Fulham and QPR played their first competitive match in over a decade on Sunday afternoon and Martin Jol’s team produced a scintillating display that saw his team score six goals, including a hat-trick from Andrew Johnson.

Following Thursday night’s UEFA Europa League victory over Odense BK, Jol made six changes to his team to face local rivals QPR. However it was Thursday night’s goal scoring hero Andrew Johnson who grabbed the headlines on derby day.

Bobby Zamora and Mousa Dembele were deemed fully fit for Sunday’s game and returned to Fulham’s starting eleven alongside Chris Baird, Zdenek Grygera, Steve Sidwell and John Arne Riise, who were all rested on Thursday evening.

Prior to Sunday’s West London derby Martin Jol had identified Adel Taarabt, Jay Bothroyd, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joey Barton as QPR’s danger men and all four players featured in Neil Warnock’s team.

There was an electric atmosphere at the Cottage for Sunday’s game as temperatures neared the 30 degrees Celsius mark and Fulham exploded into action from the first whistle, with Johnson scoring the fastest goal of the season after just 89 seconds of play.

Johnson’s opportunity arose after Paddy Kenny could only parry away Mousa Dembele’s vicious strike from distance. Johnson was on to the rebound in a flash and Kenny was left with no chance as Johnson fired the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Fulham were unfortunate not to extend their lead on four separate occasions within the first 15 minutes with Dempsey, Dembele and Johnson all going agonisingly close. After such a heavy spell of pressure a second goal was inevitable.

Fulham were quite literally carving QPR apart and after 18 minutes Johnson had the visitor’s defence beaten again, resulting in a stone-wall penalty for the home side after the striker was felled by keeper Paddy Kenny inside the area.

Fulham’s penalty came after Johnson had chased a lost cause down the left flank, capitalising on a moment of hesitancy between Hall and Kenny to skip past the pair before the keeper tripped Johnson for a clear penalty.

Referee Andrew Marriner immediately pointed to the spot and Captain Danny Murphy stepped up to send Kenny the wrong way, firing the ball into the top left hand corner of the goal to double Fulham’s lead.

Crucial to any derby match, Fulham never gave QPR a moment’s peace when the visitor’s were in possession. Fulham’s pressure play and work ethic was even more impressive considering the temperature at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Johnson was causing more havoc amongst QPR’s defensive ranks on 26 minutes as he burst down the right flank to fire in a low cross to Zamora, racing on to it at the near post. On this occasion Fulham were denied and again so when Sidwell and Dempsey went close ten minutes before half-time.

After 38 minutes Johnson was on the score sheet again, firing home from close range to send Fulham 3-0 before the break. A brace before half-time and Johnson was odds on to claim the match ball in the second half.

After Fulham’s first half rout, QPR manager Neil Warnock made two changes for the second half, replacing Derry and Taarabt with Tommy Smith and DJ Campbell. QPR were certainly more competitive at the start of the second half as they looked to reduce the deficit early on.

Fulham were forced to work hard to contain QPR's early second half assault and in midfield Danny Murphy and Steve Sidwell put in some outstanding challenges as they stood toe-to-toe with a reinvigorated QPR.

Tem minutes into the second half normal service resumed with Jol’s team almost scoring twice in the space of a minute.

First Bobby Zamora fired a curling left-footed shot from the edge of the area that was heading for the top corner before Kenny pulled off a stunning save. Seconds later Sidwell unleashed a blistering 30-yard volley that flew just over the keeper's cross bar.

The Fulham fans in the Hammersmith End didn’t have to wait long for a fourth goal, with Andrew Johnson grabbing his hat-trick with a strike from the right hand side of the area. The match ball was Johnson’s and Fulham were 4-0 ahead before the hour mark.

On a quite incredible afternoon at Craven Cottage, Fulham were not prepared to sit back and bask in their considerable lead. Martin Jol’s team wanted more goals and after Bobby Zamora fired just wide after 62 minutes, Clint Dempsey added a fifth from 12 yards on 65 minutes.

Neil Warnock made his final change of the game with 20 minutes remaining, replacing striker Jay Bothroyd with Jamie Mackie.

Moments later Bobby Zamora hit QPR for six with a shot from the right hand side of the area that arrowed past Kenny into the far corner of the net. After the celebrations ended there was further applause for Andrew Johnson, who was replaced by Bryan Ruiz on 75 minutes.

Johnson received an outstanding ovation from his colleagues and home fans as he left the field of play after netting five goals in one week for Fulham.

Whilst Johnson deservedly grabbed the headlines for his goals, there were Man of Match performances all over the field, including a masterful midfield display from Steve Sidwell. Fulham’s Captain Danny Murphy made way for Dickson Etuhu for the final eight minutes of the match. Two minutes later Mousa Dembele received a standing ovation as he was replaced by Orlando Sa.

Three minutes from time summer signing Bryan Ruiz almost grabbed his first Fulham goal with a strike from the left hand side of the area. Kenny in goal was beaten but Ruiz’ strike flew wide of the far post. Dempsey was next to go close to adding a seventh with a curling shot from inside the area. 

It was a clinical display by Fulham who quite simply brushed their local rivals aside on Sunday at the Cottage and crucially claimed a first victory of the 2011/12 Barclays Premier League season.

Fulham could not have gone into the international break in any better style after impressive European and domestic victories this week.   
 

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