A spirited performance at Stamford Bridge earned Fulham a well deserved point from Saturday’s SW6 derby.
Manager Chris Coleman opted for a 4-4-2 formation to take on West London rivals Chelsea. Fulham retained the same back four and midfield that claimed a point at the Valley on Wednesday evening, with Michael Brown Captaining the side. With Heidar Helguson suspended, Dutch striker Collins John started in attack alongside Whites top scorer, Brian McBride.
The good news for Fulham fans before kick-off was the return of Luis Boa Morte, named on the bench alongside keeper Ricardo Batista, Bjorn Runstrom, Gabriel Zakuani and Elliot Omozusi.
Without the injured John Terry, Frank Lampard captained Chelsea. In central defence Paulo Ferreira partnered Ricardo Cavalho whilst Salomon Kalou was selected alongside Didier Drogba in attack.
A major downpour before of kick-off could not dishearten Fulham’s travelling supporters who were in fantastic voice. Referee Howard Webb was in charge of proceedings, with Chelsea getting the game underway.
A high tempo start to the match saw Fulham soaking up waves of Chelsea pressure. It was Michael Essien who was handed the first clear opportunity of the game. Kalou drifted down the left flank and raced to the by-line before pulling the ball back to Essien, nine yards from goal. Essien could only send his right footed shot past Niemi’s far post but the midfielder was handed another opportunity on goal moments later.
A long ball from deep inside Chelsea’s half reached Drogba on the edge of Fulham’s area. The striker controlled the ball on his chest before laying the ball off to Essien, whose drive from 18 yards was well covered by Fulham keeper Antti Niemi.
Chelsea should have broken the deadlock after 13 minutes. Essien raced passed Queudrue down the right flank before setting up Kalou in a central position eight yards from goal but the striker could only send his effort wide of Niemi’s post.
Despite Chelsea enjoying the majority of possession and opportunities on goal, it was Fulham who broke the deadlock after 16 minutes of play. A Franck Queudrue throw in from the left hand side drifted into Chelsea’s area and reached Moritz Volz. The German U21 international took the pace of the ball in his stride before unleashing a thunderous right footed shot past Hilario. The ecstatic Volz raced the length of the pitch to celebrate with Fulham’s travelling supporters.
It required some heroic defending from Carlos Bocanegra to retain Fulham’s lead on 19 minutes, denying Drogba on the far post following a delivery from the left. Bocanegra was at full stretch to clear the ball to safety as the Blues looked for a way back into the game.
Fulham should have doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Brian McBride’s cross from the left evaded two Chelsea defenders before reaching Wayne Routledge, 15 yards from goal. With only the keeper to beat Routledge sent his effort over the bar.
Liam Rosenior produced a fine sliding tackle to deny Kalou on 27 minutes. After a lengthy spell of possession in the middle of the park Lampard delivered the ball to Kalou on the left hand side of the area. As the striker turned for the shot Fulham’s right back flew in with a fantastic covering tackle.
Chelsea’s pressure paid dividends on 35 minutes. The Blues pushed high up the field and a deep cross to the far post was headed clear by Liam Rosenior. The clearance reached the edge of the box and the oncoming Lampard drilled his right footed shot into the box. The shot deflected off Rosenior and into Niemi’s goal to bring the game level.
Fulham front pair linked up well on 38 minutes when McBride set John through on goal. Bocanegra’s long ball from Fulham’s 18 yard line was flicked on by McBride and as John looked to be through on goal Carvalho raced in to clear the ball to safety.
Five minutes before half-time Frank Lampard earned a free-kick 30 yards from goal after being brought down in a central position. The midfielder sent a low right footed shot into the area which took a defection before looping over the bar to safety.
A minute before half time Carvalho impeded Collins John as the striker raced through Chelsea’s defence. As the Dutchman reached the edge of the area Carvalho wrestled the striker to the floor. The defender was immediately booked and Fulham earned a free-kick 20 yards from goal.
Queudrue stepped up to take the set piece but sent his left footed shot into the wall. Rosenior eventually collected on the right hand side and delivered an in-swinging cross which found the head of John but his angled effort drifted wide of Hilario’s far post.
John’s effort was the last of the half as Referee Howard Webb blew time on an enthralling first-half.
Both sides remained unchanged for the start of the second period as Fulham got the game underway.
In the opening minutes Fulham created two fantastic opportunities on goal. Only a minute into the half Rosenior earned Fulham a corner after some good work down the right hand side. From the resulting corner the ball was sent goal wards amongst a host of players. The ball drifted towards the far post and Chelsea’s defence were forced to clear the ball off the line as Bocanegra closed in on goal.
Fulham’s bright start continued when McBride was set free down the right flank on 48 minutes. The American striker raced clear of Chelsea’s defence before sending in a right footed cross to John whose late run took him into a central position 10 yards from goal. The striker’s pace took him in front of Carvalho but his effort could not beat the Chelsea keeper.
Franck Queudrue was booked on 52 minutes after a late challenge in the middle of the park and Jose Mourinho made his first substitution of the game moments later, replacing Gererni with Andriy Schevchenko. Chelsea switched to a 4-3-3 formation and seconds later the Blues earned an in-direct free-kick 28 yards from goal. In the blustery conditions Drogba sent his right footed shot high and wide of Niemi’s goal.
On 61 minutes the home side went ahead. A deep ball from the left found Drogba on the six yard line but under pressure the striker sent his header back across the face of goal. Frank Lampard retrieved the ball on the by-line and sent in a right footed cross across goal. Drogba had retained his position on the six yard line which left him with only Niemi to beat and his downward header put Chelsea a goal to the good.
The conditions at Stamford Bride deteriorated into a hail storm as Fulham looked for a way back into the game. Chris Coleman introduced Luis Boa Morte on 66 minutes, replacing Collins John. Tomasz Radzinski moved up front alongside McBride as Boa Morte took up his position on the left wing.
Fulham’s most productive work continued to come down the right with Rosenior and Routledge linking up well. Chelsea’s defence looked far from comfortable as Coleman’s side continued to search for the equaliser.
Wayne Routledge almost brought the game level on 76 minutes. A deep cross from the left into the area was punched out of the area by Hilario. The keeper’s clearance reached Routledge who sent his first time shot across the box and only a yard wide of the keeper’s far post.
Moments later Chelsea’s keeper was required to pull of an outstanding finger tip save to deny Boa Morte. Jose Mourinho immediately reinforced his back, replacing Kalou with Wayne Bridge and reverting back to a 4-4-2 formation.
After creating several fine opportunities on goal Fulham’s efforts were rewarded on 83 minutes when Carlos Bocanegra brought the game level as the defender struck home from three yards after a header across goal from the right hand side.
Mourinho made his final substitution two minutes later, replacing Makelele with Wright-Phillips. Both sides continued to attack as the clock ticked down.
Fulham earned a direct kick 25 yards from goal two minutes from time but Wayne Routledge could only send his right footed effort against the wall. In the final minutes both sides could have won the game. First, Antti Niemi was forced to tip Wright Phillips effort round the post but it was Fulham who produced the final attack which should have sealed the game.
Once again the outstanding Volz forced his way into the area before sending in a low cross from the left. Hilario was beaten by the delivery and Routledge slid in but could not reach the ball as it flew across goal.
After three minutes of injury time Howard Webb called time on an outstanding derby match. Fulham’s comeback was complete and Coleman’s side are now four games unbeaten going into Monday’s clash with Watford.