Fulham fell victim to one of their old bogey grounds as their half century wait for a win at Turf Moor continued after Burnley roared back from a goal down to inflict Jean Tigana’s fourth league defeat of the campaign tonight.
Such an outcome certainly didn’t appear on the cards when Barry Hayles fired the runaway First Division leaders in front five minutes after the break. But the Clarets breathed new life into their play-off hopes with Ian Moore igniting a memorable comeback by finally showing signs of paying back the club-record £1m he cost from Stockport.
Moore’s finest showing since moving across Lancashire completely turned this contest on its head. He fired in an equaliser from close range as Fulham showed signs of wobbling in a bubbling Turf Moor atmosphere and then stole the ball from feeble Fabrice Fernandes and found Glen Little with a cleverly-disguised reverse pass. The winger slotted home his first goal of the season to secure a precious three points for the home side.
Fulham had looked largely in control for much of the first half, although a bobbly playing surface prevented Tigana’s team for playing too much of their free flowing football. Lee Clark and Luis Boa Morte dovetailed nicely along the left flank to fashion the best chance of the half but the former Newcastle midfielder wasted his team-mate’s hard work by firing right across the face of goal.
Burnley offered little in the first period and it wasn’t a surprise when the visitors hit the front five minutes after the interval. Hayles headed home his seventeenth goal of the season – his first since returning from injury – after Steve Finnan had sauntered away from Paul Cook to float over a fine cross from the right. Clark was denied a second by a brave tackle from Steve Davis and Finnan rattled the post with a firm drive.
The contest burst into life when Burnley’s mascot was given his marching orders for some touchline histrionics but the incident served to enliven the crowd. Moore proved a bit too honest to go down when clipped in the area by Andy Melville, but the hosts were soon level in any case. Mitchell Thomas sped away from Rufus Brevett and Gareth Taylor terrifically headed a ball back across goal for Moore to prod home from a couple of yards out.
The striker then turned provider to create the winner for Little and was withdrawn to a rapturous reception on the ninety minute mark. Tigana was left pondering quite why his side were not able to match Burnley’s bloody-mindednes and will-to-win, especially with promotion on the horizon.
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Michopoulos, Weller, Thomas, Cox, Steve Davis; Branch, Armstrong, Cook, Little (Johnrose 90); G. Taylor, Moore (Mellon 90). Subs (not used): Crichton, Payton, Mullin.
BOOKED: Weller, Steve Davis, Armstrong.
GOALS: Moore (73), Little (88).
FULHAM (4-4-2): Taylor; Finnan, Brevett, Symons, Melville; Sean Davis, J. Collins (Fernandes 67), Goldbaek, Clark; Boa Morte (Riedle 80), Hayles. Subs (not used): Hahnemann, Neilson, Moller.
GOAL: Hayles (50).
REFEREE: Stephen Lodge (South Yorkshire).
ATTENDANCE:Â 15,737.
