A 10th minute goal from Marcus Bent won Town another three points and took them out of the bottom three. Fulham had a late flurry but created little in the way of clearcut chances in an attacking game played in soaking wet conditions, much like the match earlier in the season at Craven Cottage.

George Burley made a number of changes from the side which had done so badly in the second half against Manchester City. Out went Marcus Stewart, Titus Bramble, Martijn Reuser and Fabian Wilnis and in went Alun Armstrong, Mark Venus, Jamie Clapham and Chris Makin. Town's formation appeared to start as a 5-3-2 but for the most part it was the 4-4-2 the Blues tend to favour, although unusually with Matt Holland on the right of midfield in his 200th consecutive League start for Town, his 233rd consecutive League appearance in total.

Town's first chance came from a Mark Venus cross, something the Blues missed greatly on Sunday. Marcus Bent's seventh minute header went weakly wide, Van Der Sar picking the ball up with little trouble.

The Blues were starting the stronger and it wasn't long before they were ahead. Sixto Peralta was making one of his runs through a number of players and laid the ball down the left to Alun Armstrong who broke clear of the Fulham defence running goalward. He tried to chip the ball over Van Der Sar but the keeper got to it and sent it into the air. As it appeared to be going out Marcus Bent got in at the far post and smashed it into the roof of the net for his seventh goal of the season, and sixth in his last six games.

Fulham were having possession but weren't creating too much. Malbranque set-up the nearest they came to a goal in the early stages when on 17 he played a ball through to Saha. A combination of McGreal and Marshall managed to prevent Saha from getting on to the ball.

Three minutes later a deep Jamie Clapham cross was headed back across goal by Holland. Alun Armstrong was almost on to it and Marcus Bent quickly won the ball back before playing a one-two with Peralta which almost saw the Argentine in on goal, but the ball ran out for a goalkick.

Mark Venus was almost in own goal action on 22 when he miskicked a Legwinski cross just wide of Marshall's goal. The keeper put the ball round the post just to make sure. From the corner Legwinski headed high and wide.

Referee Alan Wiley annoyed the Town crowd on 25 as Marcus Bent appeared to be obstructed as Alun Armstrong played him in on the right hand side of the penalty area. There were few appeals on the pitch.

Mr Wiley's yellow card got it's first showing of the afternoon on the half hour as Alain Goma went into the back of Marcus Bent's ankles with the ball long gone.

Andy Marshall fumbled Legwinski's shot on 32 but in truth there was little in it which should have troubled the Town number one.

In the 35th minute the Blues ought to have had a second goal when Mark Venus whipped over another one of his corners. John McGreal got his head to it but put it past the post. It was easily the second best chance of the game up to then.

Marcus Bent had another opportunity to put Town further ahead five minutes from the end of the half, but he headed Hreidarsson's long cross straight at Van Der Sar. Either side of the keeper and it might have been a goal.

As the half drew to a close Mark Venus was given the opportunity to whack one of his freekicks goalwards, or failing that at the wall, Bent having been fouled by Goma. Venus's usual rocket cannoned off the wall and out for a corner.

Town had been a lot better than in the second half against Manchester City. The midfield had more bite while there was greater organisation at the back and Armstrong added a more physical element to the attack. Marcus Bent, as has become usual, was probably the player of the half.

Jean Tigana decided that changes were required at half-time. Off came Zac Knight and Bjarne Goldbaek, and on went John Collins and Barry Hayles.

Despite the changes the Blues started the half the better with the first real chance falling to Matt Holland. Jamie Clapham played a low ball across the box which was missed by John Collins. Alun Armstrong laid the ball back to Holland who screwed his shot wide when he should have at least hit the target.

Four minutes further into the half and another Mark Venus corner almost led to a goal. Matt Holland headed the ball back in from deep and the ball just wouldn't fall for Hermann Hreidarsson in the six yard box and was cleared.

Fulham had continued to have a fair bit of possession, but Andy Marshall had rarely been called into action. John Collins hit a shot from distance on the hour which deflected away, and that was pretty much as good as it had got.

However, Fulham were coming more into it and on 61 Saha hit a freekick into the wall after Venus had handled the ball on the edge of the area.

Alun Armstrong was left screaming at Sixto Peralta on 67 as the Argentinian held on to the ball for too long woth the ex-Boro man desperate for the ball to be played to him through the centre.

Referee Wiley, not popular with the Town crowd after falling for a couple of somewhat blatant Fulham dives, had his yellow card out for the second time as John McGreal collided with Barry Hayles on the edge of the area. John Collins stepped up to take the kick and sent it towards Andy Marshall's top left-hand corner. The Town keeper just got across to push the ball away and out for a corner. It was probably the best save he has made in a Town shirt so far.

Two minutes later George Burley introduced Marcus Stewart for Alun Armstrong and Stewart was quickly into the action.

On 70 Matt Holland made a sharp run in from the right and hit a shot which deflected just by the post. At the other end Hayles put in a dangerous cross which Marshall punched clear from under his bar.

Marcus Bent made a neat turn inside the area on the left on 72 and sent the ball across the face of goal with only Jamie Clapham running in, but too far away.

With 13 minutes left on the clock Jermaine Wright almost played in Marcus Stewart down the middle with Stewart unmarked. The ball just evaded Stewart's out-stretched leg.

Steve Finnan was the next recipient of Mr Wiley's yellow card for speaking out of turn after Peralta was fouled on the touchline. Before the freekick was taken George Burley switched Wright for Martijn Reuser and Holland went to his more usual middle of midfield position, Reuser going to the right. Venus's freekick flashed towards Bent, but Goma got in ahead of him.

With seven minutes to go Holland hit a shot at Van Der Sar, this time from a Reuser play-off, but Fulham were to enjoy the majority of the pressure in the late stages, but to little effect.

With the away side pushing on to get the equaliser Marcus Bent was sent through one-on-one with Van Der Sar. He took his time and tried to slip the ball to the keeper's left but the Dutchman got to it with his legs.

Fulham's best late chance fell to Legwinski who hit a shot which was blocked. Town played out injury time (two minutes according to the board, four in actual fact), gaining several corners adeptly played short to Sixto Peralta who each time played the ball off a Fulham player for another corner kick.

With Town fans wondering where the extra minutes were coming from referee Wiley blew his whistle and Town had another important win in their fight against relegation.

A far better performance than against City. A much stronger looking Town in the centre of midfield and much more solidity at the back.

Up to fifteenth in the League, but still just two points off the relegation places. Still we're moving in the right direction aren't we?

Photo: Action Images

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