Saturday 27 August 2016 19:37, UK
Blackburn old boy Tom Cairney scored a last-gasp winner to inflict a devastating defeat on his former club as Fulham snatched a 1-0 win at Ewood Park in the Sky Bet Championship.
The game looked to be heading for a stalemate after a much-improved performance from the hosts who looked better organised and could have won it through Danny Graham's second-half strike that was brilliantly tipped wide.
But Cairney, who was sold last summer, showed great composure to both make and end a passing move in injury time with a thunderous finish that felt like a dagger to the hearts of the Rovers faithful.
On the balance of play, the struggling hosts did not deserve that but it underlined the Cottagers' superb start to the season.
Their first win at this ground since 2005 is their seventh game without defeat in all competitions and they moved into second place in the league. Blackburn meanwhile, are rooted to the bottom.
Rovers gave debuts to defensive duo Derrick Williams and Tommie Hoban, who replaced the departed Shane Duffy. The visitors gave a debut to Neeskens Kebano - one of 11 changes from their midweek cup triumph over Middlesbrough.
Graham almost gave Blackburn the perfect start by latching on to Jason Lowe's superb eighth-minute ball but after skipping inside, his left-foot effort arrowed narrowly over.
The Fulham debutant Kebano - the game's outstanding performer - registered their first effort in the 35th minute when he picked Lowe's pocket and let fly with a fierce 25-yard drive that Jason Steele did well to parry behind.
The resulting corner was cleared only as far as Scott Parker, whose floated cross found the all-action Kebano who got his header all wrong when well positioned.
Rovers went within a whisker of taking the lead a minute after the restart when Marshall's superb ball put Graham in and his first-time shot from 12 yards looked destined for the corner but David Button produced a stunning fingertip save to deny him.
It was a confident start but the Cottagers again reminded of their danger when Cairney dug out a cross for Matt Smith but his bullet header went straight at Steele.
Cairney curled over on the hour while at the other end Hope Akpan's low curler was easily pouched by Button as both sides continued their pursuit of a winner.
Just as the game looked to be heading to a draw, Fulham delivered a savage injury-time blow.
Cairney showed great composure to pick out Ryan Sessegnon. His cross wasn't dealt with by Gordon Greer and the former Rovers man hammered the loose ball into the right corner to seal the win.
