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Alain Goma part of the meanest defence in the Premiership
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Fulham (1) 2 Blackburn (0) 0
Fulham fans sang back home to the Nationwide to their visitors, and they might
also get the last laugh on top of yesterday's fun because this defeat sends Blackburn
tumbling into the relegation zone. Only the inadequacies of their immediate rivals
for relegation is likely to give them cause for hope just now.
Fulham boasted the meanest defence in the Premiership going into this game. If
the way they defended against Blackburn is anything to go by they must also be
one of the luckiest. For Blackburn, notoriously goal-shy this season, hit the
woodwork twice in the opening exchanges, and Fulham often looked wobbly at the
back when under the slightest pressure.
Andy Cole struck a post first with a sweet right-foot shot from the edge of the
penalty area. Then Henning Berg cracked a volley from a Damien Duff corner which
Edwin van der Sar miraculously diverted onto the crossbar. Both shots seemed worthy
of a goal and Blackburn's initial confidence belied their poor Premiership standing
just above the relegation zone with only two wins from their previous 13 games.
Fulham, whose fans were still celebrating last season's fun and games in which
they firmly crushed Blackburn in the First Division title race, looked unsure
of themselves until Steve Marlet raised confidence levels when he fashioned
a right-foot overhead kick which also hit a post.
The enigmatic Marlet was clearly boosted too and set off on a run which ultimately
led to Fulham taking the lead 10 minutes later.
The French striker dribbled his way to the edge of the Blackburn area, exchanged
a one-two with Barry Hayles, and although Berg then handled the ball when Marlet
played it back again, Hayles kept his concentration and poacher's instinct to
force the loose ball into the net with a lunging volley.
| Match
Stats |
Fulham |
Rovers |
| Goal
attempts |
13 |
10 |
| On
Target |
8 |
6 |
| Hit
woodwork |
1 |
2 |
| Fouls |
18 |
15 |
| Offsides |
4 |
1 |
| Corners |
4 |
2 |
| Yellows |
3 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
1 |
| source:
www.sports.com |
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Blackburn had to show some steel now or they would run the risk of being overrun.
But, for a while, it was all Fulham, and Brad Friedel effectively kept Blackburn
in the game with a save from Steed Malbranque's free-kick just before the break.
Blackburn's chance to get back into the game both came and went at the start
of the second half when Duff crossed and David Dunn headed wide with the goal
seemingly at his mercy. Lucas Neill's volleyed attempt soon after was even worse
to watch.
Blackburn continued to press forward with purpose, and then, just as in the
first half, they were hit by a Fulham break and went two goals down in the 63rd
minute.
Midfielder Malbranque started and finished the move in devastating fashion.
He broke from deep in his own half and played the ball long and wide to Marlet
before making up ground into the penalty area and getting on the end of a cross
to score with a flying left-foot volley.
Blackburn started this game well enough but ended up with what they deserved
against the Fulham team with whom they so fiercely contested the First Division
last season.
The visitors' misery was compounded when defender Craig Short was sent off
for elbowing Marlet in time added on at the end.
Fulham: Van der Sar, Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Goma, Collins, Malbranque,
Legwinski, Davis, Marlet (Willock 90), Hayles.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Harley, Saha, Ouaddou.
Booked: Malbranque(02 unsporting behaviour), Melville(03 foul), Marlet(90 foul).
Goals: Hayles 31, Malbranque 63.
Blackburn: Friedel, Tugay, Berg, Short, Curtis (Hignett 68), Taylor, Duff,
Dunn, Jansen (Johansson 90), Cole, Neill (Gillespie 69).
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Hughes.
Sent Off: Short Short (90 foul). Booked: Neill(7 foul), Tugay(81 foul).
Att: 19,580 Ref: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).