Dembele’s goal clinches vital win for Fulham

By

moussadembele

Fulham 2 MK Dons 1

Moussa Dembele’s goal gave Fulham a crucial victory against the team immediately below them in the Championship relegation battle.

Josh Murphy equalised after Ross McCormack had put the Whites ahead, but Dembele hit back for Fulham to take them four points clear of MK Dons.

It also ended their six-match run without a win and was only their second home victory of 2016 – but they almost paid the price for conceding a soft goal and squandering a glut of chances.

After they dominated the first half, it was a relief when McCormack finally put them ahead on 55 minutes with his 20th league goal of the season, tucking the ball away after Demebele had teed him up.

But after both McCormack and Dembele had gone close to extending the lead with shots kept out by the agile Cody Cropper, Fulham were hit with a sucker-punch on 68 minutes as a hopeful punt down the middle was snapped up by Murphy, who nipped in to lob keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

The lead was restored five minutes later. A cross to the far post by substitute Ryan Fredericks was turned back superbly by McCormack for Dembele to bury from six yards – his 13th league goal of the campaign.

Fulham: Bettinelli; Stearman (Fredericks 67), Madl, Amorebieta, Ream; Cairney (Smith 82), Ince, Parker, Tunnicliffe; McCormack (Burn 90), Dembele. Subs not used: Lonergan, Garbutt, Woodrow, O’Hara.
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