Fulham secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Norwich City at Craven Cottage on Saturday thanks to a lone goal from Hugo Rodallega.
For the second-straight game the Colombian was the match winner, as he hit home just before half time to put Fulham two points behind Norwich in the race against the drop.
Norwich pushed hard the entire game and in fairness a draw would’ve probably been a fair result. Robert Snodgrass hit the bar and some wonderful last-ditch defending from Fulham, coupled with superb stops from ‘keeper David Stockdale,
Fulham sealed their first back-to-back wins since October as Felix Magath’s side are in 18th spot on 30 points, just two points and one place behind Norwich who have four extremely hard game left to save themselves from dropping into the bottom three.
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Early on Norwich City pressed Fulham high up the pitch and Nathan Redmond was lively out on the wing as the Canaries started sharply. Rodallega had two decent chances for the home side but the forward dragged an effort just wide of John Ruddy’s goal as the Cottagers settled into the match.
David Stockdale then made two terrific stops to keep the scores level, as Ricky van Wolfswinkel was first denied, then Leroy Fer saw his header spectacularly saved from the resulting corner. Norwich continued to push and in the 34th minute Robert Snodgrass saw his free kick smash against the bar, with Fulham hanging on as half time approached.
Fulham then hit Norwich with a sucker punch five minutes before the break as Rodallega headed home Lewis Holtby’s free kick as the Canaries’ slack marking was punished ruthlessly by the Colombian striker. After the break Rodallega hit the post with Olsson clearing on the line as Kieran Richardson’s corner caused havoc amongst the Canaries defense.
Norwich went for it in the second half as the Canaries poured forward at every attempt. Snodgrass was thwarted by a lunging last-ditch tackle from Hangeland and several corners were whipped in that Norwich’s center back Turner couldn’t quite get on the end of. Norwich pressed, hassled and harried Fulham for the entire second half but the Cottagers managed to hold on for a marvelous victory that gives them hope of survival.
LINEUPS
Fulham: Stockdale; Heitinga, Hangeland, Amorebieta, Richardson; Kasami (Dejagah, 57', Riether, Diarra (Kvist, 85'), Sidwell, Holtby (Parker, 69'); Rodallega
Goal: Rodallega (40')
Norwich City: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Olsson; Redmond, Johnson, Fer (Hoolahan, 68'), Howson (Murphy, 79'), Snodgrass; van Wolfswinkel (Hooper, 60')
