Three-goal blitz seals points for Cottagers

FULHAM smashed three goals in five minutes at a euphoric Loftus Road last night to climb 12 points clear of the drop zone and heighten West Brom’s relegation fears.

Louis Saha nodded home in the 71st minute to put the Cottagers 1-0 up and Pierre Wome thundered in an unbelievable strike from 30 yards to double their lead after 73 minutes.

Fulham fans' delight turned to ecstasy when the prolific Steed Malbranque netted from the penalty spot three minutes later for his eighth goal in six games.

It had been a very open first half, without either goalkeeper extended. Both sides had golden chances to take the lead just before half-time.

First, Hoult misjudged a bouncing ball and Marlet headed square for Sava. He hooked the ball goalwards but Phil Gilchrist slid across his goalline to clear from under the crossbar.

And barely 60 seconds later, Koumas burst clear down the right and played Hughes clean through on goal but the forward hesitated when one-on-one with Taylor and the Northern Ireland shot-stopper blocked his effort.

Fulham were in charge now and Marlet sent a header past the far post as Tigana's team pushed for the opening goal. And Fulham finally got the goal they craved when Saha headed home in the 71st minute.

Gilchrist allowed the Frenchman to escape unmarked six yards out and he raced onto Malbranque's chipped cross from the left and nodded home.

The Cottagers grabbed a second goal two minutes later with a piledriver from Wome.

Sean Gregan fouled Marlet 30 yards out and from the resulting free-kick, Malbranque rolled the ball to the Cameroon international who almost ripped the net with a blistering strike into the top right corner.

Fulham's goal-starved fans were stunned by seeing two goals in quick succession and that emotion turned to disbelief when they scored again in the 77th minute, their third goal in just four minutes.

Saha leapt to meet a left-wing cross at the far post and tumbled when bumped by Clement.

Ref Rennie pointed to the spot and Malbranque sent Hoult the wrong way to complete a goal-crazy five minutes.

FULHAM: Taylor, Finnan, Goma, Melville, Wome, Marlet, Djetou, Inamoto, Malbranque, Sava, Saha.

WEST BROM: Hoult, Adam Chambers, Gregan, Moore, Gilchrist, Clement, Wallwork, McInnes, Koumas, Dichio, Hughes.

Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).