Fulham 1-1 Cardiff City

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Kenwyne JonesImage source, Huw Evans Agency
Image caption,

Cardiff City's Kenwyne Jones has scored four goals in four Championship starts

Cardiff striker Kenwyne Jones' second-half equaliser at Craven Cottage denied Fulham their first Championship win of the season.

German full-back Tim Hoogland headed in Ross McCormack's cross as the hosts dominated the first half.

But Cardiff hit back when Jones collected Mats Moller Daehli's pass in the area and slotted through Marcus Bettinelli's legs.

Fulham's first point moves them off the bottom, while Cardiff are ninth.

The Bluebirds, who did the double over the Cottagers in the Premier League last season, started brightly, dominating possession early on but creating little in front of goal.

But Fulham looked more likely to break the deadlock and slowly took control.

Former Cardiff striker McCormack looked lively and his quickly taken free-kick on halfway, two minutes in, found Scott Parker in space, but the Fulham skipper could only drive his low shot wide.

Minutes later Fulham midfielder Chris David threaded a pass through to £11m summer signing McCormack, who curled the ball narrowly past the post from the edge of the 18-yard box.

And they secured the lead their play deserved when Parker played the ball wide to McCormack on the left, and the forward's cross was glanced across goalkeeper David Marshall by Hoogland.

Fulham grew in confidence and continued to pile on the pressure, nearly doubling their lead when McCormack's corner hit Cardiff's near post.

Shortly after the break the hosts should have been 2-0 ahead.

Parker's long-range shot was parried by Marshall and the midfielder's pass found Cauley Woodrow inside the area, but the striker could only fire over the bar from the penalty spot.

Felix Magath's side were to rue that miss only moments later as Jones accepted Daehli's pass to fire his fourth goal in four Championship games.

Fulham manager Felix Magath:

Media caption,

Magath on Fulham v Cardiff

"I can understand the fans who are afraid about the situation.

"Last year we came down and now at the beginning we are down again near the bottom, so I can understand the fear of fans.

"I am not happy about this but we have a new situation. It was necessary for this club to start again from the beginning and that is what I've done.

"I know I have a lot of young players and I know that is a problem. I have known that before and I live with this problem.

"I am ready to do it and I am the right man for this. No-one else, I am the only one. Not the special one, I'm the only one."

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told BBC Radio Wales:

"I think it was a fair result. First half was not the best. It was probably the worst performance we've had this season.

"Second half we upped the tempo both on and off the ball and I was very pleased with the reaction."

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