English Premiership
Burnley, Fulham share spoils
2009-12-12 19:55
Burnley - Wade Elliott hit a superb second half equaliser as Burnley rescued a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Owen Coyle's team fell behind to Bobby Zamora's goal but Elliott ensured Burnley would avoid just their second home defeat of the season when he struck with a blistering volley 10 minutes later.
Burnley, promoted via the play-offs last season, have lost only one of their eight home league games and that form looks capable of keeping them in the Premier League for another season.
The Clarets are without a win in five matches but this battling display was more like it after successive defeats at West Ham and Portsmouth.
Seeking their first league win at Turf Moor since 1951, Fulham seemed intent on blowing Burnley away before half-time.
They had two golden chances inside the first two minutes. Erik Nevland found himself clear when Clint Dempsey played a neat ball back to the Norwegian in the penalty area but his low shot struck goalkeeper Brian Jensen's legs.
Then Damien Duff came close in the 10th minute, lashing a low left-foot shot which was parried by Jensen.
Burnley midfielder Chris Eagles hit a low shot into Mark Schwarzer's arms while at the other end Dempsey was not far off with an audacious long drive and Aaron Hughes was close with a header.
Fulham grabbed the lead in the 50th minute when Chris Baird lofted a long-free kick up-field and Zamora shrugged off Steven Caldwell before shooting past Jensen.
Fulham could have gone further ahead when Dempsey connected well with a Duff corner only to see his header booted off the line by Tyrone Mears.
But Burnley responded by levelling 10 minutes later when Stephen Jordan's cross was headed back by Brede Hangeland and fell to Elliott, who volleyed home from eight yards.