Clint Dempsey’s sixth goal of the season was enough for Fulham to see off 10-man Liverpool at Craven Cottage with the Reds seeing midfielder Jay Spearing controversially sent off.
The 23-year old, standing in for the injured Lucas, was dismissed 19 minutes from time after referee George Friend adjudged his tackle on Moussa Dembele to be dangerous enough to warrant a red card. It proved to be a game changing decision with Dempsey taking advantage of the Cottagers supremacy to fire home from close range and lift his side up to 13th and away from the relegation zone. As for Liverpool their boss Kenny Dalglish will feel the decision to send Spearing off cost his side the chance to claim a seventh consecutive away win and move above Newcastle into sixth. They only have themselves to blame though failing convert a series of opportunities with Jordan Henderson’s strike that cracked a post the closest they came to scoring. For the Martin Jol’s side it was only their second victory on the Thames in what has been a stuttering campaign thus far. Fulham have looked tired during games this season with their exploits in Europe seemingly taking it’s toll on players energy levels. However they incredibly fresh and alert as they played their part in a game that was played at breakneck speed.
It was the home side who looked more likely to score in the first half though with Luis Suarez making a nuisance of himself up front dragging the home defence all over with his pace and unrelenting movement across the back line. Whilst the Uruguayan was causing all sorts of problems it was another Dalglish signing who almost broke the deadlock with £16 million man Henderson seeing his dipping effort smash off Mark Schwarzers post. Arguably that was the best chance of the opening forty five minutes with both sides creating more chances in the second half as they both went in search of victory. Liverpool contined to fashion the majority of opportunities and looked likely to open the scoring until Spearing was sent off on 71 minutes. The midfielder’s lunge on Dembele was considered worth of a straight red card by refers Friend with his decision giving Fulham a distinct advantage going into the dying embers of the game.
Still, the away side continued to plough forward with substitute Stewart Downing going close seeing his effort tipped superbly onto the post by Schwarzer. The hosts were also denied by the woodwork with Dempsey lashing a shot off the cross bar as they slowly but surely took advantage of their extra man with the American midfielder popping up to score the winner five minutes from time. Former Red’s favourite Danny Murphy saw his shot spilled by Pepe Reina allowing Dempsey to pounce and sweep the ball home from a few yards out to send Craven Cottage delirious. The inevitable Liverpool onslaught followed but they couldn’t fathom a way to penetrate the sea of white shirts as the hosts held on to their slender lead to move five points clear of the drop zone.
[ad_pod id=’writer-2′ align=’right’]
