Fulham 0-0 Derby: Niemi saves point for Fulham
Fulham's hopes of pulling away from the danger zone at the foot of the Barclays Premier League were dashed by rock-bottom Derby, who held them to a goalless draw at Craven Cottage.
Hameur Bouzaa and Matthew Oakley clash at the Cottage.Fulham have now failed to win in the league since the second game of the season back in August and they had goalkeeper Antti Niemi to thank for earning them a point against County.
Niemi pulled off a string of superb saves to deny Derby and Fulham held on for a share of the spoils after having defender Paul Konchesky sent off for elbowing Craig Fagan seconds before the interval.
It was Derby who created the first real opportunity of the game in the 13th minute when a clever pass from captain Matt Oakley was collected by Kenny Miller just inside the penalty area. However, the Derby striker's shot was palmed away by Niemi, much to the relief of the home defence.
Moments later Niemi had to push away an effort from Eddie Lewis for a corner as Derby threatened to take control.
But Fulham proved they were capable of causing Derby some danger on the counter-attack and Seol Ki-Hyeon should have hit the target when he collected the ball unmarked on the edge of the penalty area. However, the Fulham midfielder saw his effort flash wide of Stephen Bywater's left-hand post.
Derby were easily containing the home side, who had little attacking guile.
In the 27th minute Derby defender Dean Leacock was booked for a foul on Clint Dempsey.
Fulham should have taken the lead in the 30th minute when an audacious chip from Steven Davis fell to Danny Murphy, but the Fulham midfielder sent his shot straight into the arms of Bywater from eight yards.
The game was littered with mistakes from two sides low on confidence, but Derby had more attacking thrust.
In the 33rd minute they nearly snatched the lead when Miller fed Stephen Pearson on the right flank and his cross was almost headed into his own net by Aaron Hughes. It took another stunning save from Niemi to keep Fulham on level terms.
Referee Phil Dowd lectured Derby boss Billy Davies after he had complained about another decision going in favour of the home side, but the official stopped short of ordering Davies out of the dug out.
There was little in the way of quality on show from either side and the game was more reminiscent of a Sunday league clash than England's top division.
Derby lost Claude Davis through injury just before half-time with Giles Barnes replacing him.
| |
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Derby |
| Goals |
0 |
0 |
| Possession |
38% |
62% |
| Goal attempts |
14 |
13 |
| On Target |
9 |
9 |
| Corners |
6 |
8 |
| Off-sides |
0 |
3 |
| Saves |
11 |
12 |
| Fouls |
10 |
10 |
| Yellows |
0 |
2 |
| Reds |
1 |
0 |
| source: Soccernet |
|
|
Fulham's afternoon got worse when Konchesky was red-carded for elbowing Fagan seconds before the break. Fagan received a booking for his part in the clash.
Fulham replaced Seol at half-time with Carlos Bocanegra.
In the 54th minute Niemi had to be at his best to push away a 25-yard thunderbolt from Oakley as Derby began to make their numerical advantage tell.
Derby were completely in control and three minutes later Niemi had to save with his feet at point-blank range to deny Barnes a headed opener.
In the 59th minute Derby again went close, but Pearson had a shot blocked and then sent his second effort over the crossbar.
Bywater was forced into a rare save in the 61st minute when Fulham's Chris Baird let fly with a 25-yard effort, but the Derby goalkeeper collected the ball safely at the second attempt.
Fulham's lack of cutting edge was underlined two minutes later when Clint Dempsey burst clear of the defence, only for the ball to be cut out and run loose to Hameur Bouazza.
The Algerian striker took the ball into the penalty area before firing it high into the crowd.
But they were isolated chances and seconds later Derby were back in the ascendancy when Barnes forced Niemi into another sensational save with an 18-yard drive.
Fulham's Dempsey forced Bywater to tip his header over the bar in the 67th minute when Murphy's corner found him unmarked inside the penalty area.
Niemi pulled off another fantastic save for Fulham in the 75th minute when Miller attempted to slot the ball beyond him at the near post.
Miller then sent a shot just inches wide of the post in injury time with Niemi beaten for once. But it was their last chance of the game and the Rams had to settle for a point.
Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez had no complaints about the first-half dismissal of Paul Konchesky after his side managed to earn themselves a vital point against rock-bottom Derby at Craven Cottage.
Konchesky was red-carded seconds before the interval for an elbow offence on Derby's Craig Fagan.
Fulham, thanks to an inspirational display from recalled goalkeeper Antti Niemi, held on in the second half to ensure they moved out of the relegation zone with a 0-0 draw.
Sanchez said: 'I don't think there was any argument to be fair. Paul has been our best player this season but what we didn't want was to go down to 10 men in this game.
'The referee had no other option and now we miss him for three games which will be a big miss for us because he has been our best player.
'I will have a word with the lad on Monday and see what it is about because it seems out of character in terms of the game. I saw it 50 yards away and knew the referee had no option.
'We will deal with it internally but it is disappointing. We played poorly in the first half, we looked tentative, nervous, and waiting for something to go wrong.
'So then we do something wrong by going down to 10 men but I thought we came out and were the better team in the second half.
'But then I come in and we've gone up five places in the league.'
The difference between the two sides was Niemi who made superb saves to deny Matt Oakley, Kenny Miller and Giles Barnes. But he would not have been playing had Kasey Keller not injured a tendon in his arm in training on Friday.
Sanchez said: 'Niemi earned his money today and about time. He's had injuries but he had three games this season and he let seven goals in.
'He was at fault for some of those goals. Kasey would have been starting but he trained yesterday and then claimed his arm hurt.
'He has now got a slight tear of a tendon in his upper arm and could not play. I told Niemi he was supposed to be number one at this club, but he hadn't done it so far this year, the first three games were not good enough, but today he showed he was a good goalkeeper.
'If we had lost today there would have been a lot more questions asked but we drew a game we should have won. I don't know whether to be pleased, satisfied or what. I don't know what to feel to be honest.'
Fulham were booed off the pitch at the end but Sanchez insists he can fully understand the frustration of the fans with just one win all season.
Sanchez added: 'I don't know whether it was at the referee for the sending off, with Derby for time-wasting or for us because they thought we should have had the three points. But I can understand the frustration - we haven't scored for three games. But the league table doesn't lie - we are 13th.'
Derby boss Billy Davies was delighted to get his first point away from home this season.
Derby have yet to trouble the score sheet on their travels but Davies insists their inner belief running through his squad could prove crucial.
Davies said: 'As long as performances are improving and as long as the club can see positive signs, we can ask no more. We are getting better. The players have worked very hard for me.
'The first point away from home is always nice. But we have just got to keep working away because it is a marathon.
'The big warning sign was there at half-time to the players because 10-men is not easy to play against. But I thought we put in a lot of good performances and created a lot of chances.
'Excellent goalkeeping on their part. But I am delighted with the spirit and effort of the players. I am very confident with the people that we've got, that we can consolidate ourselves in the Premier League.'
Fulham Niemi, Baird, Stefanovic, Hughes, Konchesky, Bouazza,Davis (Davies 69), Murphy, Ki-Hyeon (Bocanegra 46),Kamara (Healy 87), Dempsey.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Smertin.
Sent Off: Konchesky (45, vp).
Derby Bywater, Mears, Moore, Davis (Barnes 43),McEveley (Griffin 71), Pearson, Oakley, Leacock (Howard 78),Lewis, Fagan,
Subs Not Used: Jones, Earnshaw.
Booked: Leacock, Fagan.
Att: 22,576
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).