Fulham 2-0 Preston North End: Nugent own goal and late Kamara strike earns victory for Scott Parker's side
- Published
David Nugent scored in Preston's win over Fulham in December, the only other goal he has scored this season
David Nugent's own goal and Aboubakar Kamara's injury-time effort ensured Fulham edged past promotion rivals Preston North End to keep up the pressure on the Championship's top two West Bromwich Albion and Leeds.
Nugent could only flick on an Anthony Knockaert corner and the ball looped past keeper Declan Rudd into the far corner to put the hosts ahead after the break at Craven Cottage.
Preston, who have now lost three of their past four games, had the better of the first half, with Sean Maguire having an effort ruled out for offside and Alan Browne forcing a decent save from keeper Marek Rodak.
But Fulham steadily improved and after Nugent's unfortunate intervention, substitute Kamara's breakaway 95th-minute goal wrapped up back-to-back home wins and kept Scott Parker's side five points adrift of Leeds United and closed the gap to six points behind leaders West Brom.
Second-placed Leeds had earlier thumped Hull City, while the Baggies were surprise losers at home to Wigan.
Preston remain sixth and in the final play-off spot but are now just two points ahead of seventh-placed Bristol City.
But although they failed to create many openings in a match that saw just six efforts on target, they could easily have taken the lead before they trailed just before the hour, with Browne having a second shot saved by Rodak.
Fulham's steady improvement saw them get on top following the opening goal and substitute Cyrus Christie was a fraction away from a second goal with a dipping volley.
The visitors' best chance of an equaliser saw Rodak save superbly from close range to keep out Patrick Bauer's header late on.
And with the game stretched deep in added time, Ivan Cavaleiro teed up Kamara after a slick counter-attack.
Fulham boss Scott Parker said:
"It is always important for us to win matches and we always go into every game expecting to win.
"Of course, West Brom and Leeds have been the most consistent and they are two very good teams.
"We have them both to play but we have to concentrate first on Bristol City next week and the games that follow that and see what we can do."
Preston manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I think we started brightly and then obviously the set-play comes in and I don't know how it happens but it comes off Nugent and goes in.
"As with any game the first goal is always crucial. Then we end up with a corner, they counter and it ends 2-0 which I think flatters Fulham.
"We're the makers of our own downfall really. A cross into the box and we head it into our own goal. To be honest, we gifted them [the game]."