Murphy enjoys Cottage life

DANNY MURPHY is in line for his first Fulham start at home to Bolton in the Carling Cup on Wednesday after helping them save a point in another six-goal thriller at Craven Cottage.

Three weeks ago Murphy was only a spectator after a miserable 18-month spell at Tottenham, who led Lawrie Sanchez’s side 3-1 but had to settle for a point thanks to Diomansy Kamara’s spectacular last-minute equaliser.

This time it was 30-year-old former England midfielder Murphy, who won all his nine caps under Sven-Goran Eriksson, who came off the substitutes’ bench to rescue a precious point and confound the Swede’s hopes of another winning away-day in London with City.

Fulham boss Sanchez saw his Fulham side lead twice and then trail 3-2 before Murphy capitalised on chaos in City’s defence to equalise in the 75th minute.

Sanchez said: “Danny should have had a second goal afterwards but he tried for too much power and put it over. I was surprised because he is such a good finisher but he has so many other good qualities as well.

“He didn’t have the best of times at Tottenham. They have a lot of good players, haven’t they? He’s experienced as well, though, and we needed cover in that midfield area with (Papa Bouba) Diop going to Portsmouth on deadline day, so we signed him that night.

“It is not a loan as some people think. He’s here until the end of the season and has the chance to show what he can do.”

Murphy, who came to prominence with Liverpool and later joined Charlton for £2million (€2.8m) after starting as a member of Dario Gradi’s Crewe school of excellence, insists he is not at Craven Cottage just as a veteran foil for the youngsters.

He made only 22 league starts for Spurs after joining them for £2m (€2.8m) in January last year and admitted: “Things didn’t work out for me there.

“Martin Jol obviously didn’t pick me too often, but I’ve come here to revive my career and not just to act as a mentor to younger players. If I can give anybody some help I’ll willingly do that if they ask but to put myself forward in that way sounds a bit too much like arrogance.”

Simon Davies and Hameur Bouazza twice put Fulham ahead but Martin Petrov and Emile Mpenza levelled.

Petrov then beat the Finnish goalkeeper at his near post just past the hour to give City the lead, before Murphy was allowed time and space to pounce on fellow-sub Seol Ki-Hyeon’s pass.

Eriksson bemoaned “some poor defensive decisions” but said: “I don’t know if I can complain that much really because up to now we have been fantastic at the back, conceding only two goals in six games.

“Overall I’m very happy. I have a three-year contract and it is a fantastic project here. We have a good team and if everything goes to plan I am confident we will get even better over the next few seasons.”

FULHAM: Niemi, Baird, Bocanegra, Hughes, Konchesky, Bouazza (Ki-Hyeon 67), Smertin, Davies (Kamara 46), Davis, Healy (Murphy 67), Dempsey.

Subs Not Used: Keller, Stefanovic.

MAN CITY: Schmeichel, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Ireland (Jihai 83), Hamann, Johnson, Petrov, Elano (Geovanni 80), Mpenza (Bianchi 80).

Subs Not Used: Hart, Ball.

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Match rating (out of five stars): ***