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Andrew Dillon at SunSport |
Fulham 3 Blackburn 0
SAM ALLARDYCE is not the only one at Blackburn with heart problems.
That's because Big Sam's team are struggling with an irregular pulse in the manager's absence.
Allardyce was sent off on sick leave last weekend with a spirited 2-0 win over Bolton and was banned from keeping tabs on last night's action by his concerned missus.
Assistant boss Neil McDonald reckoned Big Sam would have been listening to the radio - but at least he did not see the action.
Even so, hardly the best preparation for tomorrow's surgery on his dodgy ticker - and it could have been worse.
Fulham only put the work in for half the match and still came away with their biggest Premier League win this season, which lifts them into 10th.
Erik Nevland brought the game to life with a goal after 43 dreary minutes and then Clint Dempsey scored twice in the second half.
Nevland should have made it four as well, only to miss an absolute sitter from 12 yards.
Boss Roy Hodgson said: "It was a sweet win. I have seen us play more attractive football but you have to be able to play well against teams who don't allow you to play how you like.
"If you want to beat these teams you have to deal with that and then ask them questions.
"The first 40 minutes was not the sort of game you like to watch or take part in because the ball was all up in the air.
"We hoped to get the ball down but credit to Blackburn because they kept us pinned down and stopped us doing what we wanted to do.
"Fortunately, we had the fight and character to stay in the game and then we had one moment in the first half where we scored a good goal."
Allardyce is due back at work next Monday assuming all goes well with his angioplasty procedure.
And it cannot come quick enough on this evidence.
Striker Franco Di Santo went close after two minutes and Jason Roberts had a first-half shot saved but that was about it for Rovers.
Hodgson added: "Sam's team didn't do my blood pressure any favours. I wish him well and look forward to having a glass of red wine with him."
The Cottagers now have three more home games to come in nine days.
And they may have to face them without striker Bobby Zamora, who limping off with a groin injury.
And there is no sign of £10million Andy Johnson or skipper Danny Murphy returning any time soon.
At least confidence is on the up again after a three-game winless run.
Fulham fans were starting to get on their team's back when Nevland broke the dull stalemate.
He laid off the ball to Damien Duff following a one-two with Zamora.
Duff then returned the pass and Nevland squeezed a shot under Paul Robinson at his near post.
Had Fabio Capello or anyone else at the FA been bothering to watch, it would have killed off any faint hopes the Rovers keeper had of playing for England at next year's World Cup finals.
Fulham made it 2-0 with Duff again the provider, delivering a cross for Dempsey to tap in unmarked from five yards.
Nevland, still recovering from a virus, them missed a golden chance to make it three before Dempsey scored his second a minute from time when he converted a Simon Davies cross.
Rovers assistant boss Neil McDonald said: "I thought we played some really good stuff in the first half.
"We should have scored in the first minute but we didn't take that chance. Then there was some poor defending for the three goals.
"We had a good result against Bolton last week and our home form is really good. The first half here was the best we've passed the ball.
"Sam will be bitterly disappointed because we have lost the game. We've conceded three bad goals and that's the most disappointing thing. We feel there has been a chance missed here."
Allardyce has been watching re-runs of matches on DVD in order to keep up to date with events in his team.
If you insist on watching this one Sam, make sure there is a doctor nearby, or maybe even a psychiatrist.
STAR MAN - CLINT DEMPSEY (Fulham)
Fulham: Schwarzer 7, Pantsil 5, Hughes 6, Hangeland 6, Konchesky 5, Dempsey 8, Greening 5, Baird 6, Duff 6, Zamora 5, Nevland 5. Subs: Gera (Zamora 58) 5, Etuhu (Greening 81) 5, Davies (Duff 85) 5.
Not used: Zuberbuhler, Smalling, Seol, Dikgacoi.
Blackburn: Robinson 5, Jacobsen 5, Samba 5, Nelsen 5, Chimbonda 5, Andrews 6, Dunn 6, Grella 5, Diouf 6, Di Santo 6, Roberts 6. Subs: McCarthy (Roberts 66) 5, Kalinic (Di Santo 66) 5.
Not used: Brown, Salgado, Pedersen, Nzonzi, Hoilett.
Source .