A LOOK at the key moments from the game at Craven Cottage.
FRIEDEL: Kept Rovers in the game with a couple of vital saves but maybe could have done better for Fulham's second...6
CURTIS: Given a recall by Souness and didn't let anyone down with a generally solid display defensively...6
TAYLOR: Looked comfortable on the ball but both goals came from right-wing crosses...6
BERG: Added some stability at the back but still couldn't stop Rovers succumbing to two classic sucker punches...6
SHORT: Offered first use of the bath water for the third time this season but the damage had already been done by then...6
TUGAY: Didn't close people down quickly enough whenever Rovers lost possession as Malbranque and Davis won the midfield .... 6
DUNN: One of the few people with any spark after Fulham took the lead. Tested Van Der Sar on a couple of occasions from distance...7
NEILL: Got booked early on for a rash challenge which left him walking a tightrope after that...6
COLE: Struck the post with a shot in the opening five minutes and that miss came back to haunt him...6
JANSEN: Starved of quality service up front and rarely threatened a goal on the day...6
DUFF: Well policed by his Republic of Ireland team-mate Steve Finnan as he struggled to reproduce the form he showed at West Ham...6
SUBS:
GILLESPIE (for Neill, 69)...6
HIGNETT (for Curtis, 69)...5
JOHANSSON (for Jansen, 90)
NOT USED: KELLY, HUGHES
OPPOSITE CAMP:
VAN DER SAR: Denied Berg with an incredible save...7
FINNAN: Kept the lid on Duff...7
BREVETT: Had a running battle with Neill...6
MELVILLE: Solid defensively...7
GOMA: A real colossus at the back...8
COLLINS: Neat and tidy as always...7
MALBRANQUE: Ran the show in midfield...8
HAYLES: Grabbed a real striker's goal...7
LEGWINSKI: Added some Gallic flair...7
DAVIS: Future England international...7
MARLET: Like grease lightning...8
SUBS:
WILLOCK (for Marlet, 90)
NOT USED: TAYLOR, HARLEY, SAHA, OUADDOU
STATS:
Goal attempts: Rovers 9 Fulham 8
Shots on target: Rovers 6 Fulham 6
Woodwork: Rovers 2 Fulham 1
Offsides: Rovers 3 Fulham 5
Corners: Rovers 2 Fulham 5
Free kicks: Rovers 16 Fulham 18
Attendance: 19,580
REFEREE: Mr M Halsey...4
YELLOW CARDS: Rovers; Neill and Tugay (both fouls) Fulham; Melville (foul),
Malbranque (ungentlemanly conduct)
RED CARDS: Short (violent conduct)
TIME FOR ACTION:
05: Andy Cole races clear but his shot comes back off a post
18: This time Henning Berg is denied by the woodwork after Van Der Sar somehow pushes his shot onto the bar
20: It's Brad Friedel's turn to breathe a sigh of relief as Steve Marlet's overhead kick strikes the upright
31: It's 1-0 to Fulham as Barry Hayles pounces on defensive hesitancy to hook home the opener
42: Steed Malbranque nearly doubles the lead with a curling free kick which Friedel claws to safety
54: David Dunn lies prostrate after heading wide from a Damien Duff centre
64: Rovers are floored by a killer second as Malbranque applies the finishing touch to another slick counter
82: Tugay's Worthington Cup dream is shattered after he picks up his 10th yellow of the season
89: Craig Short sees red for the third time this season after catching Steve Marlet with a stray elbow
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