Goals from centre-halves, Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen, secured Blackburn Rovers’ first league victory in two months and presented their manager Sam Allardyce with much-needed breathing space.
After a run of nine winless games that marked his return from hospital, the Blackburn manager had been under pressure, although with his side in 12th, he will feel that bit more secure tonight. However, only in the second half could he claim to have managed the better side.
Some of Fulham’s football was slick, if slightly overelaborate, and had Clint Dempsey not struck the crossbar with a wonderfully judged overhead kick when his side was only one down, Fulham might have seized something from this game. As it is, they have followed up their emphatic dismissal of Manchester United with three straight defeats, although in none of them were they overwhelmed. Nevertheless the loss of Paul Konchesky after the broken collarbone sustained by Bobby Zamora at Stoke, was a significant blow.
Allardyce made some significant changes from the side beaten at Ewood in Thursday’s Carling Cup semi-final, paring Benni McCarthy with Nikola Kalinic for the first time. Mostly, it worked.
And although Blackburn’s opener came from a dreadfully scuffed McCarthy corner, that was only half-cleared by Damien Duff and then finished off by Samba in his 100th game for the club, it would not have been awarded had Mark Schwarzer not been forced to save brilliantly from the South African.
Unlucky to be one down at the interval, Fulham’s comeback never really materialised and some dreadful defending at another set-piece from McCarthy – this time a free-kick – allowed Nelsen a clear run and a free header to settle matters.
Premier LeagueBlackburn RoversFulhamTim Richguardian.co.uk
