Fulham snatch win to stay up
by Gareth Maher, 11 May 2008
Danny Murphy was the hero as Fulham secured their Premier League status with a 1-0 triumph over Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday afternoon.
The former Liverpool man thumped in a 76th-minute header to give Roy Hodgson's team the victory that confirmed their top-flight status for another year.
It was a nervy match, but The Whites almost had a dream start when Simon Davies slid in to connect with a Paul Stalteri cross inside the first five minutes, only for his effort to come back off the post.
After that, the majoirty of the chances fell to Pompey and Niko Kranjcar in particular. The Croatia international tried his luck with a half volley on 12 minutes after good link-up play with Nwankwo Kanu.
Then, on 17 minutes, he hit a low drive that tested goalkeeper Kasey Keller before he registered a third attempt on goal on 30 minutes with a blistering shot.
Fulham's midfield worked hard to retain possession and work the ball around the pitch, and they had willing runners in Clint Dempsey and Davies on either wing.
However, a spark of inspiration was missing, with just one shot on target recorded in the first half and the two strikers, Brian McBride and Diomansy Kamara, hardly had any passes coming into them.
With news filtering through of Birmingham City and Reading both taking first-half leads, a nervous energy could be detected from the away supporters who were far quieter than the home fans.
After the interval there was a noticeable difference in tempo, with Jimmy Bullard getting more involved and far more crosses were being put into the Portsmouth box.
Kranjcar had two more stinging efforts as he set about ending Fulham's chance of staying up, while Jermain Defoe wasted a free-kick from the edge of the box.
Murphy did connect with a Davies cross, but it was a tame header that Jamie Ashdown gathered without too much fuss. The opportunties for the shot-stopper to deal with dried up after that.
Bullard was presented with a free-kick on the edge of the home side's box, but it took a deflection and went wide. Then a goalmouth scramble from two corners gave them hope of getting the goal that they needed.
Then, on 76 minutes, there was a change in their fortune as Bullard delivered a crisp ball from a free-kick out on the right that picked Murphy out to head them in front and give the Fulham fans a chance to chant 'We are staying up'.
A collective sigh of relief was exhaled from everyone associated with Fulham Football Club as the scorelines from the other games in the Premier League ceased to matter. They were in control of their own destiny.
It has been an indifferent season for The Cottagers, with Lawrie Sanchez being sacked early on and Hodgson taking time to inspire his troops, but it worked in the end as they have survived against all the odds.