Fulham 1, Cardiff City 1
Fulham finally got off the mark in the Championship after Tim Hoogland ended the Craven Cottage goal drought.
He put the Whites ahead midway through the first half as he met Ross McCormack’s measured cross with a glancing header.
Fulham were on top throughout the first half but Cardiff levelled 10 minutes after the break as Kenwyne Jones latched on to a through ball and fired past Marcus Bettinelli.
A scrappy second half came to life only in added-on time when Hoogland’s deflected effort dropped just wide and Cardiff then camped in Fulham territory pressing for a winner.
But the Whites survived to earn their first point of the campaign at the fifth attempt and lift themselves off the foot of the table.
Fulham were lively from the off against a Cardiff side tipped for an instant return to the Premier League.
Scott Parker had a grip on midfield, Chris David looked sparky and McCormack threatened throughout from the left-hand side, while Dan Burn and the impressive full-backs snuffed out Cardiff’s much-vaunted attack.
Parker and McCormack both sent efforts wide early on before Hoogland – who had also netted on the opening day at Ipswich – scored Fulham’s first home goal in 200 minutes when he got in front of Sean Morrison to nod home.
Felix Magath’s side kept Cardiff on the back foot but their further efforts on goal were limited to a shot from Emerson Hyndman and David’s free-kick, which both went wide.
They started the second half in the same vein, with Parker forcing Marshall into a save before the former England midfielder diverted the rebound into the path of Cauley Woodrow, who fired over from close range.
But minutes later Cardiff equalised out of the blue. Mats Daehli’s cleverly weighted pass found Jones who stayed onside before finishing clinically.
The rest of the game was largely scrappy and devoid of clear-cut chances, with McCormack shooting straight at the keeper while Cardiff sub Joe Ralls did likewise at the other end.
Hoogland then went close to an injury-time winner as his deflected shot looped just wide, while Morrison nodded Cardiff’s last chance over from a corner.
Despite losing a lead, Magath will be delighted to be up and running – as the old proverb goes, the journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Bettinelli; Voser, Bodurov, Burn, Stafylidis; Hoogland, Parker (Eisfeld 82); David (Dembele 75); Hyndman, McCormack; Woodrow (Chihi 60).
Subs not used: Kiraly, Hutchinson, Roberts, Williams.
Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
This post was last modified on 30/08/2014