Billed as an end of season game this was anything but with two players sent off, four goals and a missed penalty.

In the end it was Fulham - and Steed Malbranque in particular - who were smiling after this feisty clash at Ewood Park.

Malbranque reacted badly to the news he had been dropped against Everton last week when he stormed out of the ground.

He was restored to the team and marked his return with a two-goal show.

Blackburn's veteran defender Craig Short was back in the fold as well for the first time this year only to be sent off.

Leroy Rosenior of Fulham got a red card too in a separate incident to leave both sides playing out the game with 10 men.

It was a disappointing result for Blackburn after a bright start.

They took the lead in the fifth minute with a marvellous individual effort from Lucas Neill.

The full back raced forward to collect a ball from fellow Australian Emerton - but there was still much work to do.

Neill though skipped away from Liam Rosenior before cutting inside and delivering a sweet shot beyond goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

The finish had to be admired especially in light of the fact he hadn't scored this season before today's game.

Fulham, who lost at home to Newcastle in midweek, were left stunned.

But they regrouped and Brian McBride found space 20 yards out only for Ryan Nelsen to make the clearance.

Fulham drew level in the 20th minute with the home side guilty of ball watching, believing Lee Clark was offside.

But he cut the ball back to Malbranque, who made no mistake from close range.

Jon Stead should have regained the lead for Blackburn a minute later when he weaved his way into the area.

The young striker weighed up his options before steering a shot of wide of van der Sar's post.

There was a moment of danger for Fulham after 30 minutes when Pedersen whipped in a free kick from the right.

Nelsen got away from his marker but couldn't get a decent enough contact and sent a header over the bar.

It was end to end football. Malbranque was putting in a solid shift and got clear again, only to send his effort over the bar.

Savage then delivered a dangerous free kick to the back post with Stead only inches away from getting a vital touch.

Blackburn were dictating the pace of the game and van der Sar did well to fingertip away a blockbuster from Aaron Mokoena on the stroke of half time.

Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel had to look alert in the 48th minute when he made a good block from Malbranque's shot.

Alain Goma found the net for Fulham with a header three minutes later but his effort was ruled out by referee Dowd.

This was a good spell of pressure by the visiting team and Nils-Eric Johansson did well to hook the ball to safety under pressure from McBride.

McBride got his reward though in 53rd minute when he put Fulham in front for the first time in the game with his seventh goal of the season.

He got on the end of a corner from Pembridge to drill a shot through the crowd and into the net.

Blackburn had a great chance of pulling level three minutes later when Pedersen released Emerton in the six yard area but his shot came back of the post.

They had another great opportunity of drawing all square in the 58th minute when Luis Boa Morte was adjudged to have impeded Pedersen.

Savage stepped up to take the penalty only for van der Sar to make a superb save and keep Fulham ahead.

Blackburn boss Hughes then brought on Tugay for Mokoena - but then things boiled over.

Short was sent off in 68th minute for pushing Boa Morte after being incensed at his challenge on Nelsen.

Then Rosenior was dismissed three minutes later for shoving Savage after his lunge at Boa Morte.

Fulham went 3-1 ahead in the 77th minute with Malbranque's second goal of the game.

It was a nice build up as well with the striker playing a neat one-two with Clark before beating Friedel from six yards.

That gave Fulham a comfortable victory - their first in seven games on the road.

Teams

Blackburn Friedel, Neill, Short, Nelsen, Johansson, Mokoena (Tugay 67), Emerton, Savage, Reid (Thompson 32), Pedersen (Derbyshire 82), Stead.

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Taylor.

Sent Off: Short (69).

Booked: Neill, Stead.

Goals: Neill 6.

Fulham Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Goma, Rosenior, Radzinski, Malbranque, Pembridge, Clark, Boa Morte, McBride.

Subs Not Used: Bocanegra, Crossley, Rehman, Timlin, Pearce.

Sent Off: Rosenior (70).

Booked: Boa Morte, Pembridge.

Goals: Malbranque 20, McBride 53, Malbranque 77.

Att: 18,991

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).