Carson gaffe helps Fulham out of relegation zone

SCOTT CARSON made another high-profile mistake to set Fulham on course for a victory that lifted them out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

Carson, whose blunder against Croatia contributed to England failing to qualify for Euro 2008, got both hands to Simon Davies’ 30-yard drive on the brink of half-time but could only deflect the ball into his own net.

West Brom’s defence was then exposed after the break as Fulham cruised to a first home win in six attempts with headed goals from Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland.

While Fulham climbed above West Brom into 13th to relieve some of the pressure on manager Mark Hughes, the Baggies’ slump continued.

A fifth consecutive defeat represented their worst run in six years and, eighth before Christmas, they now hover two points above the drop zone.

Senegal striker Diomansy Kamara almost blasted Fulham ahead in the opening minutes. Kamara pulled Chris Baird’s long ball out of the air and turned to fire a low shot, which Carson did well to block.

West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie forced keeper David Stockdale into action with a low deflected shot from the edge of the box.

Fulham should have taken the lead as Hangeland climbed above Carson to meet Davies’ corner but he planted his powerful head just wide.

However, Davies’ swerving shot put Fulham ahead in first-half stoppage time. Mulumbu was robbed of possession by Dickson Etuhu, who teed up Davies for a 30-yard drive which Carson deflected into his own net.

Duff came within inches of doubling their lead seven minutes into the second half when he was allowed to turn on the edge of the box but his low shot across goal skidded just wide.

Davies won Fulham a corner with a determined run down the left and then delivered the cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Dempsey planted his header past Carson.

The third came nine minutes later.

No-one picked up Hangeland’s late run and, at the third time of asking, he sailed through the air to meet Davies’ corner to beat Carson.

FULHAM: Stockdale, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Davies (Riise 82), Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Dempsey (Eddie Johnson 87), Kamara (Gera 63). WEST BROM: Carson, Hurst, Zuiverloon, Jara, Cech (Shorey 33), Dorrans, Mulumbu (Fortune 62), Brunt, Morrison (Cox 69), Thomas, Odemwingie.

Ref: Martin Atkinson.