Fulham denied top-six spot by late goal

Fulham 2 Blackburn 2

Lucas Joao’s equaliser right at the death halted Fulham’s advance into the play-off places.

Sone Aluko’s first-half goal had seemed enough to secure back-to-back wins but Tim Ream conceded a 79th-minute penalty and Craig Conway levelled from the spot.

Whites substitute Gohi Cryiac then thought he had won the game for the Whites when he rifled home his first for the club on 86 minutes.

But Joao, who himself came on late for Blackburn, tapped in a low cross in the third of four minutes of stoppage time.

Slavisa Jokanovic’s side were brimming with confidence after their victory at Championship leaders Newcastle at the weekend, and they bossed the game until midway through the second half.

The lively Aluko had another shot beaten away early in the second half but Rovers began to find a rhythm and threatened twice through Elliot Bennett before Ream’s mistake.

The United States centre-back had an otherwise excellent game but got nothing of the ball as Marvin Emnes burst into the box on the break – and Conway converted.

Cyriac replaced Johansen nine minutes from time and was in the right place to score what looked like being the winner.

But Joao’s goal meant Fulham missed out on the two points which would have taken them above Sheffield Wednesday and up to sixth.

Fulham (4-1-4-1):Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Malone (Martin 60); McDonald; Kebano (Odoi 87), Cairney, Johansen (Cryiac 81), Sessegnon; Aluko
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Madl, Sigurdsson, Petsos