Fulham continue to climb away from the drop zone but needed a late penalty to see of a spirited Blackburn 3-2 at Craven Cottage. The Cottagers fine run of form continues as they made it just one defeat in their last nine league games.
Blackburn will feel they deserved at least a point out of a game they twice trailed to goals from former Rovers hero Damien Duff, but both times battled back to equalise only to be cruelly denied at the death by a controversial penalty awarded by Mark Clattenburg.
Grant Hanley and David Hoilett had drawn Rovers level and seemingly on course for a vital point to arrest their slide towards the bottom of the table.
But in the 87th minute, Clattenburg adjudged that Aaron Hughes had been fouled by Hanley and substitute Bobby Zamora scored from the spot.
At the final whistle here, Clattenburg showed a red card to Rovers substitute Gael Givet, who had been particularly vociferous in his protestation.
For Fulham boss Mark Hughes though he now remains undefeated as a manager against his former club.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Venue: Craven Cottage Attendance: 25,687
Fulham scorers: Duff 37, 59. Zamora (pen) 89 Blackburn scorers: Hanley 45, Hoilett 65
FULHAM 01 Schwarzer 03 Salcido 05 Hangeland 06 Baird (yellow card) 18 Hughes 13 Murphy (Zamora 70) 16 Duff 20 Etuhu (yellow card) 23 Dempsey 08 Johnson 30 Dembele (Kakuta 78)
Substitutes 12 Stockdale, 02 Kelly, 27 Greening, 29 Davies, 22 Gudjohnsen, 24 Kakuta, 25 Zamora
BLACKBURN 01 Robinson 03 Olsson 04 Samba 05 Givet (Pedersen 76) 27 Salgado (Emerton 90+2) 31 Hanley (yellow card) 02 J Jones (yellow card) 15 Nzonzi 23 Hoilett (Rochina 82) 30 Roberts (yellow card) 41 Diouf
Substitutes 13 Bunn, 07 Emerton, 12 Pedersen, 17 Andrews, 09 Kalinic, 18 Santa Cruz, 20 Rochina
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