Fulham faced Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Tuesday evening (KO 8pm) in Dougie Freedman's testimonial match.
Fulham's starting eleven featured two Academy Gradutes, TJ Moncur and Robert Milsom, with a further six promising youngsters named on the substitutes bench.
Team News
Crystal Palace
Julian Speroni (GK), Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Paddy McCarthy, Jose Fonte, Dougie Freedman, Nick Carle, Calvin Andrew, Tom Soares, Danny Butterfield, Paul Ifill
Subs: Sean Scannell, Simon Thomas, Johannes Ertl, Ben Watson, Jamie Smith, Rhoys Wiggins, James Dayton, Kieron Djilali, James Comley, Victor Moses
Fulham FC
Pascal Zuberhuler (Trialist GK), TJ Moncur, Robert Milsom, Toni Kallio, Chris Baird, Steven Davis, Clint Dempsey, Alexey Smertin, Eddie Johnson, Erik Nevland, Lee Cook
Subs: David Stockdale, Joe Anderson, Lewis Cumber, Matthew Briggs, Wayne Brown, Hameur Bouazza, Jordan Wilson, Lewis Smith
First Half Match Report
1 min Erik Nevland and Eddie Johnson got the game underway and Clint Dempsey tested Speroni in Palace's goal within the first sixty seconds of play.
Lee Cook made a fine run through the middle of the park, driblbing past two players before laying the ball off to Nevland down the right flank. Nevland's first time cross found Dempsey on the edge of the area and the US international fired a right footed volley on goal. Speroni was forced to make a fine save to his left to deny Dempsey.
7 min Both sides were attack-minded from the off and the home side created two good opportunities in the opening exchanges. Calvin Andrew's well timed runs between Fulham's defensive ranks led to two fine crosses from the flanks but Palace failed to find a cutting edge.
10 min A friendly by name but this fixture was a highly competitive affair, highlighted by Tom Soares crunching tackle on Eddie Johnson in front of the dugout which left the American wrything in pain on the touchline.
15 min The game was brought to a halt when Shaun Derry's heavy challenge on Lee Cook left the winger grounded. Cook required treatment on the pitch but resumed his position on the left flank minutes later.
20 min Fulham's Academy Graduates coped admirably in defence during the first half. TJ Moncur made serveral well timed challenges during the first period and Robert Milsom combined his defensive duties on the left flank with a real attacking purpose.
28 min After a quiet spell of play Dougie Freedman had the Palace fans on their feet with a deft turn in the middle of the pitch to beat his marker. After being dispossessed moments later the ball fell to Eddie Johnson on the edge of Palace's area. His right footed snap-shot on the turn had Speroni beaten but the ball shaved the outside of the post.
33 min Nicky Carle, operating in central midfield for Palace, was pulling the strings for the home side during the first period of play. Carle threaded several fine passes through to Andrew and Ifill in attack. Palace delivered from the flanks but lacked a final finish.
41 min Palace did find a way behind Fulham's defence before half-time but the finish by Andrew missed the top corner of Zuberhuler's goal by a whisker. Butterfield delivered a superb cross from the right flank which Andrew met on the six yard line. His powerful headed attempt looked like it was goalbound before missing by the narrowist of margins.
44 min Before half-time Dougie Freedman was substituted and received a standing ovasion from the crowd. The half-time interval saw a host of Palace legends welcomed onto the pitch including Mark Bright, Ray Houghton and Andy Johnson.
Second Half Match Report
45 min Roy Hodgson made three changes to Fulham's line-up for the second half. David Stockdale replaced keeper Pascal Zuberhuler in goal and in midfield Hameur Bouazza and Wayne Brown replaced Lee Cook and Clint Dempsey respectively.
47 min Hameur Bouazza showed his ability from the left flank from the off. The winger beat his marker, raced toward the by-line and delivered a superb in-swinging cross to Nevland eight yards from goal. Nevland jumped above his marker but his header flew over the bar.
52 min Bouazza almost opened the scoring when he latched onto a through ball into Palace's area. Bouazza timed his run well and clipped the ball towards goal on the left hand side of the six yard box but the ball nestled into the outside of the net.
56 min Eddie Johnson was left unimpressed by Tom Soares late challenge 25 yards from goal. As the Referee blew up for the foul Johnson reacted and the official was forced to have a quiet word with both players. Hameur Bouazza took the resulting free-kick but sent his effort high and wide.
60 min Roy Hodgson blooded two more Academy Graduates on the hour mark, introducing Joe Anderson for Alexey Smertin and Jordan Wilson for Erik Nevland. Robert Milsom moved into central midfield.
65 min Clint Hill sent Fulham youngster Jordan Wilson flying with a late challenge which he was immediately pulled up on by the Referee. Jordan was straight back up on his feet within seconds.
70 min Steven Davis almost found a way through after bustling his way past a host of players in the area. As Davis set himself up for a strike he was denied by a last ditch tackle on the penalty spot.
75 min Fulham's greatest threat came down the left flank in the form of Hameur Bouazza. His direct attacking runs down the wing created several opportunities but both sides lacked a clinical edge in the final third on the night.
80 min The Premier League's youngest ever player, Matthew Briggs, made his second appearance for the Club ten minutes from time when he replaced Toni Kallio in central defence.
90 min Palace substitute Simon Thomas almost grabbed a winner seconds before the final whistle but his diving header to meet a cross from the right went wide of Stockdale's far post.
The Referee called time on the game at Selhurst Park and on reflection a draw was a fair result. A number of Fulham's Academy Graduates would have benefited enormously from Tuesday's nights game but the evening belonged to Dougie Freedman, who received an outstanding turnout from both supporters and fellow professionals.
