Fulham 3-2 Blackburn

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    Damien Duff

    Duff scored twice for Fulham against his former club



    A controversial late penalty gave Fulham victory over Blackburn in a see-saw encounter at Craven Cottage.

    Damien Duff fired Fulham ahead with a low drive but Rovers levelled through Grant Hanley’s deflected shot.

    Duff restored Fulham’s lead with a second low drive, but David Hoilett’s volley again gave Rovers parity.

    In the 89th minute, referee Mark Clattenburg adjudged that Aaron Hughes had been fouled by Hanley in the box and Bobby Zamora scored from the spot.

    It was a particularly sweet ending for Zamora, making his first Premier League appearance since recovering from a broken leg sustained in September.

    It is also a conclusion that once again puts Clattenburg in the spotlight after he was pilloried for his decision not to send off Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney in their match with Wigan last Saturday for what appeared to be an elbow on James McCarthy.

    At the final whistle here, Clattenburg was surrounded by Blackburn players and ended up brandishing a red card to Rovers substitute Gael Givet, who had been particularly vociferous in his protestation.

    It was a sad ending to what had previously been a well-natured encounter between two sides intent on claiming three points that would help them ease their relegation worries.

    Fulham’s victory lifts them takes them to 35 points and five points clear of the relegation zone, but Blackburn are now just two points clear of the drop zone.

    This is scant reward for Rovers’ spirited contribution at Craven Cottage, but demonstrates just how fine the margin is between success and failure in the Premier League.

    The visitors produced the first opportunity of the match when two of the six players Rovers boss Steve Kean brought into his side – Steven Nzonzi and Jason Roberts – combined, with the former feeding the latter, who saw his shot from his inside the box saved by Mark Schwarzer.

    Schwarzer would produce a replica save from another of Kean’s replacements, Mame Diouf, later in the half, but by this stage the Aussie’s side had taken the lead.

    Former Rovers player Duff had already demonstrated the threat he posed to his former side with two inswinging crosses from the right for Andy Johnson, the first of which the striker side-footed wide and the second he was unable to make contact with due to a good defensive header from Hanley.

    It was no surprise when Duff gave his side the lead, when he cut inside from the right and fired a low shot that Robinson could not prevent finding the bottom corner.

    The goal was reward for Fulham’s greater fluency, but they would be pegged back just before half time, with a strike born out of Blackburn’s determination.

    Fulham had a number of chances to clear from a corner but their failure ultimately resulted in the ball finding Hanley in the box and his shot found the goal via a deflection off Hangeland’s head that wrong-footed Schwarzer.

    This was almost undone early in the second half when Samba headed against his own bar as Fulham began brightly.

    The home side though were indebted to defender Chris Baird soon after when he was forced to head off his own line from a Jermaine Jones header, with Schwarzer felled.

    A second Fulham goal always seemed the more likely though and it came on the hour when Duff picked up the ball on the right and, via touches from Johnson and Moussa Dembele, collected in a central position and scored with a low drive from 18 yards.

    Once more the lead was short-lived as poor defending in the 66th minute saw an unmarked Hoilett power home.

    The game was now up for grabs as both sides pushed for a winner.

    With a minute to go, the game was decided decisively in the home side’s favour when Clattenburg decided that Hanley had held Hughes in the box during a corner, satisfying Fulham’s calls for a penalty barely a minute after he had turned down similar demands for a foul on Johnson by the same Rovers defender.

    Zamora struck home the spot kick for his first goal since February 2010.

    Clattenburg would had one last action to make after the final whistle: dismissing unused Blackburn substitute Givet.


     

    Saturday, 5 March 2011

    Barclays Premier League

    Home Team Score Away Team Time
    Fulham 3-2 Blackburn FT
    (HT 1-1)
    • Duff 37
    • Duff 59
    • Zamora (pen) 89


    • Final Result
    • Full Time
    • 90:00+4:56 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
    • Correction – 90:00+3:04 Brede Hangeland concedes a free kick for a foul on Jermaine Jones. Morten Gamst Pedersen crosses the ball from the free kick
      left-footed from right channel, clearance made by Clint Dempsey.
    • 90:00+3:04 Brede Hangeland concedes a free kick for a foul on Jermaine Jones. Morten Gamst Pedersen crosses the ball in from the free
      kick, clearance by Carlos Salcido.
    • 90:00+2:00 Substitution Brett Emerton is brought on as a substitute for Michel Salgado.
    • 90:00+1:59 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Nzonzi on Chris Baird. Gael Kakuta has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
    • 90:00+1:29 Steven Nzonzi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Damien Duff. Chris Baird restarts play with the free kick.
    • 90:00+0:39 Jermaine Jones challenges Bobby Zamora unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Baird restarts play with the free kick.
    • 90:00+0:04 Booking Jermaine Jones goes into the book.
    • 88:40 The assist for the goal came from Aaron Hughes.
    • 88:40 GOAL – Bobby Zamora:Fulham 3 – 2 Blackburn Bobby Zamora scores a placed penalty. Fulham 3-2 Blackburn.
    • 88:15 Andrew Johnson takes a shot. Save by Paul Robinson. Inswinging corner taken by Damien Duff, Aaron Hughes fouled by Grant Hanley,
      the ref awards a Penalty.
    • 88:15 Booking Grant Hanley is cautioned.
    • 86:40 The ball is crossed by Gael Kakuta.
    • 85:01 Unfair challenge on Chris Baird by Morten Gamst Pedersen results in a free kick. Chris Baird delivers the ball from the free
      kick right-footed from right channel.
    • 84:33 Jason Roberts takes a shot. Mark Schwarzer makes a save.
    • 84:12 Andrew Johnson takes a shot. Save made by Paul Robinson.
    • 83:13 Damien Duff takes a shot. Blocked by Martin Olsson. Damien Duff takes a outswinging corner.
    • 80:40 Morten Gamst Pedersen takes the outswinging corner, free kick awarded for a foul by Jason Roberts on Mark Schwarzer. Direct
      free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.
    • 80:40 Substitution Ruben Rochina comes on in place of David Hoilett.
    • 80:40 Booking Jason Roberts goes into the book.
    • 78:14 The ball is sent over by Jason Roberts, Header on goal by Steven Nzonzi from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
    • 77:13 Substitution Gael Kakuta comes on in place of Moussa Dembele.
    • 77:01 Jermaine Jones has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
    • 75:55 Substitution Morten Gamst Pedersen joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gael Givet.
    • 73:34 Damien Duff crosses the ball, save made by Paul Robinson.
    • 73:06 Damien Duff delivers the ball, blocked by Christopher Samba. Corner taken by Damien Duff, clearance by Gael Givet.
    • 70:38 Corner from the right by-line taken by Damien Duff, clearance by Michel Salgado.
    • 69:08 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gael Givet on Damien Duff. Bobby Zamora produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
    • 69:08 Substitution Bobby Zamora joins the action as a substitute, replacing Danny Murphy.
    • 66:21 Unfair challenge on Damien Duff by Martin Olsson results in a free kick. Chris Baird takes the free kick.
    • 64:49 Assist by Jason Roberts.
    • 64:49 GOAL – David Hoilett:Fulham 2 – 2 Blackburn A goal is scored by David Hoilett from inside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Fulham 2-2 Blackburn.
    • 63:43 The official flags Andrew Johnson offside. Paul Robinson restarts play with the free kick.
    • 62:18 Martin Olsson takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.
    • 62:08 Mame Diouf takes a shot. Chris Baird makes a clearance.
    • 61:30 Chris Baird gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Martin Olsson. Michel Salgado takes the direct free kick.
    • 61:30 Booking Chris Baird is shown a yellow card.
    • 60:12 Carlos Salcido concedes a free kick for a foul on Mame Diouf. Free kick crossed right-footed by David Hoilett, Dickson Etuhu
      manages to make a clearance.
    • 58:14 The assist for the goal came from Moussa Dembele.
    • 58:14 GOAL – Damien Duff:Fulham 2 – 1 Blackburn Damien Duff finds the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Fulham 2-1
      Blackburn.
    • 57:19 Gael Givet gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Schwarzer. Mark Schwarzer takes the direct free kick.
    • 56:15 Martin Olsson fouled by Chris Baird, the ref awards a free kick. David Hoilett crosses the ball in from the free kick, save
      by Mark Schwarzer.
    • Correction – 55:09 Jermaine Jones crosses the ball, Chris Baird makes a clearance.
    • 55:09 Martin Olsson crosses the ball, Chris Baird manages to make a clearance.
    • 51:45 Carlos Salcido takes a shot. Grant Hanley gets a block in. Carlos Salcido takes a shot. Martin Olsson gets a block in. Inswinging
      corner taken by Danny Murphy, save by Paul Robinson. Inswinging corner taken by Damien Duff.
    • 50:41 Martin Olsson concedes a free kick for a foul on Damien Duff. Direct free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.
    • 48:08 David Hoilett takes a inswinging corner to the near post.
    • 46:47 Shot on goal by Aaron Hughes from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
    • 46:33 Damien Duff produces a cross, Christopher Samba makes a clearance. Danny Murphy takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line
      played to the near post.
    • 45:25 The ball is crossed by David Hoilett.
    • 45:01 The second half has started.
    • Half Time
    • 45:00+3:28 The players leave the pitch at half time.
    • 45:00+2:50 Inswinging corner taken by Damien Duff.
    • 45:00+0:49 GOAL – Grant Hanley:Fulham 1 – 1 Blackburn Grant Hanley scores a goal from inside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Fulham 1-1 Blackburn.
    • 44:48 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Martin Olsson played to the near post, Clint Dempsey makes a clearance.
    • 44:18 David Hoilett takes a shot. Aaron Hughes gets a block in.
    • 43:37 Danny Murphy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Martin Olsson. Paul Robinson takes the direct free kick.
    • 43:02 The offside flag is raised against Jason Roberts. Mark Schwarzer takes the indirect free kick.
    • 41:59 The ball is sent over by Damien Duff.
    • 41:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Grant Hanley on Clint Dempsey. Direct free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
    • 37:16 Mame Diouf is caught offside. Mark Schwarzer takes the free kick.
    • 36:17 Assist by Dickson Etuhu.
    • 36:17 GOAL – Damien Duff:Fulham 1 – 0 Blackburn Damien Duff finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Fulham
      1-0 Blackburn.
    • 35:24 Jermaine Jones concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Murphy. Danny Murphy restarts play with the free kick.
    • 33:52 Foul by Clint Dempsey on Michel Salgado, free kick awarded. Paul Robinson takes the free kick.
    • 33:43 Carlos Salcido delivers the ball.
    • 32:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Moussa Dembele by Steven Nzonzi. Free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
    • 31:31 The offside flag is raised against Andrew Johnson. Paul Robinson takes the free kick.
    • 31:12 Dickson Etuhu takes a shot. Save by Paul Robinson.
    • 30:22 Foul by Jason Roberts on Moussa Dembele, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
    • 27:39 Unfair challenge on Jason Roberts by Brede Hangeland results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Steven Nzonzi.
    • 26:37 Andrew Johnson crosses the ball.
    • 25:23 Corner taken by Martin Olsson from the right by-line, Grant Hanley takes a shot. Save by Mark Schwarzer.
    • 24:32 Mame Diouf takes a shot. Save made by Mark Schwarzer.
    • 23:57 Foul by Michel Salgado on Clint Dempsey, free kick awarded. Danny Murphy takes the direct free kick.
    • 22:45 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Damien Duff, clearance by Christopher Samba.
    • 22:34 Damien Duff crosses the ball, clearance by Grant Hanley.
    • 20:36 Free kick awarded for a foul by Moussa Dembele on Martin Olsson. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Martin Olsson from
      right wing, save by Mark Schwarzer.
    • 19:29 Martin Olsson takes a shot. Dickson Etuhu gets a block in. Martin Olsson takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Andrew
      Johnson.
    • 18:12 Moussa Dembele concedes a free kick for a foul on Jermaine Jones. Paul Robinson restarts play with the free kick.
    • 17:15 The ball is swung over by Michel Salgado, Header from deep inside the area by Jason Roberts goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
    • 17:04 A cross is delivered by Carlos Salcido.
    • 15:32 Damien Duff produces a cross, Effort from inside the six-yard box by Andrew Johnson goes wide right of the goal.
    • 14:01 Unfair challenge on David Hoilett by Chris Baird results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
    • 12:35 Jason Roberts concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Baird. Damien Duff crosses the ball in from the free kick, David Hoilett
      makes a clearance.
    • 9:27 Free kick awarded for a foul by Christopher Samba on Clint Dempsey. Danny Murphy takes the direct free kick. Chris Baird takes
      a shot. Damien Duff takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.
    • 8:30 Martin Olsson fouled by Dickson Etuhu, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by David Hoilett, save by Mark Schwarzer.
    • 8:30 Booking The referee cautions Dickson Etuhu for unsporting behaviour.
    • 6:57 Corner taken right-footed by David Hoilett.
    • 6:07 Andrew Johnson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Christopher Samba. Direct free kick taken by Paul Robinson.
    • 3:12 Jason Roberts takes a shot. Save made by Mark Schwarzer.
    • 1:05 Andrew Johnson takes a shot. Blocked by Christopher Samba.
    • 0:00 The referee gets the match started.

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    Here is the original post:
    Fulham 3-2 Blackburn