Subs Used:
45 mins: Eddie Johnson on for Zoltan Gera
60 mins: Clint Dempsey on for Damien Duff, Stephen Kelly on for Paul Konchesky, Kagisho Dikgacoi on for Chris Baird , Fredrik Stoor on for John Pantsil
75 min: Bjorn Helge Riise on for Bobby Zamora, Jonathan Greening on for Danny Murphy

 

The Whites made a good start to the match and Bobby Zamora came close to netting to opening goal of the encounter when he saw his header, from Zoltan Gera’s chipped cross, cleared off the line. The big striker did well to generate power for the header but was unable to find the back of the net.

Paul Konchesky, who was a willing outlet down the left flank, delivered a fine cross minutes later for Zoltan Gera, who saw his effort sail wide of Jamie Ashdown’s left hand post.

David Nugent forced a routine save from Mark Schwarzer on 23 minutes after Tommy Smith was able to break beyond Fulham’s midfield line. Nonetheless, Fulham were pressurising their opponents well and enjoying the majority of possession.

Portsmouth almost took the lead in the most fortunate of circumstances on 33 minutes when Mark Schwarzer’s attempted clearance struck Kanu in the face – leaving the Pompey player flat on his back in the Fulham area. Meanwhile, the ball had spun to Utaka who was unable to keep his shot under the bar.

That chance saw the home side increase in confidence and they took the lead soon after when Marc Wilson headed Matt Ritchie’s in-swinging corner past Schwarzer from six yards.

Fulham maintained their usual pattern and went close to equalising when Paul Konchesky tried to catch Jamie Ashdown out of position with a quick free kick. Zoltan Gera’s flicked header grazed the outside of Ashdown’s post in the final piece of action before the half-time interval.

Eddie Johnson replaced Zoltan Gera at the start of the second-half, joining Bobby Zamora in attack. Zamora was certainly looking eager to get on the score sheet and only a sprawling save from Ashdown at his near post denied the striker early in the second-half. Zamora then stung the palms of Ashdown shortly after with a crisply struck shot from the edge of the area. Both of his efforts were set up by the lively play of Damien Duff. 

Fulham had another chance when a well flighted diagonal pass from the impressive Simon Davies cleared the head of Ibrahima Sonko, Portsmouth’s last defender, and fell nicely into the path of Zamora whose shot from a narrow angle flew just over the bar.

The hour mark saw Fulham make a host of substitutions. Freddie Stoor and Stephen Kelly replaced Pantsil and Konchesky at full-back. In midfield Kagisho Dikgacoi and Clint Dempsey came on in place of Duff and Baird.

Following a number of changes from both sides, the game lost is previous ebb and flow and neither side was able to significantly trouble their opposing keeper before the final whistle.