• Date: Sat 31 January 2009
  • Venue: Craven Cottage
  • Ref: Wiley, A
  • Attendance: 23,722
Fulham

Fulham

Johnson, A (14)

Nevland (71)

Nevland (80)

3 - 1
Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Nugent (84)

Fulham vs Portsmouth

Team Lineups

Fulham

Mark Schwarzer
Brede Hangeland
Paul Konchesky
John Paintsil
Aaron Hughes
Danny Murphy
Simon Davies
Dickson Etuhu
Clint Dempsey (Zoltan Gera, 90)
Bobby Zamora (Erik Nevland, 63)
Andrew Johnson, A

Portsmouth

David James
Glen Johnson
Younes Kaboul (Noe Pamarot, 77)
Hermann Hreidarsson
Sylvain Distin
Hayden Mullins
Armand Traore (John Utaka, 63)
Sean Davis
Jermaine Pennant
Peter Crouch
Nwankwo Kanu (David Nugent, 46)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Fulham 3 Portsmouth 1: 2 Goals from substitute Erik Nevland heap misery on Tony Adams' charges and Fulham distance themselves from the relegation zone.

90
Substitution
 

Fulham substitution: Dempsey replaced by Zoltan Gera.

90

Fulham look to break with Johnson but James comes out to clear.

90

There will be 3 minutes of added time at Craven Cottage.

89

Andrew Johnson crosses into the Portsmouth area and Glen Johnson's header back to James has the Portsmouth keeper scrambling for a moment.

88

Good play from Fulham. Ball into the box from Davies, but saved by James.

87

Utaka puts the ball into the box and fins Crouch. Crouch spins and shoots, but can't get the power in his shot.

85

Good inter-play between Crouch and Nugent but Fulham steal the ball away and counter.

84

Utaka is sent through by Johnson but Schwarzer gets down to save. The linesman's flag goes up and Fulham receive a free-kick.

82
Goal
 

Fulham 3 Portsmouth 1: Free-kick into the Fulham area from Pennant and Nugent has pounced to reduce the arrears.

82

Free-kick to Portsmouth on the edge of the Fulham penalty area after a foul on Pennant.

78
Goal
 

Fulham 3 Portsmouth 0: Nevland has bagged himself a second goal and the game is dead and buried for Portsmouth. It was a right footed shot from the edge of the area which found the bottom corner and James is beaten again.

78

Foul on Davies by Hreidarsson and Fulham get a free-kick inside the Portsmouth half.

76

All three substitutions now made by Tony Adams, but it's not looking like Portsmouth will get anything from this afternoon.

75
Substitution
 

Portsmouth substitution: Kaboul off for the visitors. Pamarot replaces him.

73

Johnson gets the wrong side of Distin but his effort is blocked.

71
Goal
 

Fulham 2 Portsmouth 0: Portsmouth offside trap fails and Nevland is put through on James' goal. James was left in no man's land and the Fulham substitute doubles the hone side's lead.

70

Back-to-back corners for Portsmouth. Ball into the near post from Pennant, but cleared for a throw-in to Portsmouth.

68

Long ball over the top to Nugent. His cross finds Crouch but Pantsil gets back in the nick of time to nick the ball away from the Portsmouth striker.

66

Half-volley from Utaka, right-footed, by wide and out for a goal-kick to Fulham.

65

Nevland takes on Kaboul, but Kaboul is too quick for the Fulham man and wins possession for Portsmouth.

63
Substitution
 

Portsmouth substitution: As suspected, Traore leaves the field and is replaced by Utaka.

63
Substitution
 

Fulham substitution: Nevland on for Zamora.

63

It looks like Utaka is going to come on for Portsmouth. It could be Traore the man to be replaced as he looks devoid of confidence.

61

A chance for Fulham on the break. Zamora gets away from the Portsmouth defence but he dwells on the ball and the chance is gone. Corner to Fulham.

60

Fulham mount their first attack of the half, but Pennant dispossesses Konchesky and the linesman's flag has gone up for an offside against the Fulham man.

58

Nugent harrassing the Fulham defenders well and he's forced a throw-in deep in the Fulham half. He's made a big difference for Portsmouth so far in this second half.

56

Another corner to Portsmouth. Big pressure for Fulham to weather.

54

Fulham struggling to get a touch of the ball. Long ball forward goes through to James and Portsmouth pick up possession again.

52

Corner to Portsmouth taken by Pennant. Header from the Portsmouth captain Distin but wide of Schwarzer's goal.

51

Another claim for a penalty from Portsmouth. Crouch goes down in the area. Pantsil is involved again, but no foul given.

50

Big penalty claim for Portsmouth turned down by Alan Wiley. Flick on by Crouch to Nugent. Nugent goes down under a challenge from Pantsil but Alan Wiley waves away the Portsmouth appeals.

47

Shot from Hreidarsson but the ball goes wide of the Fulham goal. A bright start to the half again for Portsmouth.

47

Free kick to Portsmouth for a foul on Johnson by Hangeland a yard outside of the penalty area on the right hand side.

46
Substitution
 

The second half has kicked off. Kanu has been replaced by David Nugent for Portsmouth. No changes for Fulham.

45

On the other hand, Tony Adams will need to raise his players who, apart from Kaboul's header which struck the crossbar, have looked short on ideas. We've already seen Utaka and Nugent warming up and there could be changes coming soon.

45

Roy Hodgson will no doubt be happy with his side's first half performance. Fulham have looked the better side since taking the lead in the 15th minute.

Half time
 

Half-time: Fulham 1 Portsmouth 0. Portsmouth started promisingly but like their game in midweek against Aston Villa they've created very little going forward. Fulham have grown since the goal and are good value for their half-time lead.

45

There will be just 1 minute of added time in the fisrt half and Fulham look like they'll go in at half time leading by Andrew Johnson's goal.

44

Throw-in to Portsmouth deep inside Fulham's half. Ball is sent into the box, but Crouch is penalised for climbing on his marker to reach the header.

43

Fulham threaten again. Dempsey plays the ball into Zamora in the box, but it's offside and Portsmouth have a free-kick.

42

Ball into the box from Davies and Johnson goes down in the area, but no foul and Portsmouth clear the danger.

41

Ball into the Portsmouth box by Zamora, but claimed by James.

39

Ball comes in from the corner and Kaboul has been denied a headed equaliser by the crossbar.

39

Portsmouth having a sustained spell of pressure. Another corner to Portsmouth.

38

Looping effort from Davis, but Schwarzer turns the ball over the Fulham crossbar for another corner.

37

Mistake by Pantsil and Portsmouth force a corner on the left hand side.

36

Portsmouth win a couple of throw-ins in the Fulham half but they're showing little going forward since the Fulham goal.

33

Fulham getting well on top. Johnson sent through on goal. He shoots low to James' left but James saves with his foot. It could have easily been 2-0.

32

Good play from Zamora. He gets the ball to Pantsil and his cross flashes across the Portsmouth penalty area.

31
Yellow Card
 

Mullins is cautioned for a foul on Dempsey.

30

Ball played back by Kanu to Davis, but the ball is nicked away by Davies and Fulham counter.

28

Half chance for Portsmouth. Kanu holds the ball up in the area. Shot from Mullins, but deflected away.

27

Throw in to Portsmouth 25 yards out from goal. Ball thrown in by Hreidarsson. Ball played back to him but his cross goes safely into the arms of Schwarzer.

26

Neat play from Fulham on the edge of the Portsmouth box. Fulham are starting to grow in confidence since the goal.

25

Crouch plays the ball wide to Traore, but Pantsil dispossesses him and Fulham bring the ball forward.

23

Pennant gets up gingerly from a challenge from Konchesky and this would be a worry for Portsmouth as he has been one of their brighter players.

22

Zamora fires the ball across the box, but the linesman has flagged for offside.

21

Pennant runs at the Fulham defence but is shown inside and the attack comes to nothing.

20

Johnson crosses into the box, Davis hits the ball first time on the bounce but Schwarzer gets down low to save.

17

Nugent and Utaka out warming up for Portsmouth.

16

First corner of the game for Portsmouth but comes to nothing.

15
Goal
 

Fulham 1 Portsmouth 0: Johnson gambles in behind the Portsmouth defence and slots past James to give Fulham the lead.

11

The game is starting to settle into a rhythm, with Fulham enjoying a little more possession, but still no chances to report.

7

Ball into the box by Glen Johnson too high for Crouch. It comes off the top of Crouch's head and out for a Fulham goal kick.

6

First corner of the game to Fulham.

5

Portsmouth have started brightly with the lion's share of the possession in the opening 5 mins.

3

Pennant beat Konchesky down the right hand side but Kanu misses his attempted shot in the area.

1

Referee Alan Wiley has got this game underway. Fulham are unchanged from their game with Sunderland in midweek. Portsmouth have 2 changes, with Campbell (hip) and Belhadj (suspension) making way for Kaboul and Traore.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Portsmouth Line-up: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Davis, Mullins, Armand Traore, Kanu, Crouch

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Fulham Line-up: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey, Etuhu, Murphy, Davies, Zamora, Johnson