Fulham strengthened their Barclays Premiership survival bid when Luis Boa Morte salvaged a point against Manchester City at Craven Cottage.

Chris Coleman's men looked to be heading for defeat after Claudio Reyna fired City ahead in the first half but Boa Morte pounced in the 76th minute to snatch a share of the spoils.

Reyna's goal was a bitter pill for Fulham fans to swallow given the USA international had pulled out of a move to Craven Cottage at the last minute in August 2003, despite already being photographed in the club's shirt.

Coleman was enraged by Reyna's late change of heart - he left Sunderland for City instead - but would have watched on enviously as the midfielder impressed during a fine first half from the visitors.

It was all Fulham after the break, however, and it only seemed a question of when the equaliser would arrive - not if - as they poured forward with Boa Morte bagging the goal his performance deserved.

City now have now picked up five points since Stuart Pearce took over as manager and there was much to encourage the former England defender - not least Shaun Wright-Phillips' successful return from a seven-week spell in the treatment room.

Fulham made a lively start with a perfectly-executed through ball from Steed Malbranque finding Boa Morte in space but the Portuguese winger's attempted pass to Brian McBride was intercepted by David James.

City's first meaningful attack arrived in the eighth minute when Reyna set up a chance for Antoine Sibierski only for keeper Edwin van der Sar to pluck the Frenchman's curling effort from the air.

Malbranque saw a powerful shot blocked before Boa Morte and Liam Rosenior probed down the left to little effect as City's defence held firm in the face of sustained pressure from Fulham.

Coleman's men were winning the possession stakes but struggled to find a way past the impressive Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin, while in contrast their rearguard was unlocked with ease in the 20th minute.

Reyna found Robbie Fowler down the right with the former Liverpool striker teeing up a header for Sibierski, who saw his effort saved by van der Sar. The Dutchman did not keep hold of the ball, however, and it fell into the path of Reyna who bundled home.

Fulham threatened to draw level shortly after when Paul Bosvelt nearly turned a Moritz Volz cross into his own net while McBride almost put Andy Cole one-on-one with James in the 29th minute.

Reyna - who was subjected to a chorus of boos by disgruntled Fulham fans every time he touched the ball - then set up a chance for Kiki Musampa but his mishit shot sailed out of danger.

Joey Barton appeared from a throng of players gathered on the left touchline and went on a rampaging run before cutting inside and shooting wide of the right post when his endeavour deserved more.

The lively Malbranque - Fulham's best player by some margin - fired wired again before Boa Morte ghosted around Dunne only for his cross to be scrambled to safety with skipper Lee Clark racing in in goal.

Rosenior dashed inside and found Cole but the former England forward overhit his pass to Boa Morte, who then struck the post with a strong shot in first-half injury time.

Malbranque was pulling all the strings for Fulham and in the 50th minute he threaded a pass through to Cole who rushed his effort with Distin bearing down on him, blazing well wide.

City should have extended their lead in the 56th minute after a sloppy back-pass from Malbranque caused havoc in Fulham's defence. Fowler came up with the ball but he fired off target with only van der Sar to beat.

Defender Zat Knight headed wide while Clark and Malbranque were guilty of dithering a moment later after appearing to have done all the hard work, squandering a great opportunity.

Fowler was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips in the 62nd minute while Malbranque made way for Tomasz Radzinski - an odd decision given the Frenchman had been Fulham's most effective playmaker.

Collins John - on for Cole - went close with a deflected volley and with City's defence now under the cosh for some time, Fulham's equaliser seemed inevitable and duly arrived in the 76th minute.

McBride challenged James for a cross which the keeper failed to claim and when the ball hit the ground it was swept by McBride to Boa Morte who picked his spot with no-one at home in the City goal.

Teams

Fulham Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Goma, Rosenior, Boa Morte, Pembridge, Clark, Malbranque (Radzinski 66), Cole (John 69), McBride.

Subs Not Used: Bocanegra, Crossley, Rehman.

Goals: Boa Morte 76.

Man City James, Onuoha, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Reyna, Barton, Bosvelt, Musampa (Bradley Wright-Phillips 86), Fowler (Shaun Wright-Phillips 62), Sibierski.

Subs Not Used: Thatcher, Weaver, Mills.

Booked: Dunne.

Goals: Reyna 20.

Att: 21,796

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).