Derby manager Jim Smith was entitled to a warm glow of satisfaction on asun-kissed day by the Thames.

He saw his weakened side grab a share of the spoils with a battling display against the newly-promoted side.

Derby were short of options up front going into the second half with Fabrizio Ravanelli ruled out of the match with a back injury.

Then seven minutes before the break Malcolm Christie limped off with a hamstring strain, leaving Deon Burton the lone striker.

Keeper Mart Poom was also sidelined as he suffered damaged ribs in that match and Andy Oakes returned between the posts. But they threw men behind the ball and troubled Fulham when they broke forward.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the home fans after promising displays against Manchester United and Sunderland. However Steed Malbranque should have clinched the points when he found himself in the clear with four minutes remaining.

But he over-ran the ball and Oakes was able to gather safely.

Fulham almost got off to a dream start when Barry Hayles surged forward in the first minute. He played the ball across the face of the area but Louis Saha, left unmarked, was unable to get a vital touch.

Derby were rattled early on and midfielder John Collins saw a 20-yard free kick go inches wide of the post.

The visitors retaliated and Christie forced a corner on the right with some strong running down the right. Craig Burley swung the ball in but Darryl Powell wasn't able to get any direction on his header.

Fulham keeper Edwin van der Sar had to look alert in the 14th minute to tip away a fierce effort from Burley after Youl Mawene had cleverly released the Scotland midfielder.

Fulham found themselves being pinned back but Steve Finnan broke away in the 21st minute and managed to get in a cross. Saha, looking to score in his third successive Premiership game, got clear but swung wildly at the ball and his effort ended nearer the corner flag than the goal.

Derby, involved in a relegation battle the last two years, got men behind the ball to frustrate the home side. Collins tried to get Fulham moving but was bundled over by fellow Scot Burley on the edge of the area.

He dusted himself down and took the free kick himself, only to see it drift wide. Georgi Kinkladze almost scored within a minute of coming on for Christie when he sent a curling shot narrowly wide of the post after Paul Boertien had played the ball in.

The game suddenly sparked into life and Derby keeper Oakes reacted superbly to tip over a shot from Hayles following a flick-on from Sean Davis.

Derby, however, were looking dangerous when they broke forward and van der Sar had to get down quickly to turn away a shot from Boertien after he had linked up with Kinkladze.

Then Seth Johnson powered forward and tried his luck on goal from 30 yards as the away supporters roared their approval.

Fulham started the second half brightly and Hayles got on the end of a cross from Rufus Brevett, only to drag his shot wide. Then Davis almost put Fulham

ahead with a superb 30-yard free kick. Oakes seemed to see it at the last minute and did well to tip it over the top.

Without Ravanelli and Christie in attack, Derby looked more and more as if they were playing for a draw. However in a rare moment of attacking play at the beginning of the second period Burley stung van der Sar's fingers with a fierce free-kick.

Malbranque should have broken the deadlock but Derby hung on grimly for a point.