GOALS: Malbranque (20, 77), McBride (53).Andrew Redmayne was the hero with two saves in the penalty shootout. Subs (not used): Crossley, Bocanegra, Rehman, Pearce, Timlin. Subs (not used): Enckelman, Taylor.ДЇULHAM (4-3-3): van der Sar Volz, Rosenior, Knight, Goma Pembridge, Clark, Malbranque Radzinski, Boa Morte, McBride. Stead spurned a glorious chance to equalise and Fulham made Rovers pay when Malbranque collected a pass from Boa Morte, worked a nice one-two with Clark, and stroked a lovely finish beyond Friedel to secure all three points.Д«LACKBURN ROVERS (4-5-1): Friedel Neill, Short, Nelsen, Johansson Mokoena (Tugay 67), Emerton, Savage, Reid (Thompson 32), Pedersen (Derbyshire 82) Stead. Savage then flew in on Boa Morte in response and also wasnвЂ™t sent off вЂ“ but Rosenior saw red for pushing the Welsh midfielder over.

The Portuguese winger somehow stayed on the field, but Short was dismissed for pushing him to the ground as he remonstrated over the challenge. Luis Boa MorteвЂ™s crazy lunge at Nelsen sparked a brawl in the middle of the pitch. Then came an explosion of wild challenges and confrontations. The hosts should have equalised from the spot after Boa Morte hauled down Pedersen but van der Sar produced an outstanding spot to deny Savage. The American forward made the most of some space at a corner to chest down and strike low past Friedel, but FulhamвЂ™s lead was very nearly wiped out when Emerton struck the near post with a volley. Malbranque went close from distance and Zat Knight had a header ruled out before they deserved grabbed the lead through McBride.

Morten Gamst Pedersen somehow failed to head home a Savage free-kick before van der Sar did brilliantly to keep out a long-range drive from Aaron Mokoena.ДЇulham were enlivened after the interval. Jon Stead came agonisingly close to his first Ewood Park goal as his curler drifted just wide and Nelsen also went close with a header. Rovers might have gone back in front before the interval. It was the skilful Frenchman who levelled the scores, finishing off an excellent move that saw Moritz Volz chip a ball down the right for Clark, whose cross was eagerly seized upon by Malbranque as he arrived in the area. Fulham couldnвЂ™t live with the home sideвЂ™s quick tempo and Neill scored a splendid opener after six minutes when he raced onto a through ball from Brett Emerton, beat two defenders, and finished impeccably past van der Sar.ДЇulham tried to hit back immediately with Ryan Nelsen bravely blocking a long-range effort from Lee Clark and Malbranque, back in the side after making his peace with Coleman, became increasing influential in midfield. Fulham were indebted to a fine save from the excellent Edwin van der Sar, who kept out Robbie SavageвЂ™s fine free-kick at 1-1, before Craig Short and Liam Rosenior were sent off within two minutes of each other.Д«lackburn began brightly forcing Alain Goma to clear with Short, making his first start of the season, about to arrive behind the Frenchman at the far post. The French midfielder scored the equaliser after Lucas Neill had fired Mark HughesвЂ™ men ahead and then created Brian McBrideвЂ™s goal that put the visitors in front early in the second period and finished off the home side with a clinical third goal. Steed Malbranque made amends for storming out of Craven Cottage after being left out of FulhamвЂ™s starting line up last week by playing the leading role as Chris ColemanвЂ™s side won an enthralling encounter at Blackburn Rovers this afternoon.

Emerton beat blast