Collins John scored his first goals for Fulham as the Cottagers ended a
sequence of 11 away games without victory by securing a 2-0 win at
relegation-threatened Leicester.
Substitute John, who had replaced Barry Hayles on the hour, struck in the 66th
minute to set up Fulham's first Barclaycard Premiership win on the road since
the 3-1 triumph at Old Trafford on October 25.
And the Liberian made sure of victory with an 89th-minute strike after
Leicester had been caught on the break.
It had been Fulham who were first to threaten when Zat Knight popped up at the
back post to meet a right-wing free-kick floated over by Sean Davis, the lofty
central defender stopping to head goalwards although unflustered keeper Ian
Walker was able to complete an elementary save.
But at the other end, Fulham keeper Edwin van der Sar was enjoying a quiet
opening to his afternoon as the stuttering Foxes struggled to assert
themselves.
Their best chance of the first 15 minutes was blasted into the wall by Ben
Thatcher after Barry Hayles had conceded a free kick fouling Riccardo Scimeca.
A drab contest threatened to spark into life moments later, but referee Peter
Walton opted to wave away Leicester penalty appeals after a collision with Luis
Boa Morte left Foxes skipper Muzzy Izzet in a heap just outside Fulham's
six-yard box.
Sylvain Legwinski went close to breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute, but
his close-range effort was courageously blocked by Steffen Freund, ahead of the
German's late challenge on Moritz Volz which earned the Foxes midfielder a
yellow card.
Then, with five minutes until the interval, Marcus Bent retrieved a seemingly
lost cause on the right wing and picked out Jamie Scowcroft in the penalty area,
only for the ball to be spooned well over the crossbar.
But a scrappy first half was followed by an entertaining beginning to the
second as Bent teed up Paul Dickov on the edge of the Cottagers' box, only for
the Scotsman's shot to be deflected wide for a fruitless corner.
Moments later, Dickov went closer still as he earned himself the space to turn
in the box and then unloaded a venomous right-footed drive which rebounded from
the inside angle of crossbar and post.
Controversy broke out in the 61st minute when van der Sar dropped the ball for
a goalkick, only for Izzet to nip in and take half the ball and half the keeper
before the kick had been completed.
With the Dutchman caught unawares, Izzet made the most of his opportunity to
slide the ball into an empty net, only for the goal to be disallowed and a
free-kick awarded to the Cottagers.
There was more frustration for the hosts moments later after Dickov had raced
clear and unleashed a a low drive spectacularly saved by van der Sar, who had
dived to his left.
But much against the run of play, Fulham took a 66th-minute lead courtesy of
substitute John, who had replaced Barry Hayles.
Malbranque was credited with the assist after having chipped the ball forward
for John, who sprinted clear from midfield to beat Walker to the bouncing ball
and lift into a gaping net.
A last-ditch intervention by Nikos Dabizas prevented Fulham going further
ahead after Volz had worked his way into the box and produced a powerful
close-range shot.
But the hosts were caught on the break a minute from time when Boa Morte raced
down the left channel and slid the ball through Ben Thatcher's legs for John to
coolly dispatch the ball under Walker.
Teams
Leicester: Walker, Scimeca, Heath, Dabizas (Canero 80),
Thatcher, Scowcroft, Izzet, Freund (Nalis 74), Guppy, Bent,
Dickov.
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Benjamin, McKinlay.
Booked: Freund, Dickov.
Fulham: Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Goma, Bocanegra,
Malbranque (McBride 71), Djetou, Sean Davis, Legwinski,
Boa Morte, Hayles (John 62).
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Petta, Pearce.
Booked: Boa Morte.
Goals: John 66, 89.
Att: 28,392
Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).
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