Fulham see off Blackburn

Sunday's Premiership photos

Blackburn 0-2 Fulham

Fulham continued their impressive start to the season with a comfortable win over a lacklustre Blackburn side at Ewood Park.

Goals from Luis Boa Morte and Louis Saha helped Fulham leapfrog their opponents to move up to seventh place in the Premiership.

The Cottagers scored a goal in either half to make it a miserable week for Blackburn, who suffered a 3-1 defeat in the Uefa Cup in midweek.

Blackburn offered little going forward as they lost their third home game in four league attempts this season.

For Fulham it proved a welcome return to the north-west after their Carling Cup defeat to First Division side Wigan in midweek.

It could have been so different had Andy Cole not shot wildly over in the opening stages after brilliantly spinning his marker.

But Fulham were ahead after five minutes when Steed Malbranque beat Vladimir Gresko before making his way into the penalty area and crossing for Boa Morte to tap home.

Blackburn's Brett Emerton fired wide after a promising run as the home side tried to respond.

But the Australian international could have given away a penalty when Boa Morte went over in the area under his challenge.

KEY MOMENTS 5 mins: Boa Morte puts Fulham ahead 55 mins: Saha doubles the visitors' lead 81 mins: Cole's shot is denied by the woodwork

The pace of Boa Morte and Saha pace was a constant threat for the Rovers defence, but neither side really looked capable of carving out too many chances in a scrappy affair.

Long-range efforts seemed to be the order of the day and Junichi Inamoto threatened after an angled pass from Boa Morte, but Gresko blocked well.

David Thompson finally provided something for the Blackburn crowd to shout about when he cut in from the left and beat Moritz Volz but blasted his drive wide.

Edwin van der Sar was called into action early in the second half for virtually the first time in the match, but it was a routine save from a Gresko shot.

Fulham gave themselves some breathing space with a second goal shortly after the interval.

I thought we'd take a bit of a hammering today, guess I'd better start having a bit more faith in CC and the lads! From Mr P Have your say on 606

Saha was isolated against Lorenzo Amoruso and outpaced the big defender before twisting him one way and the other and then firing past Brad Friedel.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness immediately threw caution to the wind, going to three up front by bringing on Corrado Grabbi for Gresko and replacing the ineffective Barry Ferguson with Tugay.

It almost paid instant dividends but Van der Sar tipped Emerton's 25-yard drive past the post, before Grabbi and Thompson almost set up Matt Jansen.

Cole could have ensured a worrying final 10 minutes for Chris Coleman's side but his shot hit the top of the bar.

---

Blackburn: Friedel, Martin Taylor, Amoruso, Babbel (Johansson 28), Gresko (Grabbi 58), Emerton, Ferguson (Tugay 58), Flitcroft, Thompson, Cole, Jansen.
Subs Not Used: Yorke, Kelly.

Booked: Flitcroft, Tugay.

Fulham: Van der Sar, Volz (Leacock 45), Goma, Knight, Bonnissel, Pembridge, Inamoto, Boa Morte (Buari 84), Clark, Malbranque, Saha.
Subs Not Used: Melville, Djetou, Crossley.

Booked: Inamoto, Knight, Leacock, Boa Morte.

Attendance: 21,985

Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).

>