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Fulham 1 Manchester City 1

FULHAM strengthened their Barclays Premiership survival bid when Luis Boa Morte salvaged a point against Manchester City at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

Chris Coleman's men looked to be heading for defeat after Claudio Reyna fired City ahead in the first half but Boa Morte pounced in the 76th minute to snatch a share of the spoils.

Reyna's goal was a bitter pill for Fulham fans to swallow given the USA international had pulled out of a move to Craven Cottage at the last minute in August 2003, despite already being photographed in the club's shirt.

Coleman was enraged by Reyna's late change of heart - he left Sunderland for City instead - but would have watched on enviously as the midfielder impressed during a fine first half from the visitors.

It was all Fulham after the break, however, and it only seemed a question of when the equaliser would arrive - not if - as they poured forward with Boa Morte bagging the goal his performance deserved.

City now have now picked up five points since Stuart Pearce took over as manager and there was much to encourage the former England defender - not least Shaun Wright-Phillips' successful return from a seven-week spell in the treatment room.

Fulham made a lively start with a perfectly-executed through ball from Steed Malbranque finding Boa Morte in space but the Portuguese winger's attempted pass to Brian McBride was intercepted by David James.

City's first meaningful attack arrived in the eighth minute when Reyna set up a chance for Antoine Sibierski only for keeper Edwin van der Sar to pluck the Frenchman's curling effort from the air.

Malbranque saw a powerful shot blocked before Boa Morte and Liam Rosenior probed down the left to little effect as City's defence held firm in the face of sustained pressure from Fulham.

Chris Coleman's men were winning the possession stakes but struggled to find a way past the impressive Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin, while in contrast their rearguard was unlocked with ease in the 20th minute.

Reyna found Robbie Fowler down the right with the former Liverpool striker teeing up a header for Sibierski, who saw his effort saved by van der Sar. The Dutchman did not keep hold of the ball, however, and it fell into the path of Reyna who bundled home.

Fulham threatened to draw level shortly after when Paul Bosvelt nearly turned a Moritz Volz cross into his own net while McBride almost put Andy Cole one-on-one with James in the 29th minute.

Reyna - who was subjected to a chorus of boos by disgruntled Fulham fans every time he touched the ball - then set up a chance for Kiki Musampa but his mishit shot sailed out of danger.

Joey Barton appeared from a throng of players gathered on the left touchline and went on a rampaging run before cutting inside and shooting wide of the right post when his endeavour deserved more.

The lively Malbranque - Fulham's best player by some margin - fired wired again before Boa Morte ghosted around Dunne only for his cross to be scrambled to safety with skipper Lee Clark racing in in goal.

Rosenior dashed inside and found Cole but the former England forward overhit his pass to Boa Morte, who then struck the post with a strong shot in first-half injury time.

Malbranque was pulling all the strings for Fulham and in the 50th minute he threaded a pass through to Cole who rushed his effort with Distin bearing down on him, blazing well wide.

City should have extended their lead in the 56th minute after a sloppy back-pass from Malbranque caused havoc in Fulham's defence. Fowler came up with the ball but he fired off target with only van der Sar to beat.

Defender Zat Knight headed wide while Clark and Malbranque were guilty of dithering a moment later after appearing to have done all the hard work, squandering a great opportunity.

Fowler was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips in the 62nd minute while Malbranque made way for Tomasz Radzinski - an odd decision given the Frenchman had been Fulham's most effective playmaker.

Collins John - on for Cole - went close with a deflected volley and with City's defence now under the cosh for some time, Fulham's equaliser seemed inevitable and duly arrived in the 76th minute.

McBride challenged James for a cross which the keeper failed to claim and when the ball hit the ground it was swept by McBride to Boa Morte who picked his spot with no-one at home in the City goal.

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I hope Sibierski goes soon!

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I,ith many others, have been caught up in the Psycho tidalwave, but this performance
I have seen b 4.
Musampa and Sibierski were total rubbish, yet SP takes Fowler off.
Against Fulham away, I was worried about the fullback kids.
I would have gone with Mills & Thatcher.
I think Croft showed us enough against Liverpool to warrant a start today.

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And what have we learned today kids? Bartons a class act and Musampa can't shoot to save his life. Good game, plenty positives.

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1-1 so what musampa didn't play that well, i think we should we should sign musampa though, hope we sell sibierski next season bad decision to take fowler off well maybe next game.

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1 Win in ten ..... although my predictions made under KK were right, I am pleased with Pearce - We desparatly need at least four new attacking players in the summer. Macken should be released, Folwer should be sold now that he is worth a positive value (opposed to the minus value of last season) Not enough goals, pace, ability. Sibs out. Bring on summer - Mcindoe of Doncaster should add attacking strenght in depth - Geremi for central midfield if we have B#7m. Stuart Elliott of Hull - prolific Winger - B#3m?. Some defensive depth. Then a solid reliable keeper on half of James astronomical salary - he isn't englad number one anymore and never will be again. Freddy Eastwood is a phenominum - he is absolutley lightning and amazing scoring technique - but he is div2 do worth getting a scout to have a look - Hopefully not the scout that found Vuoso!! Liverpool will be having a mass clearout in the summer.... Nab riise or Kewell if we can. Newcastle will have some interesting decisions to make in the summer too - worth a look round.

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Could`nt agree more BOB!ALSO show faith in the academy players but when the game is in are hands bring on the more experienced players to settle things down JORDON and NEDUM ARE exsposing us with their lack of experience and need to be brought off when we are winning so they can get the appluse of the fans and so the confidance.Win the game with the likes of THATCHER on the pitch and everyone is confident.THE EASIEST OPPOSITION SO FAR AND SURPRISE,SURPRISE THE WORST PERFORMANCE,HAILING PEARCE NOT QUITE YET!IF SIBERESKI IS IN FROM THE START AGAINST BIRMINGHAM THEN IM ALL FOR NIGEL CLOUGH BEING THE NEW MANAGER!DAVID JAMES NEEDS TO MEET UP WITH RICKY HATTON AND LEARN TO TAKE AFEW HITS AND STOP BEING A POWDER PUFF AS SHOT STOPPING IS`NT THE ONLY PART OF BEING A KEEPER.GORTON BLUE,BE+

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Is anyone seening a pattern about a certain player from france that whose lack of performances each week keep disappointing the fans but not the coaching staff?Why is this and what can we do about it?Macca has been a major disapointment,Macken just does`nt have the confidence but SIB WE HAVE TO ENDURE WEEEK IN WEEK OUT!Each week just before kicking off my heart sinks to read that HE IS IN THE TEAM AGAIN!For what reason i do not know as if he is a threat in anyway then i believe DANNY MILLS will play for ENGLAND again and JB is not only the next ZZ but better!!!!!!!!!!!!BE+

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Although I was at the game I didn't get a decent view of the Fulham goal. Were our lot protesting because they felt that James was fouled?

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Told ya', al you blues that wouldn't recognize a quality
player if he showed up with a
world player of year award.
I'm talking about Reyna.
He's always had quality written
all over him, great passer,
shooter and specialty dead ball
kicker. This guy is for real so
get off his back all you blues
that think you know about
football, give the lad a chance
to fully recover from all that
time off and he'll be fine player.

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Sibierski doesnt deserve all of this.

He is one of the best Headers in the Prem on his day, sometimes he has bad games, but i think the fans are looking for a scapegoat now anelka is gone, and Sib fits the Bill

Macken should go, Bring in Marlon King!

Nathan Tyson wont do it, if Pearce goes for him

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I would love to see us try to get hold of chris kirkland from liverpool if he could prove his fitness as he is now surplus to requirements at anfield, james dosent cut the mustard, weaver does...in the championship and below and baby scmeich's is still learning his trade, so send him out on loan to play a few games, our squad as it stands IS capable of top 7 next season with psycho at the helm...with kirkland or cudicini on loan perhaps....please....

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Sibs may be one of the best headers of the ball in premiership (although i doubt it) But his aim is probably the worst in Europe. over 50 chances this season that have gone nearer to the corner flag than they have to the goal. He couldn't even score from 2 yards out at Oldham!!!! When Sinclair comes back in next season Sibs will go.... as for this talk of Reyna - he has been a truly awful signing but in the past few games he has found some new confidence - maybe it was the injury lay-off that did it and the fact he knows he is going to get released in the summer - 2 goals later he will get a 5 year contract and then we will start to see the old uninspiring Reyna of old.... The sooner Sibs, Macca and Macken are offf the books the sooner the fans can start to have confidence that this team can finish in the top 10 next season- That should be SP's priorities.

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on the plus side, we are 3 games unbeaten. i dont see the point with having 2 defenders on the bench. your never gonna sub 2 defenders on. croft should of been on he bench for thatcher.

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I think its very important that CITY get another striker up front with Fowler.
Can,t CITY make some kind of deal to get Dean Ashton ?, that is if Norwich get relegated.

On the day versus Fulham I,m not going to blame anyone player but only 7 shots on goal was the lowest by any Premier League team on the day.
To come away with a point was better than a loss.
Come on you BLUES!

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I console myself with the knowlegde that we would have lost this game under KK. I listened to the radio commentary and heard Bosvelts name mentioned about 4 times, although JB seemed to be everywhere. Now i know this is only Radio coverage, but every time i've seen him, apart from a spell mid-season when he put in some good performances, the game seems to pass him by. I accept he is committed, but do people seriously think he's got another season in him?

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i think pearce has been exposed again! his inexperience has cost us the game, if he doesnt get some body that can actually read the game in to help him then sadly he wont be good enough for the job. the half witts that kk brought in just sit behind him take there wages and laugh.
y did he take off fowler and y does he only give bwp 5 mins a game the real ronaldo couldnt do sod all in that time and it just aint fair on the kid, we have nothing to play for give him a chance he has the pace we are so desperately missing.
im afraid sp is walking himself to the door cause of his inept backroom staff that dont care

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hendrick, true blue, lee...I gotta agree with you. Why take fowler off in a 1-0 game. He has been, with out doubt, the best player for city since the start of 2005 and in a close game that we were not dominating, out goes the one player who is not only a threat to score, but to set up goals as well. First tactical mistake I thing SP has made, that is unless robbie turns out to have picked up a knock. What not take out Sibs and let SWP do some running behind Fowler??
Better luck next week boys....keep your heads up!!

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i hope siberski goes along with musampa i also hope that sp number two faz will go because we need someone a lot better what about brian kidd ? i am stating to get nervous about the game on wednesday agianst birmingham i watched their highlights on saturday and they are so good down there wings its going to be a test for Onuoha and jordon.

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Poor performance by city against Fulham. Some people on here predicted a 3-0 win for city. Get real will you, that was never going to happen in a million years. Infact we look totally incapable of scoring more than 1 goal at present. The longer that game stayed at one nil to city, you just knew we wouldn't hold out for the win, and so it proved. Still don't think we'd be that much better off with Pearce in charge, than we would Keegan. The only difference at present is a more urgent approach from the players, but that will soon wear off, when these players start to take pearce for granted. Why no Lee Croft on the bench aswell Mr.Pearce?.

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Some of you so called supporters make me sick! I bet most of the muppets on here spouting negative rubbish weren't even at the game. Edski, do you honestly go to watch these games yourself because I seriously doubt it, you crank! Word has it that Fowler picked up an injury as he was at 1 point limping about so Pearce probably had no choice. I'm not a big fan of Reyna's but he has been excellent in the last 3 games and he isn't going to get released in the summer despite your snide comments! Are you some sort of expert on lower league football as well now? Do you travel the length and breadth of the country watching the mighty Doncaster eh? Just because a player impresses in divisions 1 or 2 doesn't mean that they will be a hit in the top flight as we have found out all too often! You actually want to sell Fowler, Macken and Sibs to bring in . . . players from Hull and Doncaster and also Kewell, who has been atrocious this season (even worse than Sibierski). We actually seem to have a manager who has a passion for this club and does appear to have the ability to react to situations on the pitch, unlike the previous incumbent and we also have a very good Keeper in David James who had a decent game and was fouled in the moment before their goal, so leave off. AAARGH!

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i'm with sanks on this one, i was at the game, city did a good job of holding - yes thats the best thing to do away to a side like fulham. we should have taken our chances but it sometimes doesn't work out like that, the team is much better than under kk, sp just needs a decent no 1 to help him out - CTID

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I agree with Edski. And I can only go on GMR's commentary plus TV 'highlights' but I didn't see or hear anything to get excited about. Let's just hope that this game ends any silly talk of 'Europe', and let's give the youngsters a good workout in our few games left. The oldies...once again...failed to deliver against a team that we should be expected to turn over, but where oh where was Lee Croft? And how do players like Sib and Bosvelt get picked every week come what may? Psycho has had a lot of goodwill on this site so far. He is in danger of blowing it with his Keegan like team and substitutions.

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I was at the game yesterday and I have to say that I was surprised that it took so long for Pearce to make a substitution. Like one of the other contributors on here I was at the opposite end of the ground from where the goals were scored but they both seemed to come from goalkeeper errors. I thought Jordan had an absolute 'mare - his positioning was poor throughout the first half (Dunne rescued him at least once) and he kept on giving the ball away in dangerous situations. Thatcher is a much better fullback. Had Fowler put away his one-on-one, kindly provided by the Fulham defence, we would have won. Incidentally, Croft was at the match but not on the bench. I think Sibierski plays because Macken is injured - if Jon were fit he'd get a run in the team. Like the other critics here I'm also amazed that Sibierski continues to be selected although I must admit that he did win a few balls in the air on Saturday and was better than he had been against Liverpool. I believe BWP is still learning and should not be starting games at the moment - but he does need more than 4 minutes to impress.

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According to the laws of football, a goalkeeper may not be charged in the goal area - not even a fair charge. So why was a goal allowed after flattening the goalkeeper?

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Based on the highlights it seems a scrappy game and a fair result. Fulham equalized after what to me seemed a foul on James. Dutch commentry stated that Fowler was brought off after picking up an injury. If that's true, who can argue with the substitution. If not, I also am curious what made SP descide to get him off. Sorry, can't comment on anything else. Just a case of beeing able to see a game live or on TV.

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