Ten-man Fulham struggle to draw against Derby

Fulham 0 Derby 0

Fulham’s hopes of pulling away from the danger zone at the foot of the Premier League were dashed by rock-bottom Derby at Craven Cottage.

Fulham have now failed to win in the league since the second game of the season back in August and they had goalkeeper Antti Niemi to thank for earning them a point against County.

Niemi pulled off a string of superb saves to deny Derby and Fulham held on for a share of the spoils after having defender Paul Konchesky sent off for elbowing Craig Fagan seconds before the interval.

It was Derby who created the first real opportunity of the game in the 13th minute when a clever pass from captain Matt Oakley was collected by Kenny Miller just inside the penalty area.

However, the Derby striker’s shot was palmed away by Niemi, much to the relief of the home defence.

Moments later Niemi had to push away an effort from Eddie Lewis for a corner as Derby threatened to take control.

But Fulham proved they were capable of causing Derby some danger on the counter-attack and Seol Ki-Hyeon should have hit the target when he collected the ball unmarked on the edge of the penalty area.

However, the Fulham midfielder saw his effort flash wide of Stephen Bywater’s left-hand post.

Derby were easily containing the home side who had little attacking guile.

In the 27th minute Derby defender Dean Leacock was booked for a foul on Clint Dempsey.

Fulham should have taken the lead in the 30th minute when an audacious chip from Steven Davis fell to Danny Murphy but the Fulham midfielder sent his shot straight into the arms of Bywater from eight yards.

The game was littered with mistakes from two sides low on confidence but Derby had more attacking thrust.

In the 33rd minute they nearly snatched the lead when Miller fed Stephen Pearson on the right flank and his cross was almost headed into his own net by Aaron Hughes.

It took another stunning save from Niemi to keep Fulham on level terms.

Referee Phil Dowd lectured Derby boss Billy Davies after he had complained about another decision going in favour of the home side. But the official stopped short of ordering Davies out of the dug out.

There was little in the way of quality on show from either side and the game was more reminiscent of a Sunday league clash than England’s top division.

Derby lost Claude Davis through injury just before half-time with Giles Barnes replacing him.

Fulham’s afternoon got worse when Konchesky was red-carded for elbowing Fagan seconds before the break. Fagan received a booking for his part in the clash.

Fulham replaced Seol at half-time with Carlos Bocanegra.

In the 54th minute Niemi had to be at his best to push away a 25-yard thunderbolt from Oakley as Derby began to make their numerical advantage tell.

Derby were completely in control and three minutes later Niemi had to save with his feet at point blank range to deny Barnes a headed opener.

In the 59th minute Derby again went close but Pearson had a shot blocked and then sent his second effort over the crossbar.

Bywater was forced into a rare save in the 61st minute when Fulham’s Chris Baird let fly with a 25-yard effort. But the Derby goalkeeper collected the ball safely at the second attempt.

Fulham’s lack of cutting edge was underlined two minutes later when Clint Dempsey burst clear of the defence only for the ball to be cut out and run loose to Hameur Bouazza.

The Algerian striker took the ball into the penalty area before firing it high into the crowd.

But they were isolated chances and seconds later Derby were back in the ascendancy when Barnes forced Niemi into another sensational save with an 18-yard drive.

But Fulham’s Dempsey forced Bywater to tip his header over the bar in the 67th minute when Murphy’s corner found him unmarked inside the penalty area.

Niemi pulled off another fantastic save for Fulham in the 75th minute when Miller attempted to slot the ball beyond him at the near post.

Miller then sent a shot just inches wide of the post in injury time with Niemi beaten for once. But it was their last chance of the game and the Rams had to settle for a point.