Starting Line Ups

 

First Half Action

1 min
Following his two-goal haul at Eastland, Diomansy Kamara was given a place in the starting line-up in place of David Healy.

 

5 mins
Fulham’s first attack, a wonderful move down the right culminated in the ball finding its way to the left wing and Paul Konchesky sweeping a deep cross to the back post. Brian McBride managed to delay his run and met the ball with a diving header which skimmed the crossbar. However, the linesman had long since raised his flag.

 

7 mins
Maik Taylor needed to be at his best on the seven minute mark when he denied a smart free kick routine from Fulham. The Whites were awarded the set piece on the right flank. Jimmy Bullard stood over the ball and, with the Birmingham defence expecting a delivery in the air, Bullard rolled a sly pass to Simon Davies. The Welsh winger met the ball with a crisp side footed effort, but Taylor was quickly down to his left to palm the ball round the post.

 

17 mins
Fulham’s play through midfield was being broken down, mainly by the work of Fabrice Muamba, who was enjoying an influential spell in the game.

 

22 mins
The pace of Kamara caught out Damien Johnson as the Birmingham full back was attempting to clear. The ball deflected into no-man’s-land but no Fulham player was immediately on hand to take advantage. Play was soon tidied up.

 

25 mins
A spell of Birmingham pressure following a corner had Fulham carrying out a rearguard action. Once again, Brede Hangeland, who already had a number of impressive interventions to his name, cleared the danger.

 

33 mins
Jimmy Bullard lost his footing and Birmingham counter attacked with numbers down the left flank. The move was looking full of threat before Hangeland again swept across and carried the ball safely away from the danger zone.

 

40 mins
A lengthy piece of Fulham possession was ended when the influential Muamba stole the ball away from Bullard and played a forward pass into the run of McFadden. The Scottish international controlled the ball well and tried to play a low pass across the face of goal to Mikael Forssell. Fortunately the ball was tapped away from the forward by Hughes.

 

45 mins
With only seconds of injury time remaining Diomansy Kamara saw his goal bound effort blocked by Radhi Jaidi.

Second Half Action

50 mins
The second half got off to a fairly innocuous start with only Brian McBride testing Maik Taylor with a straightforward shot from 20 yards.

 

51 mins – GOAL FULHAM – Brian McBride
Brian McBride gave Fulham the lead on the 51 minute mark to send Craven Cottage wild. The goal came via a free kick which was dangerously whipped in by Jimmy Bullard. McBride managed to find himself some space and swooped in with a diving header which Taylor could do nothing about.

 

54 mins
Spurred on by a vocal Cottage crowd, Diomansy Kamara weaved his magic in the Birmingham penalty area, beating three players in tight confines. With only the keeper left to beat, albeit from a narrow angle, Kamara’s shot was hit with a little too much force and flew over.

 

56 mins
The atmosphere at the Cottage is simply deafening as the crowd urge the player to score a second. The introduction of Mauro Zarate certainly gave the Whites something to think about as the tricky Argentinean was certainly looking a bag of tricks.

66 mins Fulham Substitution
Diomansy Kamara OFF Erik Nevland ON
Kamara, who seemed to have picked up a knock was soon replaced by Erik Nevland in a like-for-like substitution.

 

71 mins
The game entered a tense phase as the Whites were forced into some nervy clearances at the back. Nonetheless, the defence was still standing firm. In fact they could have taken the lead when a deep Paul Konchesky cross landed at the feet of Simon Davies. The Welsh winger whipped in a cross and Dempsey, who was arriving at pace, put a powerful header over.

 

78 mins
The gaps were starting to appear at the back of the Birmingham defence as they searched for an equaliser. Cameron Jerome, full of running, was ensuring the Whites would find no time on the ball along the back line. A well aimed throw from Kasey Keller set Simon Davies away down the right wing, but his cross was deflected out.

 

84 mins
Passing moves are now few and far between as the both side look uncomfortable taking risks. Nerves are set jangling at Craven Cottage when Radhi Jaidi’s header bounces just wide.

 

88 mins – GOAL FULHAM – Erik Nevland
Just as he did at the Madejski Stadium, Erik Nevland put Fulham two goals to the good when he was sent clear.  With Jaidi in close pursuit, the striker took one further touch before finishing clinically past Taylor. The Cottage erupted.

88 mins Fulham Substitution 
Jimmy Bullard OFF Leon Andreasen ON

 

90 mins
A Danny Murphy free kick from 25 yard was tipped just over by Taylor.

90 mins Fulham Substitution 
Clint Dempsey OFF David Healy ON   

fulhamfc.com Man of the Match

Brede Hangeland
A solid display at the back from the big centre back who made a number of vital interceptions and was dominant in the air. 

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