Fulham close to drop zone after losing to Burnley

rossmccormack

Fulham 2 Burnley 3


Fulham sit just two points above the relegation zone after they were beaten by a second-half strike from ex-Brentford forward Andre Gray.

The match appeared to be going with the form book early on when Sam Vokes headed top of the table Burnley in front from a Scott Arfield corner.

But the Whites turned things around with two goals in five minutes from the prolific duo of Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele.

The pair combined for the first goal as the French teenager played in McCormack, who drilled home the equaliser.

And Dembele made it 2-1 shortly afterwards when he converted Luke Garbutt’s left-wing cross.

Gray had what would have been an equaliser ruled out for handball in the build-up, while Tom Cairney had two big chances for Fulham before the break – the first driven just wide, the second brilliantly saved by Tom Heaton.

As if that were not frustrating enough for Cairney, he was penalised shortly after half-time for a push on former QPR man Joey Barton in the box and Vokes converted the penalty.

Fulham wanted a spot-kick of their own but a handball shout against Ben Mee went unpunished – and on the hour mark, Gray struck.

He turned Michael Madl and, showing the finishing abilities from his Griffin Park days, lashed in his 20th goal since moving to Burnley in August.

Matt Smith was introduced in attempt to find an equaliser but, bar a late Garbutt shot cleared from in front of goal, they didn’t trouble Heaton.

Fulham: Lonergan; Madl, Burn (Ince 83), Amorebieta; Fredericks, Tunnicliffe, Parker (Smith 83), Cairney, Garbutt; McCormack, Dembele.
Subs not used: Lewis, Richards, Ream, Baird, O’Hara.