
Corner comes in and it's so nearly turned goalwards by Dempsey, but Richards does well to clear.
77mins
The City crowd are just starting to sound a little anxious here as City come under a little pressure. Corner to Fulham.
75mins
Good turn and shot from Zamora. It flashes across goal, beating Given but it's just wide of the far post. Fulham were so nearly in front.
74mins
City looked so comfortable ten minutes ago, but Fulham have fought back well and this game could go any way in the last 15 minutes.
71mins
Man City substitution: Stephen Ireland comes off to replace Nigel de Jong.
69mins
City break with Wright-Phillips and the ball is off Schwarzer for a corner.
67mins
Man City 2 Fulham 2: Ball is floated into the box and Dempsey, falling backwards,heads home off the post to silence the City Of Manchester stadium.
66mins
Man City substitution: That's the last action this afternoon for Petrov who goes off to a rousing reception and on comes Wright-Phillips.
66mins
Petrov has gone down off the ball holding his knee and he's in need of treatment. Wright-Phillips is out warming up for the hosts.
63mins
Zamora almost gets in on goal but Given is out well and clears the danger.
62mins
Man City 2 Fulham 1: Immediate response from Fulham. Good possession around the box ends with Kelly finding Duff who sweeps home smartly to reduce the arrears.
60mins
Man City 2 Fulham 0: Petrov exchanges passes with Barry before firing home left footed from just inside of the area. It's a fine finish and City look like winning this comfortably now.
57mins
City try to break again with Adebayor and Tevez. They eventually work the ball out to Bridge on the left and he wins a corner off of Duff.
55mins
Bellamy receives the ball wide on the right. He play it on to Tevez and he does well to force a corner off Pantsil. Good pressure again from City.
53mins
Man City 1 Fulham 0: Corner comes in from Bellamy. It's steered goalwards by Adebayor and Lescott nicks the ball across the line from all of 6 inches to claim his first City goal.
51mins
Barry does well under pressure to nick the ball off a defender and he wins the home side a corner. Petrov takes towards Adebayor but Schwarzer punces away. Bridge shoots but Schwarzer again palms it away for another City corner.
49mins
It's a free-kick for Fulham in a dangerous area 25 yards from goal. Baird shoots but it's a tame effort and safely over.
47mins
Kamara advances towards the edge of the City area. The shot is parried by Given and Zamora somehow misses with the goal at his mercy from 5 yards. It's a poor miss from the Fulham man.
46mins
No changes from either side during the break and the visitors get this second half underway.
45mins
Man City 0 Fulham 0: Despite a strong opening from City, this first half has remained goalless.
45mins
There will be a minimum of two minutes added time at the end of this first half.
43mins
Free-kick to City for a foul on Barry by Pantsil. Pantsil receives the yellow card and it's a dangerous moment for Fulham.
41mins
Corner is met by Richards who heads home but the referee has spotted a foul and the goal won't count.
40mins
Tevez does well to find space and get a cross in and Duff has to get back well to head off the line. Corner to City.
39mins
Adebayor tries his luck, left footed from distance but it's just wide.
39mins
Neither side seem capable of keeping possession in the past few minutes and the tempo of the game has slowed somewhat.
35mins
Tevez tries to find Bellamy just inside the Fulham half but the Welsh striker is brought down and it's a free-kick to City.
34mins
The game has just gone a little flat for the past few minutes.
31mins
Petrov takes the corner. Tevez rises highest to glance a header goalwards, but it's just wide.
30mins
Cross comes in towards Adebayor. He claims he's been fouled and wants a penalty but the referee awards only a corner.
27mins
Good chance for Tevez. The ball deflects to him in the box but he snatches at the chance and slices it wide.
26mins
Left foot shot from Greening but it's wide from the Fulham man. The visitors have started to get into the game in this past couple of minutes.
25mins
Baird tries his luck for Fulham from distance. It very nearly finds the corner of the net with Given scrambling.
23mins
Chance for De Jong to open the scoring, but it's a good save from Schwarzer.
22mins
Bellamy comes forward for the hosts. he gets into the area but his effort hits Adebayor. It's surely only a matter of time before the home side get themselves in front.
21mins
Corner to City. Schwarzer comes out but misses the ball and Toure heads over.
20mins
Tevez drives forward for City. He tries to go past Hangeland, but the Fulham man gets a touch on the ball and plays it away for a throw-in.
18mins
Half claims for a penalty as Adebayor goes down under a challenge by Kelly, but the Fulham has won the ball and the referee waves away the appeal.
18mins
Kamara gets in on goal. He looks over at the referee's assistant to see that he' onside, but his touch is heavy and Given comes out to avert the danger.
15mins
Half chance for Tevez. He shoots, doesn't hit it cleanly, but has Schwarzer struggling and the City striker almost gives his side the lead.
14mins
Zamora tries to pick out Kamara inside the City area, but his pass is just too firm and it's through to Given.
13mins
Good ball forward by Zamora for Dempsey, but they can't quite fashion an opening. It's their brightest moment so far though.
11mins
Another long range from Petrov on his left foot but it's well of target this time.
10mins
Short spell of possession for Fulham but Pantsil eventually looks to play long ball forward and the ball is wasted.
8mins
Adebayor tries to beat Kelly on the break for City but the last touch comes off Adebayor and it's out for a goal kick.
6mins
Effort from the edge of the area from Bellamy but this time it's just off target. It's been a really good start for the home side.
6mins
Petrov tries his luck from distance but it's off the head of Baird and out for another City corner.
5mins
Bellamy tries to get a cross in from the right, but Duff is adjudged to have pulled him back and it's a free-kick to City in a dangerous position wide on the right.
5mins
Tevez tries to pick out Bellamy on the edge of the Fulham box but he slips and the visitors manage to clear the danger.
4mins
Ball in towards Adebayor but Hangeland and Kelly sweep up well and it's out for a corner to City.
3mins
Hangeland brings Tevez down as City try to break and is shown a yellow card by the referee.
2mins
Kelly tries to attack on the left, but City clear.
1mins
Early long ball forward by Bridge, but Adebayor has strayed just offside and it's a free-kick to Fulham.
0mins
Man City get the game underway.
0mins
Fulham are still without Davies, Johnson and Etuhu.
0mins
Toure and Bellamy both return to the starting line-up after missing out on last week's draw with Wigan. Adebayor has also overcome an ankle problem to start.
0mins
The draw is probably the outside result, wih City having gone 26 home games without a draw.
0mins
Fulham, however, have won three of their last four Premier League trips to City.
0mins
Man City will go into the game with confidence, having won their last six home league games.
0mins
Fulham team line-up: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Kelly, Duff, Greening, Baird, Dempsey, Kamara, Zamora
0mins
Man City team line-up: Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Petrov, Bellamy, Adebayor, Tevez
Match Preview
Manchester City will be hoping to boost their bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League by seeing off visitors Fulham at the City of Manchester Stadium.
The Citizens dropped two points last time out when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Wigan Athletic, with Mark Hughes' men fortunate to earn a point at the DW Stadium.
Their cause was hampered by the sending-off of Pablo Zabaleta, with the Argentinian suspended for this weekend's game as a result.
Hughes also has a number of injury problems to contend with, as Emmanuel Adebayor and Robinho (both ankle) definitely miss out, while Craig Bellamy and Kolo Toure are doubtful.
However, the Welshman remains upbeat about his side's prospects for the coming months, following a summer of big-money deals.
He said: "There are some good teams in the Premier League this year.
"There's a focus on ourselves because we have the ambition to have a good season, but the fact there's a threat to the teams who've had those top-four places is adding extra pressure.
"You just sense maybe that feeling of invincibility is no longer there. Other teams think they can take points off them."
The Cottagers head north boosted by their comfortable 2-0 victory over Hull City on Monday evening.
Goals by Bobby Zamora and Diomansy Kamara secured the victory, but Andrew Johnson missed out as his recovery from a shoulder injury has been slower than expected.
Boss Roy Hodgson confirmed: "Andy came back earlier from the injury that he sustained in August than perhaps he should have done.
"He's probably been carrying something in the shoulder that's caused a slight problem in his groin on the other side."
Midfielder Simon Davies is closing in on a return after an ankle injury, but Kagisho Dikgacoi is suspended after being sent off in the 2-2 draw with West Ham United.
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Match Report
Manchester City missed out on the chance to move into the Premier League's top four after being held at home by bogey-side Fulham.
It was a disappointing afternoon for City as they appeared to have victory secured after an hour when they were 2-0 ahead.
But the never-say-die spirit of Roy Hodgson's Cottagers was rewarded as they staged a remarkable recovery to snatch a point.
And it maintained Fulham's excellent record at Eastlands where they had won on three of their four previous Premier League visits, whereas for City it was their third successive draw which equates to six dropped points.
City, who recalled the fit-again Kolo Toure and Craig Bellamy, endured a frustrating opening half against Fulham, who could have stolen ahead when Diomansy Kamara burst through on goal only to over-run the ball enabling keeper Shay Given to save at his feet.
There was a succession of misses from City who also had a Micah Richards goal ruled out for a push by Gareth Barry, while Cottagers keeper Mark Schwarzer saved well to deny Nigel de Jong.
Fulham ought to have taken the lead early in the second half when Clint Dempsey's shot was parried by Given and Bobby Zamora missed an open by goal firing over from six yards.
Schwarzer made a great stop to keep out Wayne Bridge's long-range drive, but from the resulting corner Joleon Lescott finally broke the stalemate in the 53rd minute.
Bellamy's kick was won in the air by Barry, Emmanuel Adebayor shot towards goal and Lescott poked the ball over the line from barely one yard out.
When Martin Petrov doubled the advantage on the hour with a sweetly-struck shot from the edge of the box, City looked to have victory in the bag.
Yet within eight minutes, Fulham had made it 2-2 after an extraordinary turnabout in the fortunes of the visitors.
Zamora chested down a Stephen Kelly cross and Damien Duff fired home the second goal since his August move from Newcastle United.
That was followed by an equaliser from Clint Dempsey, whose weak header from Jonathan Greening's free kick somehow crept past Given's despairing dive.
Fulham might even have snatched victory to complete a remarkable turnabout when Given had to make a super save to keep out a 78th minute header from Brede Hangeland.
Manchester City Team
Fulham Team
Manchester City | Fulham |
Corners
| 14 | 2 |
Fouls
| 11 | 12 |
Goal attempts
| 20 | 11 |
Shots off target
| 13 | 6 |
Offsides
| 3 | 2 |



90mins
Ireland chips the ball forward towards Bellamy but Pantsil get in well to clear.