Etherington strike foils Fulham
The Stoke winger latched on to Ricardo Fuller’s cross to smash his drive past Mark Schwarzer to inflict Fulham’s fifth home defeat of the season and move Tony Pulis’ side up to 10th.
Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic had to react quickly to deny Clint Dempsey in the second half but Fulham otherwise lacked any killer instinct in what was largely a dull match.
Aside from the injured Bobby Zamora, the side which Roy Hodgson selected was so strong that he may well field the same team against Atletico Madrid next week.
Wasteful passing from Fulham and resolute defending from Hangeland ensured neither goalkeeper was tested in the first 15 minutes.
Damien Duff then found Zoltan Gera in space in the 19th minute but he scooped his shot over from 10 yards.
The first shot on target of the game came seven minutes from the break when Dempsey slipped in Gera who shot straight at Stoke stopper Begovic.
Duff, who finished the first half clutching his leg, failed to emerge after the break and was substituted by Erik Nevland, who was making his last home appearance before moving to Viking Stavanger.
Fuller beat his marker to send a glancing header wide from a Delap throw as Stoke looked for a quick goal.
Etuhu’s 15-yard header flew over just after the hour but Stoke continued to control most of the play.
Fulham hit back though through Gera, who picked out Dempsey at the back post but the striker’s shot inside the six-yard box was tipped wide by Begovic.
Pantsil’s ambitious 30-yard drive cleared Begovic’s bar with just over 10 minutes left as Fulham regained control of the game.
But with little over seven minutes left the Potters took the lead when Fuller’s cross skimmed off Tuncay’s back to fall to Etherington who smashed his finish home off the Fulham woodwork.
The Cottagers’ attentions now turn to Arsenal before next week’s Europa League final in Hamburg, where they will have to improve dramatically if they are to pick up their first major trophy in their 131-year history.
FULHAM: Schwarzer, Pantsil (Okaka 86), Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff (Nevland 46), Murphy, Etuhu, Davies, Dempsey, Gera.
STOKE: Begovic, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington (Diao 88), Fuller (Lawrence 90), Sidibe (Sanli 71).
Referee: Peter Walton
Clydesdale Bank Premier League Aberdeen 1 Kilmarnock 2; Falkirk 0 St Johnstone 0; Hamilton 0 St Mirren 0; Hearts 0 Dundee Utd 0; Motherwell 6 Hibernian 6
The Irn-Bru Scottish League Championship Second Division play-off semi-final, first leg: Queens Park 0 Arbroath 4: East Stirling 0 Forfar 1.
