SM
Greece vs. England: 16 hrs 40 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
FL
Championship
Apr 25, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
ML

4-3

Turner (45'), McCormack (55' pen., 67' pen., 94')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Reach (63'), Ayala (73'), Kike (88')

Seven-goal thriller sees Fulham edge Middlesbrough

:Headline: Result: Seven-goal thriller sees Fulham edge Middlesbrough: ID:219199: from db_amp
Fulham score deep into stoppage time to edge out Middlesbrough 4-3 at Craven Cottage - a result that sees Watford secure their place in the Premier League next season.

Fulham got the better of a seven-goal thriller at home to Middlesbrough this afternoon to help Watford book their place in the Premier League next season.

The Cottagers edged out the visitors 4-3 in a result that means that Aitor Karanka's men cannot catch the Hornets in the Championship's top two.

Grant Leadbitter went close inside the first five minutes with a powerful free kick that whistled past the post, and it was the visitors who started the brighter.

Albert Adomah was next to try his luck, but his effort sailed wide of the goal on nine minutes, before Ross McCormack fired in Fulham's first effort from range.

Boro keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos was forced into his first save of the afternoon on 21 minutes when he got down well to deny McCormack.

The visitors responded on the half-hour mark through George Friend, who flashed an effort just past the upright after a driving run took him towards goal.

McCormack went close with a free kick on 40 minutes, but neither side were able to carve out a clear-cut chance before Michael Turner headed home on the cusp of half time.

Boro had Konstantopoulos to thank for keeping the score at 1-0 when he denied Hugo Roadallega from McCormack's cross shortly after the restart.

However, the Greek stopper could do little to thwart McCormack 10 minutes into the second period, when the former Leeds striker netted from the penalty spot to extend the Cottagers' advantage.

Adam Reach reduced the deficit shortly after the hour mark for Boro, but the joy was short-lived for the visitors, who were reduced to 10 men almost immediately.

Friend was dismissed for a professional foul before McCormack restored Fulham's two-goal advantage from the penalty spot.

Aitor Karanka's men were back in it on 73 minutes when former Liverpool centre-back Daniel Ayala headed home, and Boro began to press for an equaliser.

Patrick Bamford should have made it 3-3 inside the final 10 minutes, but the on-loan Chelsea striker's effort trickled agonisingly wide.

A neat exchange put Ayala through once more for Boro, but the Spaniard chipped his effort wide of the post late on as Karanka's side refused to give in.

Their pressure finally told with three minutes of normal time remaining when Kike's effort beat Marcus Bettinelli, despite the Fulham stopper getting a palm on the strike.

However, the 10 men were caught cold in stoppage time when they pushed Konstantopoulos forward for a corner to try to snatch an unlikely win, and a breakaway from Fulham saw McCormack roll the ball into the net to complete his hat-trick.

The result, coupled with Rotherham United's 1-1 draw with Norwich City, means that Watford will play in England's top tier next term.

amp_article__219199 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-04-26 11:29:12:
html db last update - 2015-04-26 11:29:12 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .