Fulham manager Martin Jol called for his team to be more efficient in the final third on Saturday and opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Mousa Dembele handed a roving role behind Bobby Zamora. Jol’s decision paid dividends with Dempsey and Dembele scoring the goals to secure Fulham a valuable 0-2 away win at the DW Stadium.

Fulham made a bright start to the game and there was no shortage of full-blooded commitment from Jol’s team early on. First Grygera picked up an early booking after an over exuberant challenge on Figueroa after just three minutes before Diame was forced to retire after feeling the impact of Steve Sidwell’s challenge.

Wigan moved up a gear after a quarter of an hour’s play with David Jones serving the first clear effort on goal with a 25-yard strike that Schwarzer saved with ease. A Victor Moses cross-come-shot a few moments later almost skimmed Fulham’s cross bar but it was not until 24 minutes until Wigan fashioned another chance, when McArthur side-footed the ball wide of goal from 15 yards.

For their part Fulham saw plenty of possession early on but could not find a clinical edge to their build-up play. Andrew Johnson, playing at right midfield, looked the most potent threat, racing behind Wigan’s defence on several occasions.

After 27 minutes Rodallega highlighted his technical prowess with a fine overhead kick that flew over Schwarzer’s bar from 15 yards. Moments later Fulham’s keeper kept the score level with a magnificent fingertip save to deny Watson volley from 18 yards.

Fulham’s first serious effort on goal came after 33 minutes when Zamora slipped Johnson clear through down the right flank. Johnson fired in a right footed strike but Al Habsi was well positioned at the near post to collect with ease.

Wigan grew in confidence as the break approached and Fulham had Schwarzer to thank again after 40 minutes when Moses’ cross from the right was deflected towards goal by Hangeland. Somehow Schwarzer managed to turn the ball over the bar with an outstretched leg.

Fulham’s good fortune continued before half-time when Clint Dempsey earned Martin Jol’s team the lead against the run of play. Bobby Zamora broke free down the left flank and delivered an inch perfect pass to Dempsey who fired past Al Habsi from six yards. It was the perfect end to the first half with Jol’s team on course to claim a rare away win if they could retain their advantage in the second half.

There were no changes for the second half but the pace of the game was far higher as Wigan opted for a shoot-on-sight policy. The home side’s goal deficit saw Martinez’ men push forward at every opportunity and Fulham almost doubled their lead with another counter attacking move down the left flank. On this occasion Johnson was offered a half-chance on the six yard line but failed to find a finishing touch.

After 50 minutes Dembele was booked following an innocuous challenge on Watson in the middle of the park. Four minutes later Fulham rode their luck again when Moses’ 25 yard volley came back of the underside of the cross bar and away from goal.

Just before the hour mark Brede Hangeland was booked for a heavy challenge on Moses as Fulham looked to stem the flow of the pressure from the home side. There was certainly a stubbornness and bite to Fulham’s game that was required in the second half to retain a 1-0 lead.

Bobby Zamora almost doubled Fulham’s lead with a blistering volley from the left hand side of Wigan area after 62 minutes that skimmed the top of Al Habsi’s cross bar.

Roberto Martinez made his second change of the game a minute after Zamora’s effort, replacing Crusat with Di Santo in attack. Martin Jol followed suit shortly after, bolstering his midfield wall with the introduction of Dickson Etuhu for Danny Murphy.

Fifteen minutes from time Andrew Johnson caught Wigan on the counter attack down the right and fired his effort into the side netting. It was good work from the striker who put in a hardworking shift on Saturday afternoon.

With nine minutes remaining Jol introduced Bryan Ruiz as Fulham fought to hold on to their lead. But it was at the other end of the pitch where the action was set for the final minutes of play as Wigan threw everything at Fulham in search of an equaliser. On 84 minutes Figueroa clipped Schwarzer’s far post with a powerful 30-yard drive.

With Wigan pushing forward Fulham had room to manoeuvre on the counter attack and Mousa Dembele put the game beyond doubt with four minutes left, stroking the ball past Al Habsi from 12 yards to double Fulham’s lead.

Fulham saw out the five minutes added time comfortably to secure a well earned away win that will set the team up nicely for next Sunday’s home match against Spurs.

Match Reaction

Martin Jol was evidently delighted for Mousa Dembele on Saturday evening after the Belgium international repaid his faith by scoring Fulham's crucial second goal against Wigan at the DW Stadium.

Jol handed Dembele the freedom of the DW Stadium on Saturday with an advanced midfield position and Fulham's manager was richly rewarded as his team secured a valuable away win.

"We deserved to win because over the season we should have picked up four or five more points. Everybody felt we were in the wrong position (in the table), and Wigan have probably learned the same lesson that we have learned, that if you don't score then you don't get the points.

"It was the same situation we had last week. They could have scored, then on the break we scored our goal. In the 89th minute last week we could have scored a winner twice, then Everton scored. That was an awful feeling and Wigan probably have the same feeling today.

"We changed it around today and put Moussa Dembele in midfield. I thought Moussa deserved to score, he was terrific. He is so gifted. The next step is for him to score goals. He has all the talent in the world."

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