Fulham were forced to settle for a point following a 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night.
After a drab first half, Ola Aina chested home to give us a short-lived lead before Ashley Barnes levelled four minutes later. Two goals in quick succession cancelling each other out.
Scott Parker named an unchanged side from the XI that picked up an excellent win at Goodison Park on Sunday evening. A second trip North in quick succession, Josh Maja leading the line once again after his brace two days previous.
As the referee got the match underway it was a wet and windy night at Turf Moor. It was a suitably direct and gritty opening from the hosts, with very little effort to play the ball on the deck, favouring pumped balls into the channels. It was going a be a true test of our defensive structure and resilience.
A drab and slow paced opening 20 minutes ensued with Burnley looking to disrupt our flow with high balls into the box. Our biggest threat surfacing down the left flank, with Ademola Lookman looking dangerous and finding pockets of space in an otherwise congested midfield.
The slugfest continued and aside from a speculative half volley from Burnley, neither side was able to generate a real scoring opportunity.
As the clock ticked down on a scrappy half, the hosts were inches from taking the lead. An overload down the left wing freed up James Tarkowski. With an opportunity to cross unchallenged, the defender whipped in a low cross which Alphonse Areola did well to parry out of the path of Jay Rodriguez. A crucial touch with Burnley players flying into the six-yard box looking to tap home.
Stalemate at Turf Moor after 45 minutes.
It was a dream start to the second half for Fulham. Burnley beaten by their own game. A set-piece won on the right wing by Kenny Tete. A corner swung in was flicked on at the near post by Joachim Andersen and without any time to react Aina chested the ball goalwards. With men on the line, the ball squeezed through and we had our noses in front.
We failed to keep it tight following the opener and the hosts were back level within minutes. A smart turn from Rodriguez on the right wing sprung our defence and the striker picked out his attacking partner with an excellent ball into the box. Unmarked, Barnes kept his composure and slid home.
The opening ten minutes of the second period lightyears away from the bitty first half.
Following the goal, Parker made two changes to add some fresh legs. Ivan Cavaleiro and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa thrust in to replace Mario Lemina and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
The game petered out once more and in the 71st minute Maja tried his luck from distance with his left foot. His shot lacked power and was easily gathered.
With five minutes remaining we pushed and prodded. A fizzed cross from Loftus-Cheek glanced off Lookman but lacked power and was smothered by Nick Pope.
With time running out, Maja fed Lookman unmarked just inside the box. From a tight angle the tricky winger tried to curl one in with a right-footed shot but it went high and wide.
It proved to be the last key action of the game and after three minutes of additional time we were forced to settle for a point.
Fulham XI: Areola, Tete (77' Robinson), Andersen, Tosin, Aina, Reed, Lemina (61' Anguissa), Loftus-Cheek, De Cordova-Reid (67' Cavaleiro), Lookman, Maja.
Burnley XI: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Long, Taylor, McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Gudmundsson, Rodriguez, Barnes.