Match Report
M.K. Dons
(1) 1-1 (1)
Fulham
Championship Match Day 17 1516 at Stadium M.K.
Saturday 21st November 2015 KO: 15:00
Referee: Darren Handley (Lancashire)
|
Moussa Dembele's sixth goal in as many matches rescued managerless Fulham as they came from behind to draw 1-1 at MK Dons in the first ever competitive match between the two sides.
MK Dons had taken the lead after half an hour as Dean Bowditch superbly volleyed home for his third of the season.
But right on the stroke of half-time visitors Fulham were level as Dembele made up for an earlier miss when he slotted home from six yards.
And that is how it stayed despite Ross McCormack seeing an effort cleared off the line with nine minutes remaining.
The hosts went close to finding an opener inside 10 minutes when Bowditch fired a long-range effort towards Joe Lewis, but the Fulham goalkeeper did excellently to palm the ball away from danger and out for a corner.
| Match Stats |
M.K. Dons
|
Fulham
|
| Goals |
(1) 1 |
1 (1) |
| |
| Scorers |
Bowditch 30 |
Dembele 44 |
| |
| Goal attempts |
11 |
14 |
| On target |
7 |
5 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
64% |
36% |
| Possession |
50% |
50% |
| Passes |
442 |
444 |
| Pass Success |
75% |
74% |
| Crosses |
17 |
21 |
| Crosses Success |
18% |
19% |
| Corners |
5 |
2 |
| Tackles |
8 |
16 |
| Tackles Success |
75% |
81% |
| Saves |
3 |
6 |
| Fouls |
9 |
11 |
| Offsides |
1 |
3 |
| Yellows |
0 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: Soccernet/Fulham FC |
Bowditch then turned provider after a well-worked corner routine allowed the winger to slot the ball through to Josh Murphy inside the box, before the on-loan Norwich man fired a shot straight into a crowd of bodies and Fulham were able to clear.
Four minutes later - with the goal gaping - Cottagers striker Dembele fired high over an open goal from two yards out after McCormack squared a pass beautifully into his path.
And Bowditch made him pay as he smashed home with a stunning half-volley from the edge of the visitors' box to grab the Dons a deserved lead midway through the first half.
But the Dons could not see their slender advantage through to the break as Dembele made amends for his earlier miss a minute from the interval with a neat finish from six yards out after some sloppy defending from Karl Robinson's side.
The visitors started to pile on the pressure after half-time as Sean Kavanagh threatened with a testing strike from outside the box but Dons keeper David Martin was equal to it and smothered the danger.
But the Dons responded well and two chances of their own within quick succession.
Murphy fizzed an inviting cross in from the right-hand side, which found Darren Potter in a crowd of bodies in the box but he failed to guide his effort on target before Bowditch raced clear of the Fulham defence and had his strike well saved.
The hosts squandered another good opportunity to go in front just after the hour when Jordan Spence burst past the challenges of a number of the Cottagers defenders and found Nicky Maynard in space inside the box, but his effort sailed well over.
Fulham were starting to threaten on the counter-attack as Kavanagh burst forward from midfield and had an effort on goal excellently closed down by the Dons defence inside the 72nd minute, before Luke Garbutt's long-range strike sailed over five minutes later.
McCormack was next to be left frustrated in front of goal for the Cottagers when his effort was heroically cleared of the line by Dons defender Kyle McFadzean nine minutes from time.
M.K. Dons: Martin; Spence, McFadzean, Kay, Lewington; Potter, Poyet; Carruthers (Baker 77'), Bowditch (Hall 71'), Josh Murphy; Maynard (Church 86')
Unused substitutes: Cropper, Hodson, Powell, Gallagher
Scorers:
Bowditch 30, (left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Josh Murphy with a cross.)
Fulham: Lewis; Fredericks (Voser 45'), Stearman, Burn, Garbutt; O'Hara; Tunnicliffe (Mattila 70'), Kavanagh; Cairney; McCormack, Dembele
Unused substitutes: Rodak, Hutchinson, Pringle, Matt Smith, Woodrow
Scorers: Dembele 44, (right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ross McCormack.
)
Booked:
Kavanagh (56,f), McCormack (62,f)
Referee: Darren Handley (Lancashire)
Attendance: 14,508