Fulham’s late defeat piles pressure on Jol

Fulham 1 Cardiff City 2

Fulham conceded deep into injury time for the second home league game running as a late defeat heaped more misery on boss Martin Jol.

Newly-promoted Cardiff had taken an early lead through Steven Caulker’s header and were the better side heading towards half-time.

Substitute Bryan Ruiz curled in a superb effort from 25 yards moments after coming on to level shortly before the break.

However, with the game seemingly hurtling towards a draw, Jordon Mutch produced an equally stunning strike in the 92nd minute to snatch the points.

The home fans left Craven Cottage with a sense of deja vu after West Brom’s injury-time equaliser two weeks ago, and this latest setback leaves Fulham without a win since the opening day of the season.

Jol’s pre-match tactical plans were ripped up inside 12 minutes, first when Scott Parker limped out of the game injured and then when Cardiff took the lead.

Peter Whittingham, a Fulham target last season, swung over a corner and Caulker powered a header beyond David Stockdale.

City’s set-pieces continued to cause Fulham problems and Stockdale had to tip Ben Turner’s header over from Whittingham’s free-kick.

Jol brought on Ruiz a few minutes before the interval and the Costa Rican made an instant impact, curling an effort beyond City keeper David Marshall for a fantastic equaliser.

Both teams had chances in the second half, with Frazier Campbell unable to steer Mutch’s cross home and Dimitar Berbatov heading over from Sascha Riether’s centre.

Fulham looked in the ascendancy in the closing stages, but Mutch drilled in from distance to earn Cardiff the win.

Fulham (4-4-1-1): Stockdale; Riether, Hangeland, Amorebieta, Richardson; Kasami, Sidwell, Parker (Karagounis 7), Kacaniklic (Ruiz 41); Berbatov; Bent (Taarabt 84).
Subs not used: Senderos, Zverotic, Rodallega, Etheridge.

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