Duece to the Rescue

Clint Dempsey came in off the bench and got an 87th minute goal to give Fulham a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Fulham, winless in their last six matches had dropped to near the relegation zone after starting the season in good form. Now with 8 points and a game in hand (against Manchester United), Fulham sit 16th on the table, just over Bolton on goal difference.

What really sucks is that Andy Johnson pulled a howler in the 85th minute or so that could have equalized but he couldn't really get around on it and it went over the bar. Things were desperate in the final minutes and quite honestly a little luck played a part since I think at least one of those fouls in the penalty area should have been a penalty kick. But with Duece's late goal, the Whites salvaged a point on the road.

Fulham host Wigan on Wednesday in a mid-week game at the Cottage. At this point, Fulham need a full three points, and their performance might very well have given them the boost to get the win at home. Wigan sit 15th on the table, besting Fulham only on goal difference. Three points will help as Fulham start a four game stretch against lower half of the table sides with Wigan (15th), Everton (14th), Newcastle (19th) and Tottenham (20th) the next four matches on the schedule. The key, as everyone will tell you, to avoiding relegation battles is to get points against teams around you in the table. Wins over these four sides will put distance between Fulham and those teasm, distance that can be important in seven months time. Only the Everton fixture is away, so I hope that Fulham can net all 12 points, but I will be happy with 8 of 12 points, preferably with wins over Newcastle and Tottenham.