Fulham beat Derby to boost survival bid

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Fulham 2 Derby 0

Struggling Fulham beat the league leaders – their first win in seven Championship matches – to ease their relegation fears.

First-half goals from Nikolay Bodurov and Cauley Woodrow [pictured]  gave the Whites a deserved half-time lead before an excellent defensive performance in the second half ensured three vital points.

And they could have had a third goal right at the death when substitute Moussa Dembele fired against the post.

The return of Scott Parker to the starting line-up proved crucial as he produced a superb display as the Whites’ midfield anchor.

After early pressure from Derby produced chances for former Fulham loanee Darren Bent and Tom Ince, Parker almost saw a volley fly in via Ross McCormack’s head.

And the pair combined well again to set up Ryan Tunnicliffe for a great chance that he wasted.

Bodurov put Fulham ahead with his first goal for the club when a Bryan Ruiz shot was blocked and sat up nicely for him to volley past keeper Lee Grant.

Woodrow, who replaced the injured Hugo Rodallega up front, headed home the second in first-half stoppage-time after Parker set up McCormack to provide a delicious cross.

The title-chasing Rams put intense pressure on Fulham throughout the second half, with Bent and Omar Mascarell both missing with close-range headers and Ince firing numerous shots on goal from the edge of the box.

But the hosts held on for only their third victory of 2015, which moved them seven points clear of the drop zone, and Dembele was unlucky not to make it more emphatic in stoppage time.

Fulham (4-4-2): Bettinelli; Richards, Bodurov, Hutchinson, Stafylidis; Christensen (Kavanagh 42), Tunnicliffe, Parker (Hoogland 78), Ruiz; Woodrow (Dembele 85), McCormack
Subs not used: Kiraly, Kacaniklic, Fofana, Burn.

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