Boro beaten again
A fine performance from Antti Niemi handed Fulham the three points
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Monday, 18, Dec 2006 10:07
Fulham piled on the misery for struggling Middlesbrough after a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage.
A penalty from Heidar Helguson and a strike from Brian McBride in the first half ended the Cottagers' miserable run of five straight defeats.
Mark Viduka grabbed a goal for the visitors sixteen minutes from time but they were denied a point by goalkeeper Antti Niemi.
The result sees Chris Coleman's side jump to 11th place while Boro remain just above the drop zone.
Gareth Southgate's side created the first chance of the game on seven minutes with Stewart Downing's free-kick was parried by goalkeeper Niemi.
Two minutes later, youngster James Morrison was denied after his drilled low-shot was kept out by the Finn.
Fulham grabbed the lead on 11 minutes after George Boateng clipped the heels of fullback Moritz Volz in the box.
Helguson stepped up and placed his spot-kick in the bottom right-hand corner to score Fulham's first goal in three games.
Tomasz Radzinski came close to doubling the hosts' lead on 19 minutes with a rasping volley that was saved by goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Niemi produced a stunning save five minutes later to tip Yakubu's thunderous shot from 20 yards round the post.
Radzinski and McBride combined on 34 minutes to pile on the pressure on Boro boss Southgate.
The midfielder's left-wing cross was rolled in from 18 yards by the American into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
Southgate hauled off Julio Arca at half-time and brought on youngster Lee Cattermole in search of an improvement.
But Boro failed to create any clear-cut chances until the last 15 minutes.
Fulham continued to attack with Schwarzer producing two fine saves to deny the dangerous Helguson.
First, the Icelandic striker directed a looping header while off-balance which Schwarzer tipped over the bar on 62 minutes.
Then, Helguson flashed a header goalwards on 68 minutes which was caught by Schwarzer on his goal-line.
But Boro gave their visiting fans some hope on 75 minutes with a well-taken goal from Viduka.
Niemi scuffed a clearance which fell straight to Yakubu who headed on for his strike partner.
The former Leeds forward drew Niemi forward before dinking the ball over him, which rolled over the line despite the efforts of Philippe Christanval.
Boro cranked up the pressure in the final ten minutes in search of an equaliser.
First, Downing lashed an ambitious 35-yards shot that was well saved by Niemi on 81 minutes.
Three minutes later, Adam Johnson curled a left-footed shot from six yards that was again parried by the keeper.
Yakubu came agonisingly close to snatching an equaliser in the closing stages when his header from Taylor's cross went inches wide with Niemi stranded.
The result leaves Boro still without a win on their travels this season.