Davis back in good books with Fulham winner

Fulham 2 Charlton 0

Sean Davis was back in Chris Coleman’s good books tonight after slamming home the sensational volley which sent Fulham surging back into the race for Europe.

The midfielder, dropped for last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Liverpool as punishment for breaking a late-night curfew over Easter, thundered home from 20 yards in the 65th minute.

His spectacular strike clinched the Cottagers’ success against fellow European hopefuls Charlton.

Steed Malbranque gave Fulham the lead in this ding-dong London derby in the 16th minute, sending Dean Kiely the wrong way from the penalty spot after the keeper brought down Luis Boa Morte.

The goal was surprisingly the only one of a first half in which the play thundered from end to end.

Both teams had bags of chances – but while Fulham converted theirs, Charlton were denied again and again by the excellence of Edwin van der Sar.

The second period was a slightly tamer affair – the highlight of which was Davis’ majestic volley – although the home side had to hold out against a late Addicks barrage in their penultimate match at Loftus Road before their return to Craven Cottage in August.

Davis’ goal secured three priceless points for Fulham, taking them onto 48 points and within touching distance of the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

But Charlton, for whom late-season slumps are now an annual occurrence, could miss out altogether in a season in which they occupied fourth place for three months.

Fulham kicked off without influential skipper Lee Clark – ruled out for two months by calf surgery – as they attempted to rescue their bid for European qualification.

Charlton had full-back Radostin Kishishev available after his back and hamstring injuries but boss Alan Curbishley elected to leave him on the bench.

The match got off to a frantic start, with chances aplenty at both ends in the opening quarter of an hour.

Charlton survived a Fulham penalty chance after just 10 seconds when Collins John tumbled in the box after Malbranque’s pass.

And at the other end just 30 seconds later, van der Sar saved smartly when Claus Jensen seized a loose ball after Paul Konchesky’s cross.

Fulham hit back and Boa Morte flashed a shot high and wide before Jon Fortune robbed John just as he was about to pull the trigger in front of goal.

The play was thundering from end to end and Graham Stuart and Jensen both fired narrowly wide for Curbishley’s side.

And the home side made the breakthrough with 16 minutes on the clock from the penalty spot.

Boa Morte raced past Hermann Hreidarsson onto a through-ball and was sent sprawling by Kiely.

Referee Matt Messias allowed the keeper to escape without even a talking to - but Malbranque punished the shot-stopper from the spot, sending him the wrong way to put Fulham in front.

Charlton had a great shout for a spot-kick of their own turned down six minutes later.

Referee Messias ruled Martin Djetou accidentally handled when Luke Young hooked the ball against his arm.

Malbranque almost scored a brilliant second just after the half-hour.

The Frenchman, surrounded by three opponents, jinked into space for a shot and Kiely parried.

Messias enraged the away support by snubbing another Charlton spot-kick shout when Alain Goma swung a leg across Jason Euell’s chest.

Charlton ended the half the stronger but were unable to transform their possession into an equaliser.

Fulham were quick out of the blocks after the break and Sylvain Legwinski smashed a 20-yarder just over the top.

Fulham doubled their lead in the 63rd minute in spectacular fashion.

Boa Morte shrugged off Matt Holland on the half-way line, raced goalwards and rolled the ball across to Davis, 25 yards from goal.

The midfielder miscontrolled and accidentally flicked the ball into the air - but made amends as he connected with a dipping volley which arced into the bottom corner of the net.

Charlton mounted a late barrage and had enough chances to score several times.

Euell skied one shot from the edge of the box and sent a header wide.

Fortune nodded another chance straight at van der Sar and had another shot brilliantly saved by the Dutch keeper.