Starting Formations

Fulham
4-4-2

Zamora      Nevland

Gera      Etuhu      Murphy (C)      Dempsey

Konchesky  Hangeland     Hughes     Pantsil

Stockdale

Peterborough United
4-4-2

McLean     Wright

Green      Frecklington      Lee     Batt

Williams      Zakuani      Pearce     Martin (C)

Lewis

Match Report

Roy Hodgson selected a familiar starting line up for Saturday’s friendly with Peterborough ahead of next Thursday's European clash against FK Vėtra in Lithuania’s capital city of Vilnius.

Only Mark Schwarzer and Andrew Johnson were missing from last season’s record-breaking team. David Stockdale made his second start of the week and Bobby Zamora and Erik Nevland led the attack for Fulham.

The home team got the game underway and both sides made a bright start to the match. After just one minute of play Peterborough earned the first corner of the game when Hangeland was forced to head clear a dangerous ball into the area from Peterborough’s left flank.

It was the home side that fired in the first effort of the game; albeit a speculative 30-yard effort from Lee, which flew well wide of Stockdale’s goal.

Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu saw plenty of possession during the opening exchanges and Fulham’s captain, always capable of playing a killer pass, looked to unlock Peterborough’s defence. Two notable attempts, played into Nevland and Dempsey’s path, were cleared by an alert Peterborough defence.

After 12 minutes of play Zoltan Gera played a lofted pass into Bobby Zamora’s path but Peterborough keeper Lewis read the danger and raced off his line to head the ball clear from outside his area.

Moments later the home side went close when Batt fired a stinging shot from the right hand side of the area just over Stockdale’s bar.

Clint Dempsey broke the deadlock for Fulham after 22 minutes of play. The US international played a neat one-two with Bobby Zamora and coolly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Joe Lewis and into the back of the net to earn Fulham a one-nil lead.

As the half hour mark approached both sides enjoyed good spells of possession but it was Fulham who showed greater attacking intent with the Whites looking to stretch Peterborough's defence with some good build up play and intelligent use of the ball.

Fulham’s positive build up play paid dividends after 36 minutes when Bobby Zamora scored Fulham’s second of the game.

Zamora’s opportunity came after some tenacious work from Erik Nevland. The Norwegian striker dispossessed Martin down Peterborough's left flank and played a defence-splitting pass into Zamora’s path on the edge of the area.

Zamora made no mistake with his finish, side-footing the ball past Lewis from just inside the area to give Fulham a two-nil lead.

Fulham almost added a third barely a minute later when Zamora turned provider. The striker played a neat back-heel into Nevland's path on the edge of the area but under pressure the Norwegian fired his right-footed shot wide of goal.

On the stroke of half-time Zamora grabbed his second goal of the game to put Fulham three-nil up going into the break. A through ball from the centre of the park by Danny Murphy found Zamora on the left flank. The striker comfortably controlled the ball and fired his effort from 15 yards into the left hand corner of Lewis’ goal.

Roy Hodgson introduced Pascal Zuberbuhler in goal for the second half of Saturday's friendly but the action continued where it left off with Nevland forcing the Peterborough keeper into a fine save early on.

The home side pulled one back after 50 minutes. A long ball upfield into Fulham's area was misjudged by Zuberbuhler, allowing  McLean to fire into an empty net.

The home side almost reduced the deficit further after 52 minutes when a cross, whipped in from the left flank, eluded Brede Hangeland and found Batt on the far post. Fortunately Zuberbuhler and Konchesky combined to put the ball behind the goal for a corner.

Fulham made a double substitution after 60 minutes, introducing Seol and Baird for Dempsey and Ethuhu respectively.

Meanwhile Peterborough introduced George Boyd for Ben Wright, also on the hour mark, and the substitute was to have a telling impact during the final half hour of the match.

On 70 minutes Nevland came desperately close, striking Peterborough's upright from 15 yards out. A low ball into the area from the right flank by Gera found Seol whose neat stepover allowed Nevland a shot on goal but the Norwegian was denied by the woodwork.

15 minutes from time Zuberbuhler was forced to make a magnificant one-handed save low to his left hand-side to deny Frecklington's effort from 25 yards. 

Roy Hodgson made a host of changes as the game entered the final fifteen minutes of play. Goalscorer Bobby Zamora made way for Eddie Johnson whilst Hangeland and Hughes were replaced by Kelly and Smalling respectively.

During the final ten minutes of the game a late Peterborough rally saw the home side pull the scores level with substitute Boyd grabbing two late goals. The first came from a  corner, whipped in by Green and stabbed home by the midfielder from six yards.

Two minutes from time Boyd brought the game level from the penalty spot after being fouled in the area by Smalling. The midfielder made no mistake with his spot kick to make it three-all. 

During the two minutes of added time Chris Baird almost grabbed a fourth for Fulham. A Konchesky cross from the left was headed goalwards by Baird from inside the area but tipped behind by substitute goalkeeper James McKeown to deny the Whites a late winner.

Roy's Reaction

“I thought we dominated the game but we gave some goals away. I thought we were very comfortable throughout the game. Of course I’m disappointed to have seen what should have been a five or six nil turn into a three-three. It’s not pleasant but at the same time friendly matches are about how the team is playing.

“I thought the team played very well. Of course when I made a few changes and we made a few mistakes but I thought that even in that period I thought we were comfortable throughout. Of course you give goals away and sometimes the other team take their chances.

“I thought Bobby and Erik were excellent. I was very pleased with the performance and we’ve got a very important game coming up on Thursday so for the last 20 to 25 minutes I played a very different team.

“I’m not too bothered about results in pre-season matches quite frankly. I’m worried about the performances and as I said I thought we played very well.“