Ross McCormack hit his 16th goal of the season to salvage a point for Fulham in a 1-1 draw at home to fellow strugglers Rotherham United.

The visitors stunned the Cottage when they went in front in the fourth minute, Matt Derbyshire prodding home from close range after the Whites had failed to clear a corner. Matt Smith saw an effort cleared off the line soon after but it could have been even worse for the Whites in a dreadful first-half display as Kirk Broadfoot, Derbyshire and Danny Ward all went close.

Bryan Ruiz forced Damian Martinez into a save in the 44th minute, before Broadfoot saw a shot tipped onto the post by Marcus Bettinelli.

The Whites were thankfully much-improved in the second period and they drew level in the 67th minute when McCormack slotted home a Scott Parker pass to notch in his fourth consecutive game. Substitute Tim Hoogland headed a couple of chances over late on but honours eventually finished even.

Fulham boss Kit Symons made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 at home to Wigan Athletic on Good Friday. In came Jazz Richards, Danny Guthrie and Ruiz in place of Jack Grimmer, Hoogland and Sean Kavanagh.

The visitors were nearly in front in the opening 30 seconds. Ben Pringle got down the left and delivered a cross to the near post where Derbyshire flicked an effort just wide. Two minutes later another cross from the left, this time from Ward, was met by Derbyshire who was denied by a good block from Dan Burn. From the resulting corner, the Millers went in front. Broadfoot met the set-piece, the Whites failed to clear their lines, the ball bobbled around and Derbyshire prodded home from close range.

At the other end, Guthrie’s corner was met by Smith in the sixth minute with the striker seeing his flick from six yards nodded off the line by Jack Hunt. Burn sliced the rebound wide.

Another corner in the 15th minute caused more problems for Fulham but the unmarked Broadfoot headed straight at Bettinelli from five yards out.

A long ball forward in the 27th minute then saw Derbyshire beat Burn to it, but Bettinelli came off his line to make a brave save from the Rotherham striker. Derbyshire then teed up Ward in the 35th minute but the winger sent his 20-yard shot a few yards over the bar.

The Millers were having a lot of joy down the left. Pringle skipped past a Richards challenge and pulled it back for Ward who scuffed his shot and saw it roll just wide of the far post. It was another let-off for the Whites.

Fulham finally tested Martinez in the 44th minute. A long ball forward was flicked on by Smith and Ruiz raced in towards goal from the left. With Hunt on his heels, Ruiz poked his shot towards goal but Martinez bundled it away.

A combination of the post and Bettinelli denied Broadfoot in stoppage time at the end of the first half. A deep cross by Pringle was headed back into the danger area by Derbyshire and Broadfoot saw his fierce drive tipped onto the woodwork and behind by Bettinelli. Had Rotherham taken their chances they could have been at least three goals to the good at half-time.

Having had the interval to regroup, Fulham stuck with the same starting XI for the beginning of the second period. After McCormack blazed a free-kick over, Bettinelli was lucky to escape with just a warning after handling outside his box.

The Whites did make a change in the 53rd minute as Ryan Tunnicliffe was replaced by Hoogland. Guthrie was booked for catching Richard Smallwood soon after.

With Fulham finally clicking into gear, a stretching McCormack was inches away from reaching Hoogland’s mishit shot in the 58th minute after a lovely control and cross by Ruiz. Smith’s header from Husband’s cross six minutes later was held fairly comfortably by Martinez.

The Whites hauled themselves level in the 67th minute. Smith nodded a long ball down to Parker who played in McCormack to control and sweep into the far corner. Rotherham claims of a handball by McCormack in the build-up fell on deaf ears.

Fulham’s joy was nearly short-lived as a Pringle corner skimmed the head of Ward and flashed across the box. At the other end, McCormack looked to latch onto another Smith flick but was bodychecked just outside the box by Broadfoot who was rightly booked.

Hoogland headed over at the far post after McCormack hooked a deep cross from Husband back into the box in the 80th minute, before Burn was booked for a foul on Derbyshire as he tried to shepherd the ball behind for a goal-kick. Michael Turner saw yellow in the 86th minute for dragging back Derbyshire.

McCormack saw a late shock blocked as Fulham pressed and Ruiz headed a cross from the Scotsman over as the game entered injury time. In the end, a point was one Fulham would probably have taken after their first-half performance.