Fulham earned a point at Pride Park on Saturday following a 2-2 draw with Derby County.
Starting Line Ups
Manager Roy Hodgson made two changes to his Fulham side for Saturday's clash following last weekend's defeat to Newcastle.
Hameur Bouazza and Diomansy Kamara featured in Hodgson's starting eleven to face Derby at Pride Park. Hodgson opted for an attack-minded 4-4-2 formation with Kamara partnering captain Brian McBride in attack.
Leon Andresen moved into central midfield alongside Jimmy Bullard with Bouazza and Davies on the flanks. Kasey Keller retained the keeper's jersey, playing behind an unchanged back four.
Derby County: Roy Carroll, Dean Leacock, David Jones, Emanuel Villa, Kenny Miller, Eddie Lewis, Andy Todd, Mile Sterjovski, Darren Moore, Hossam Ghaly, Robbie Savage (c)
Subs: Lewis Price, Robert Earnshaw, Benny Feilhaber, Tyrone Mears, Jason Beardsley
Fulham: Kasey Keller, Paul Konchesky, Diomansy Kamara, Paul Stalteri, Aaron Hughes, Brian McBride (c), Jimmy Bullard, Hameur Bouazza, Simon Davies, Leon Andreasen, Brede Hangeland
Subs: Tony Warner, Carlos Bocanegra, Eddie Johnson, Clint Dempsey, Danny Murphy
First Half Action
Fulham got Saturday's game underway, supported by over 2,000 Fulham fans at Pride Park. Roy's Army backed their team magnificantly from the first whistle. Fulham made a bright start to the game, camped in Derby's half during the opening five minutes. An early opportunity was handed to Jimmy Bullard but Fulham's midfield man fired his 25 yard free kick over the cross bar.
8 min After making a bright start Fulham conceded from Derby's first offensive of the game. The Rams broke down the right flank and Dean Leacock's speculative shot from 25 yards, in a central position, deflected off Villa and into the net. Kasey Keller had no chance and Derby went ahead.
Derby 1-0 Fulham
14 min Fulham earned their second direct free-kick in a dangerous position after Simon Davies was crudely brought down on the edge of the area. Bullard stepped up but his set piece lacked the direction to test Roy Carroll and sailed over the bar.
23 min Fulham pulled the game level following a slick passing move down the right resulting in Joe Kamara heading in from five yards. Simon Davies delivered the perfect cross for Kamara and the striker made no mistake with his header from six yards. The Whites were back in it.
Derby 1-1 Fulham
27 min The home side came back at Fulham following the goal. Kasey Keller pulled off a superb diving save to David Jones. The midfielder's 25 yard strike looked goal bound before Keller's intervention. Moments later the home fans were screaming for a penalty. Kenny Miller's shot in the area struck Hangeland's but it was a case of 'ball to hand' and Mike Dean's decision was correct. No penalty.
34 min David Jones went close again with another long range effort before Paul Jewell was forced to replace Kenny Miller with Robert Earnshaw. At the other end Andy Todd almost beat his own keeper with a header back towards goal. The defender had been booked minutes earlier for a heavy challenge on Brian McBride.
40 min Fulham's best opportunitues were created down the right flank during the first half. Simon Davies delivered several fine crosses and was handed a fine chance before the break. Unmarked, on the edge of the area, Davies attempted to chip Carroll but his effort lacked the height to test the keeper.
45 min Deby earned a free-kick on the edge of the area at the end of the first half but Keller was equal to the delivery and the Whites went into the break on level terms.
Second Half Action
45 min THe home side made a bright start to the second half, playing a high tempo game and delivering from wide positions at every opportunity. The Rams earned the first opportunity of the second period after Bouazza brought down Savage on the edge of the area. Fulham's winger was booked and the Whites wall held firm from the resulting free-kick.
52 min Bullard was handed his third direct free-kick from dangerous position after being sythed down 30 yards from goal. Bullard fired in a superb right-footed curling shot which struck the top of the cross bar. Fulham's midfield man was inches from earning the Whites the lead.
53 min A long ball upfiled to the edge of Fulham's area resulted in a race for possession between Earnshaw and Keller. Fulham's keeper missed with his clearance and Earnshaw's cross-shot flew across an empty goal. A fortunate escape for Fulham.
57 min As the hour mark approached Derby tested Fulham's defence to the limit. Firstly Keller produced a fingertip save to deny Sterjovski from 25 yards before a cross from the left slammed against the cross bar. The game at Pride Park was there for the taking for both sides as a crucial half hour of Fulham's season beckoned.
62 min Andreasen was booked by Referee Mike Dean for a challenge from behind on Villa. Moments later Konchesky conceded a free-kick on the left hand side of the area and Eddie Lewis inswinging cross went dangerously close on the far post.
65 min It was end to end action at Pride Park and the second half was punctuated by a series of chances created from free-kicks for both sides. Joe Kamara almost made it two after meeting Bullard's set piece into the area. The striker's header drifted just wide of Carroll's far post.
70 min Robbie Savage should have given Derby the lead with twenty minutes remaining. A cross from the left found the midfielder's feet 12 yards from goal. Unmarked, Savage tamely fired his effort into Keller's arms. Moments later Earnshaw had a one-on-one with Keller but the keeper saved at the striker's feet.
75 min Bouazza was set free with a long ball upfield. The winger raced into the area and pulled the back to Bullard, who turned his marker and fired in a right footed shot. Carroll made a fine save before Davies was adjudged offside at the back post.
78 min Kamara was set free from the half-way line for a one-on-one with Carroll. The striker raced to the edge of the area before forcing unleashing a vicous left footed drive. Carroll was forced to produce a superb save which fell to Bouazza 12 yards from goal. His instinctive strike deflected off Leacock and into the back of the net to give Fulham the lead.
Derby 1-2 Fulham
80 min Emanuel Villa brought the score level barely a minute after Fulham had earned the lead. A cross from the right flank found Villa in the area and his header from five yards was clinincal.
Derby 2-2 Fulham
81 min Roy Hodgson made a double substitution with ten minutes remaining. Danny Murphy replaced Jimmy Bullard and Eddie Johnson came on for Hameur Bouazza.
86 min Simon Davies raced behind Deby's back line and as he reached the by-line pulled the ball back to Johnson. Under pressure Johnson appeared to be fouled in the area but Mike Dean was unmoved. With two minutes remaining Tyrone Mears replaced Andy Todd.
90 min The Fourth Official indicated three minutes added time as Fulham searched for a winner. Play was briefly stopped as Moore received treatment for a knock to the head. The clocked ticked down and the Whites could not find the answer and Mike Riley called time on the game and Fulham headed back to London with a point.
Fultime: Derby 2-2 Fulham
fulhamfc.com Man of the Match
Roy's Army: Over 2,000 Fulham fans made the jouney to Pride Park on Saturday and supported their team magnificantly.
