Bullard grabs point for Fulham

A brilliant Jimmy Bullard free-kick rescued a deserved point for Fulham at Ewood Park.

Rovers left deflated by late strike

A brilliant Jimmy Bullard free-kick rescued a deserved point for Fulham at Ewood Park as they drew 1-1 with Blackburn. Fulham battled throughout but looked on their way to defeat after Morten Gamst Pedersen had headed Rovers ahead just before the hour mark. Then in the final-minute Fulham were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, as Chris Samba raised his foot to Eddie Johnson. Bullard took charge and found the top corner with a masterful strike and earned Fulham a point which their performance deserved.

Battling point

The point may not be enough to save Fulham but it at least gave manager Roy Hodgson something to cheer on his return to the club that sacked him a decade ago. Throughout a miserable first half both sides struggled to create meaningful chances but Blackburn at least looked industrious and asked some questions of the Fulham defence. Cottagers keeper Kasey Keller was not at his best and made a couple of nervous-looking clearances as well as spilling a cross. But he was still not seriously tested as Rovers failed to find ways to break through the Fulham defence. A clumsy challenge by Clint Dempsey allowed the hosts their first chance from a 30-yard free-kick but Danny Murphy blocked Steven Reid's effort. Pedersen found good space down the left but his cross was wasteful and Stephen Warnock also broke into the box only for his square ball to evade everyone. David Bentley had an effort deflected for a corner and Roque Santa Cruz was denied by a good Paul Konchesky tackle but there had been little to excite the fans as the first half drifted towards its conclusion.

Drab affair

Zurab Khizanishvili had the first serious attempt on goal after 35 minutes when he headed a Bentley corner at Keller. The American held onto that attempt comfortably but he still felt unhappy enough with his performance to have extra practice during the half-time break. The game was starting to show belated signs after the break and Fulham almost conceded a freak goal moments later. Reid looked set to lose out to Konchesky as he chased Santa Cruz's knockdown but the ball somehow deflected off the pair and looped onto the crossbar and behind. Pedersen then tried his luck from distance but failed to hit the target. Fulham launched a rare attack and almost snatched the lead as Johnson broke into the area and fired in a shot that clipped the outside of Brad Friedel's post. But, having survived that scare, Rovers hit back and grabbed the opener themselves just before the hour. The newly-introduced Jason Roberts created the chance, delivering a fine cross for the unmarked Pedersen to head past Keller at the far post.

Squandered chances

Fulham could have levelled within minutes but Murphy's shot was blocked and Dempsey could not make decent contact in the ensuing goalmouth scramble. Roberts had the chance to make the game safe but scuffed a shot and Keller easily saved. Pedersen went close to a second with a superb curling effort from a 30-yard free-kick and Roberts broke through again seven minutes from time, but Keller rushed out and blocked with his feet from point-blank range. The miss proved costly as Fulham grabbed a shock equaliser three minutes from time. Samba was punished for a high foot in a challenge with Johnson on the edge of the area and Bullard stepped up to curl home the free-kick.

Blackburn Rovers	Team Statistics	Fulham
1	Goals	1
0	1st Half Goals	0
3	Shots on Target	1
8	Shots off Target	2
5	Blocked Shots	5
7	Corners	7
21	Fouls	20
2	Offsides	0
2	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
80.4	Passing Success	72.7
11	Tackles	12
90.9	Tackles Success	75
59.1	Possession	40.9
54	Territorial Advantage	46