Starting Formations

Fulham
4-4-2

Zamora   Johnson

Davies     Etuhu     Murphy     Dempsey

Konchesky     Hangeland     Hughes     Pantsil

Schwarzer

Chelsea
4-3-3

Malouda     Drogba   J Cole

Deco     Lampard     Mikel

A Cole     Ivanovic     Alex     Bosingwa

Cech

Match Report

A dramatic late equaliser from Clint Dempsey secured a share of the points in the West London Derby. Dempsey had given Fulham the lead in the first half but two goals from Frank Lampard after the break looked to have ended Fulham’s chances of taking anything from the game. But Dempsey ensured the draw when he rose at the back post to head home Simon Davies’ late corner.

Dickson Etuhu replaced the injured Jimmy Bullard in the centre of Fulham’s midfield as the Whites looked to build upon the point gained at White Hart Lane on Boxing Day.

Fulham got the match underway backed by vociferous support. Often playing with five players stretched out across the midfield area, Chelsea were clearly trying to widen the play and tempt Fulham out of position.

The opening exchanges saw both sides struggling to settle down into their passing game, with the first few attempts on goal coming by way of long range shots from Lampard and Bosingwa – neither troubled Schwarzer.

Fulham opened the scoring in the 9th minute through Clint Dempsey. A foul on Andy Johnson brought about a free kick which was delivered dangerously into the box by Simon Davies. The ball found its way to the back post where Dempsey took a touch on his chest and flicked the it over the line with the outside of his right boot.

The alarm bells were ringing for the Fulham defence in the 18th minute when Didier Drogba was allowed to receive the ball inside the penalty area with his back to goal. The big striker managed to turn and find half a yard in behind Aaron Hughes. Fortunately his shot across the face of goal rolled just wide of Schwarzer’s far post.

As the first half progressed Chelsea were enjoying some success in playing deep diagonal balls into the penalty area where often two of Drogba, Joe Cole or Malouda had doubled up on their defenders.

A first half injury to Malouda forced Chelsea into the first substitution of the match, with Nicolas Anelka entering the action. His first touch of the ball saw him produce a fierce shot from distance which ricocheted off Mark Schwarzer’s arms.

Fulham almost created a chance for a second on 35 minutes when a wonderful one-touch passing movement down the right flack saw the ball played into the path of Zamora. However, his attempt to lay a pass square to Johnson was cut out.

Chelsea made their second substitution of the match in the 37th minute when Ricardo Carvalho replaced the injured Alex. The pressure soon started to build on the Fulham goal and Lampard came close to netting an equaliser when his powerful shot from the edge of the area forced Schwarzer to parry over the bar. Chelsea were certainly racking up a working margin in terms of shots on target.

The second half started and Fulham were immediately on the back foot as Chelsea looked to be wasting little time in attempting to get back on level terms. The equaliser from Frank Lampard came as a result of a mix up between Mark Schwarzer and Aaron Hughes in the 49th minute. A long ball over the top of the Fulham back line sat up awkwardly and neither Hughes nor Schwarzer managed to make the decisive touch. The ball bounced free and Lampard was on hand to roll the ball past Pantsil.

The goal pushed Fulham on to the attack and as the pattern of play moved further up the pitch, the Whites were looking more vulnerable to the long ball to Drogba. However, as the second half progressed Chelsea’s share of possession started to increase to the point where the Whites were purely operating in a defensive mode for long spells.

Mark Schwarzer was called into action twice within the space to ten minutes when he had to produce excellent stops to deny Joe Cole. On both occasions the power of the shot was such that the big Australian keeper needed two attempts to deal with the strikes.

Frank Lampard scored his second of the match and gave Chelsea the lead with a powerful 25-yard free kick which grazed the defensive wall before beating Schwarzer low to his left.

Roy Hodgson made a double substitution on 77 minutes replacing Bobby Zamora with Erik Nevland and Dickson Etuhu with Leon Andreasen in an attempt to get back into the game.

Then Clint Dempsey scored a dramatic late equaliser to ensure a tense finish. The American international rose highest at the back post to head Simon Davies’ corner into the net, sending the crowd wild.

fulhamfc.com Man of the Match

Clint Dempsey
Two vital goals from the American midfielder ensured that Fulham's unbeaten run continued.

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