Fulham 1 - 2 Blackburn Rovers

Roberts nets late winner

Updated: March 11, 2009, 10:09 PM UK

A controversial equaliser from El-Hadji Diouf set relegation-strugglers Blackburn on the road to a 2-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, with Jason Roberts sealing the win five minutes from time.

• Allardyce relieved as Rovers climb clear of bottom three

Clint Dempsey had given the home side a lead after just 90 seconds but the impressive Stephen Warnock gave Fulham a series of scares before they finally succumbed.

Diouf appeared to be offside by a considerable distance moments before he scored, but the decision not to flag may prove crucial to Rovers' survival hopes.

A minute's silence was held prior to kick-off to mark the passing of former Fulham star Eddie Low, who made more than 500 appearances for the club.

If that started proceedings in a sombre fashion, the mood soon turned to a celebratory one, with Dempsey putting the hosts in front after little more than a minute.

Danny Murphy bundled a high ball through to the American, replacing the rested Bobby Zamora as Andrew Johnson's foil in attack, and a barely-there challenge from Christopher Samba followed by Ryan Nelsen's clumsy follow-up allowed Dempsey room to prod left-footed beyond Robinson.

The scorching tempo carried on as Dempsey almost turned creator after eight minutes, neatly flicking Simon Davies' low cross into Johnson's path before Warnock blocked superbly.

Dempsey continued with his eye-catching early efforts, completely wrong-footing the Rovers defence with a delicate touch that gave Davies sight of goal.

The Wales winger shot firmly but this time Robinson was able to palm away the danger.

After 17 minutes, and against the run of play, the scores were almost level.

Roberts did well to outmuscle the imposing Brede Hangeland but it was Warnock, who jinked inside Aaron Hughes before striking the inside of the post with a wonderful curling effort, who really unlocked the defence.

Inexplicably, Zoltan Gera failed to make it 2-0 when he headed over an open net from three yards following a long-throw routine.

Fulham's complete control of proceedings started to falter a touch, with Hangeland and Hughes getting steadily busier as Blackburn worked their way into the game.

Johnson and Dempsey, meanwhile, continued to prove willing outlets in the final third for the Cottagers, with Davies offering plentiful support out wide.

Tugay and Murphy were also enjoying a combative tussle in midfield, but it was finesse, not brawn Blackburn lacked.

Roberts, first with a sliced shot from 18 yards and again with a poor header from significantly closer, epitomised their first-half struggles.

By the start of the second period almost all of the skill had drained from the game, with Gera aimlessly losing possession and Murphy's shoddy backpass only going unpunished thanks to a poor touch from Pedersen.

Hangeland's header from a 50th-minute corner almost troubled Paul Robinson but it needed a deflection off Roberts before it looked dangerous.

Johnson, often so razor sharp in front of goal, also started to struggle, taking three touches to control a perfectly flighted cross from Paul Konchesky and surrendering all momentum in the process.

It took another fine effort from the unfortunate Warnock to brighten proceedings, the former Liverpool man taking one touch on his chest before volleying hard at Schwarzer's goal.

Not for the first time this season, the Australian was up to the task, tipping the ball wide at full stretch.

Johnson narrowly missed another well-placed Konchesky pass on the six-yard line as Fulham tried to rediscover their early vim, but Gael Givet was on hand to clear.

At the other end substitute Benni McCarthy was having a hard time inspiring Rovers, taking what seemed like an age lining up a free-kick before despatching it harmlessly into the stand.

Rovers, though, had their equaliser with 21 minutes to play.

It came in contested circumstances, with Diouf seemingly all of three yards offside when Tugay headed the ball into the home penalty box.

No flag was raised and when Samba nodded across goal the Senegal forward was in position to convert from close range.

Moments later Warnock went close for a third time, again striking from distance and again missing by inches as his drilled shot crept just over the crossbar.

The visitors were by now a side revitalised, with right-back Andre Ooijer even going close, just missing with a 25-yard piledriver.

With 85 minutes gone Roberts completed the comeback, spinning the lightweight Tony Kallio far to easily in the penalty area before lashing powerfully beyond Schwarzer.

Allardyce relieved as Rovers climb clear of bottom three

Manager Sam Allardyce believes Blackburn's win over Fulham could bring about a shift in confidence which can save their season.

''It's a huge relief from a mental point of view,'' he said.

''Continuing to see yourselves in the bottom three doesn't help, even though you tell them, 'You can't look at the papers, stay away from them'.

''It's impossible not to see it, not to see where you are, it's in your face all the time. People are talking about relegation all the time when you're in that position.

''So we're relieved to be out of that position for a bit. Relegation is not something we're out of but victory today has made life much easier to get out of it.

''Now they can look at the papers tomorrow if they want to!''

Allardyce also described the result as the best of his time at the club.

Rovers have lost just twice in their last 11 outings under the former Bolton boss, but this victory has been their most impressive result according to Allardyce.

''Since I've been here it is absolutely (the best win),'' he said.

''You have to make sure you make your games in hand pay, this was our spare game.

''We've secured a very important victory, our second away win on the trot, which shows us the team are in very good form.

''We showed our commitment, our fitness and then our quality to make sure we got this very important victory.

''Diouf got us back in the game with his goal and then Jason Roberts scored a great goal to win it for us.

''In between that we've had Mark Schwarzer pulling off some great saves, which in the end showed we might have won it even more comfortably.''

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson was magnanimous in defeat, crediting his former club with a deserved victory.

''I've got to say I thought Blackburn played with a lot of energy. We were struggling to match that energy,'' said Hodgson.

''There have been a lot of games for us recently and players are beginning to look tired.

''They've played the long-ball game very well and forced us back.

''I can't say they didn't deserve to win the game, I can't say that we did enough to win it. We lacked a bit of energy but the lads put up a brave performance.

''We simply met a Blackburn team with more energy than us, more strength than us and as a result they were able to get the three points which were so vital for them. We'll just have to wait for ours.''