Clint makes Fulham's day with brace
Thursday November 26 2009
Fulham returned to winning ways courtesy of Clint Dempsey's double as Blackburn failed to provide Sam Allardyce with another Premier League victory during his absence for heart surgery.
Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson did not have a save to make until Erik Nevland squeezed a finish in at the near post after 43 minutes, and the game was still up for grabs until Dempsey tapped in with 23 minutes remaining. He then grabbed his second before the end meaning the visitors failed to build on their win over Bolton at the weekend.
Fulham moved above their opponents and into the top half of the table, although maximum points looked unlikely during a first half short on quality.
Keith Andrews weighted a ball through the home defence, Franco di Santo got on the wrong side of Aaron Hughes but Mark Schwarzer stood up well and blocked the finish.
Fulham's response was a direct move that saw Bobby Zamora hold the ball up, Damien Duff cross to the far post and Dempsey head wide while under pressure from Blackburn's defenders.
It was hardly inspiring play from either team, both sending long balls forward that amounted to nothing.
Nevland's goal came two minutes before the break and was totally at odds with the 43 before it. Zamora sparked the slick move by backheeling to his strike partner, Nevland then exchanged passes with Duff before scoring.
In the second half, Duff ran at full-back Pascal Chimbonda and curled in a cross that split the Blackburn defence and allowed Dempsey to tap in.
Dempsey's second came just before the final whistle. He collected Simon Davies' cross and slotted past Robinson.
