Before this match, Fulham have wone 19 of their 27 points at Craven Cottage and they confirmed their standard today after a brilliant performance against Stoke City. Pavel Pogrebnyak that signed for Fulham at the end of January started the match as a unique striker against Stoke.
The Russia international joined from Stuttgart on transfer deadline day and he could make his appearance at Craven Cottage because striker Andrew Johnson was declared out as he continues to recover from a groin injury.
Philippe Senderos was out because he will miss also the next couple of weeks after an MRI scan showed he has a grade two strain in his groin, while Zdenek Grygera (knee) and Steve Sidwell (hernia) were also unavailable.
Stoke was sure to be without suspended defender Robert Huth because he has begun a three-match ban after the Potters' appeal to the Football Association against the red card he received in last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Sunderland was rejected. During the conference before the match manager Tony Pulis admitted that the presence of Cameron Jerome on the bench was doubtful and he was not sure about the conditions of midfielder Matthew Etherington due to a virus but the last one was declared finally fit and he started on the top 11.
The two teams came to Craven Cottage with different conditions: Fulham, with one point from their last three matches, Stoke arrived on the back of a trio of league losses.
The first quarter showed the strong attitude of Stoke players to leave Craven Cottage with at least one point, and the first shot on target was done by Glenn Whelan with Mark Schwarzer that was force to do a great save. But one minute later the result of the match changed with the first goal in Premier League of Pavel Pogrebnyak. J.A. Riise shot the ball that arrived straight to Pavel in the middle of the area with the Russian that took his opportunity and he hit strongly the ball scoring the 1-0 with nothing to do for goalkeeper Sorensen.
Stoke attempted an instance response but all the Potters could muster was a skewed shot from Wilson Palacios and a Kenwyne Jones effort that went out for a Fulham throw-in. Fulham scored again fifteen minutes later when Clint Dempsey unleashed an absolute rocket from 30 yards out which cannoned off the underside of the crossbar before going in off Thomas Sorensen. Fulham’s slick passing and neat touches were proving too much for Tony Pulis’ side who were struggling to keep the ball. Nothing has to be underlined in the opening exchanges of the second half because both teams had brief spells of possession but neither ‘keeper was really tested. Also later chances were a rarity for both sides, with Peter Crouch speculatively volleying over on 75 minutes before Aaron Hughes did well to block substitute Ricardo Fuller’s effort. From the resulting corner Stoke found a way back into the match as Ryan Shawcross’ flicked header at the near post floated over Mark Schwarzer and into the back of the net. The last opportunity was for the Whites but Dempsey was not able to take advantage of A mix-up in the Stoke defence in the 89th minute which put the American through on goal, but Clint was taken by surprise and the chance was gone.Five minutes of added time were announced, much to the dismay of the home supporters but the Whites held on for a vital win which sees them leapfrog the Potters in the Premier League table after Clint Dempsey hit the post with the game’s last kick. The next Premier League stage will see Fulham facing Queens Park Rangers the 25th of February and Stoke City with a delicate match against Swansea the day after.