Cottagers run riot over Rovers

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 boss Allardyce is scheduled have an operation on a coronary artery and could be back next week – and despite the scoreline he is certain to highlight the clash at Craven Cottage as a missed opportunity.

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.

Nevland’s goal came two minutes before the break and was totally at odds with the 43 before it.

Bobby Zamora sparked the slick move by backheeling to his strike partner, Nevland then exchanged passes with Damien Duff before setting his sights from the right side of the area.

The second arrived in the 67th minute when 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 at the near post, held off Andrews and slotted past Robinson.

FULHAM: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey, Greening (Etuhu, 81), Baird, Duff (Davies, 85), Zamora (Gera, 59), Nevland.

BLACKBURN: Robinson, Jacobsen, Samba, Nelsen, Chimbonda, Andrews, Dunn, Grella, Diouf, Di Santo (Kalinic, 66), Roberts (McCarthy, 66).

Referee: Stuart Attwell.