A superb Jimmy Bullard free-kick two minutes from time earned Fulham a crucial point at Ewood Park on Saturday.
Starting Line Ups
Blackburn Rovers
Brad Friedel, Andre Ooijer, Stephen Warnock, Christopher Samba, Tugay, Roque Santa Cruz, Benni McCarthy, David Bentley, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Zurab Khizanishvili, Steven Reid
Subs: Jason Brown (gk), Aaron Mokoena, David Dunn, Matt Derbyshire, Jason Roberts
Fulham
Kasey Keller, Paul Konchesky, Eddie Johnson, Paul Stalteri, Aaron Hughes, Jimmy Bullard, Clint Dempsey, Simon Davies, Leon Andreasen, Danny Murphy, Brede Hangelaand
Subs: Antti Niemi, Moritz Volz, Carlos Bocanegra, David Healy, Brian McBride
First Half Action
Torrential conditions accompanied the first period of play at Ewood Park on Saturday. A swirling wind and a heavy downpour made for testing conditions for both sets of players. Fulham’s travelling supporters deserve a special mention. After severe travels disruptions on Saturday morning Fulham's army of fans made it in time for kick-off and were in fine voice throughout the game.
Blackburn got the game underway and it was a quiet first period by all accounts. Neither side created any clear cut opportunities but the Whites matches Rovers in all areas of the field.
11 min Simon Davies opened up Rovers defence for the first time with a sweet through ball which sent Eddie Johnson clean through on goal. The US striker raced past Khiszanishvili and looked to be pulled back as he bore through on goal. Referee Mike Riley was unmoved and waved play on. Fulham earned their first corner of the game on 15 minutes and Friedel was forced to save as Hangelaand snuck in at the far post.
17 min Blackburn created a superb opportunity from the left flank through Warnock and breached Fulham’s defence for the first time. The left back created the overlap and a cute ball deep down the left set the defender free. Warnock’s cross flashed across goal, evading both sets of players.
22 min Simon Davies was once again supplying the ammunition from midfield for Fulham. Playing on the left hand side of midfield the Welshman set Konchesky free down the left, opening up Rovers defence. Konchesky turned his marker on the by-line and sent in a fine cross. Unfortunately for Fulham the ball was just behind Dempsey, racing into the six yard box.
27 min The heavens opened at Ewood Park as the game became a scrap for possession with neither side creating any opportunities of note. Steven Warnock once again showed his pedigree going forward from defence on the half hour mark, supplying another dangerous ball onto the box which forced Hangelaand to use all his height to head the ball clear to safety.
33 min Simon Davies was enraged following an aerial collision with Bentley. The Rovers winger caught Davies with his flailing arm and Riley was forced to intervene as the Fulham midfielder remonstrated. The wind was causing problems
35 min Eddie Jonhson was disposed in Rovers half Santa Cruz was set free, through on goal, down the right channel. Konchesky tracked back and put in a superb tackle before Cruz could pull the trigger. From Rovers’ second phase of pressure moments later Aaron Hughes put in a superb block tackle following a cute Rovers one-two inside the Fulham area.
40 min Fulham earned several corners from the forays upfield during the first period but could not capitalise on their set pieces. A free-kick seconds before the break, left of centre from 25 yards, offered the Whites their last opportunity of the half. Jimmy Bullard stepped up but crashed his right footed shot against the wall. Seconds later Mike Riley called time on the first half at Ewood Park.
Second Half Action
45 min Fulham got the second half underway and Rovers won the first corner of the half after three minutes. Steven Reid met the set piece on the far post but sent his effort back across goal wide.
54 min Steven Reid almost broke the deadlock. The midfielder chased a through ball into Fulham’s area and under pressure from Konchesky’s challenge sent his effort looping over Kasey Keller and onto the crossbar. Rovers were increasing the pressure and Pedersen sent in a speculative shot from distance moments later.
57 min Mark Hughes made a double substitution before the hour mark, revising his attacking options. Matt Derbyshire came on for McCartney and Jason Roberts replaced Tugay.
58 min Despite Rovers making the changes in attack it was Fulham’s Eddie Johnson who was the rattled the crossbar with a superb right footed drive from the edge of the area.
59 min Pedersen broke the deadlock right on the hour mark to give Rovers the lead. The home side broke down Fulham’s left flank and a delivery from out wide was sent into the middle of the area. Pedersen appeared to bundle over Stalteri as he raced into the area before heading in from 15 yards.
Blackburn 1 Fulham 0
61 min Fulham should have pulled the game level moments after conceding. A cross into the area found Dempsey unmarked on the far post but the American lost his footing and the ball drifted wide. The American was in the mix again seconds later when he was bundled over in the area but Referee Mike Riley was unmoved.
65 min Roy Hodgson revised his attacking line up, replacing Clint Dempsey with Brian McBride in attack. McBride was immediately in the thick of the action, his presence causing enough concern from Bullard’s deep free-kick for Rovers to concede a corner.
70 min Stephen Warnock was booked for a late challenge on Jimmy Bullard in the middle of the park. Bullard looked to have taken a knock to his left thigh but returned to the field moments later. Andreasen was given a verbal ticking off by Riley minutes later when he went in hard on Warnock in front of the Rovers dug out.
73 min Pedersen almost doubled the home side's lead with a superb left footed free kick from 25 yards. Keller looked beaten but fortunately the ball flew just wide of the keeper's near post. Two minutes later Keller was forced to save as Pedersen fired in, low and hard, from exactly the same position.
79 min Rovers were enjoying some strong attacking play down Fulham's right flank and the home side's attacks were becoming ever more dangerous as the game wore on. Bentley broke through down the left and burst into the box, but instead of crossing, went for goal and smashed the ball against the side netting.
83 min Fulham attacked from the flanks with Konchesky and Andreasen supplying crosses from deep but Fulham could not find a flourish in the final third. Blackburn countered a Fulham corner and Stalteri was booked by Mike Riley for holding back Roberts as the striker broke through on the half way line. The striker should have put the game beyond doubt seconds later but Keller made a superb diving save at the striker's feet in a one-on-one 8 yards from goal.
84 min Roy Hodgson sent on David Healy to reinforce his attack as the game entered its final phase. The striker replaced Danny Murphy with Simon Davies tucking into central midfield.
88 min Two minutes before time Eddie Johnson earned a free-kick in a central position, 20 yards from goal. Bullard stepped up and once again produced a moment of magic. A superb right footed free-kick had Friedel beaten all ends up and the Bulldog turned on his heels and raced to the touchline to celebrate with Danny Murphy.
Blackburn 1 Fulham 1
90 min The Fourth Official indicated three minutes of added time and Fulham attacked with the greater purpose. David Healy was booked for blocking Friedel taking a free-kick seconds before Mike Riley blew for fultime. It was a crucial point for Fulham on Saturday and Roy Hodgson and his side will now look towards making up further ground in the Premier League table against Everton at Craven Cottage next Sunday.
