Fulham, who have been making a habit of thrashing supposedly superior teams 5-0 here — in the shape of Huddersfield Town and Reading — ended Derby County’s run of seven straight wins with some late assistance from the referee.
In stoppage time, with the 2-2 score slightly flattering the visitors, Bradley Johnson was brought down by Fulham’s Michael Madl. It was the clearest of goalscoring chances but referee Andy Woolmer, instead of allowing Johnson to rise and carry on, whistled for a foul for Derby and, to the outrage of their players, brought the ball back for a free kick.
Errors were not confined to the referee. Each side made one to give away a goal. On 34 minutes, Ragnar Sigurdsson, the Fulham centre-back, made a hopeless hash of a clearance, allowing the accomplished Tom Ince to run through and beat David Button.
Fulham, who had been dictating play, missed their usual striker Chris Martin, on loan from Derby and therefore ineligible to play. The quick and clever little wingers, Floyd Ayite then Sone Aluko, took Martin’s position, but for all their bright efforts a focal point was missing.
Three minutes after Ince’s goal, Scott Carson saved from the adventurous Ryan Fredericks. On half-time Fulham got their equaliser, Fredericks teeing up Ayite to score from close range.
Advertisement
After the break the veteran Scott Parker replaced Sigurdsson, with Kevin McDonald dropping into defence. On 61 minutes, Stefan Johansen ran on to a loose ball. His shot should have been cleared by Alex Pearce but he allowed the ball to run under his foot and into the net.
In the 75th minute Pearce would atone. Taking advantage of lax defending, he headed in Ince’s corner.
For the last half hour Fulham largely called the tune, with Tom Cairney prominent in central midfield.They might well have won the game in the 84th minute when Lucas Piazon’s free kick struck the bar.
Star man: Tom Cairney (Fulham)
Team line-ups
Derby County: Carson 6, Baird 6, Keogh 6, Pearce 6, Olsson 6, Butterfield 6, Johnson 7, Bryson 6, Ince 7 (Weimann 89min, 6), Vydra 6 (Bent 65min, 5), Russell 6 (Camara 66min, 6). Substitutes: Shackell, Hughes, Hanson, Mitchell