Commentary: City 2 Fulham 3

Last updated: 26th April 2008

richard dunne clint dempsey

Full-time: What a dramatic match, and what a stunning comeback from Fulham.

90+2 - GOAL! Kamara gets away down the left and keeps his head to slam a left-foot shot past Hart high into the net. Fulham are still in the fight!

90 - Great save: Petrov runs right through the Fulham defence but Keller gets a hand to his driven shot.

89 - Poor finish: Benjani finds Caicedo but his right-foot drive goes wide.

88 - Awful pass: Gelson feeds Benjani in the box and gives him the simple task of teeing up Caicedo, but he overhits the pass.

86 - What a waste: Elano crosses to the far post for Petrov, who tries to break the net rather than guiding the ball in, and hits it wide.

84 - Side-netting: Benjani's pass to Geovanni isn't a good one and forces him wide and his right-foot drive goes wide at the near post.

83 - Free header: Davies crosses and Dempsey rises above Elano to power in a header, but it's straight at Hart.

82 - So close! Bullard carries the ball forward and drives in a shot from 30 yards - it fizzes just over the bar. The momentum is all with Fulham now.

81 - Dragged wide: Geovanni runs at the Fulham defence but pulls his shot wide of goal.

79 - City sub: Caicedo comes on for Vassell.

78 - GOAL! Murphy's kick is awful but Hart spills it back to his feet and he slots it into the empty net.

Penalty: Fulham awarded a spot kick for a foul by Sun on Nevland - although it was a very soft award.

76 - Off target: Dempsey meets Davies' cross with a firm header but it goes high and wide.

71 - Hart saves: Bullard curls in a free-kick but Hart makes a flying two-handed save to keep it out.

70 - Fulham substitution: Nevland comes on for McBride as Fulham chase a second goal.

69 - GOAL! Kamara gets in behind Corluka and despite appearing to lose control, he checks and fires a shot through the legs of Hart and into the corner.

67 - Poor cross: Geovanni sets Benjani away but is cross towards Vassell is easily cut out by Hangeland.

64 - Fulham switch: Kamara replaces Healy for the visitors.

63 - So close: Bullard is a whisker away with a free-kick from 30 yards - not sure if Hart had it covered.

60 - City in command: Benjani gets away down the left and feeds Petrov, but his right-foot shot is weak and dribbles wide.

58 - Hughes intercepts: Vassell, released by Geovanni, attempts to pick out Benjani but Hughes gets in the way. Benjani heads over from the corner that follows.

55 - City change: Ireland goes off to be replaced by Geovanni.

52 - Glimmer of hope: Tottenham have equalised against Bolton, but Fulham have struggled to get out of their own half since the break.

48 - Benjani chance: The striker gets away from Hughes and drives in a low shot but Keller gets a hand to it and it sticks.

47 - Important save: Ireland releases Vassell, but his shot from a narrow angle is pushed away by Keller.

46 - Looking bleak: With Birmingham leading at half time, the last thing Fulham needed was an early second half goal for Bolton, but that's what they've got..

Kick-off: Fulham begin the second half needing two - but ideally three - goals to keep any realistic survival hopes alive.

Half time: Fulham look to be heading for the drop - can they turn it around in the second half?

41 - Chance wasted: Elano presents the ball to McBride in the area but Sun is quick to close him down.

39 - Resignation: Fulham fan Craig Dobson has no doubt where his team is headed: "Our defenders are hapless and our forwards are anonymous. I feel sorry for our midfielders, they're the only players who turn up on match days. We deserve to be playing in the Championship, no doubt about it."

35 - Superb save: Davies crosses from the right, Healy heads goalwards but Hart brilliantly tips the ball over the bar.

32 - Going down: KR from Florida writes: "That last goal - our entire backline plus the goalie versus Benjani. Benjani still scores with relative ease. That pretty much sums up why we are going down."

31 - Solid defending: Bullard gets into space down the left but first Ball and then Corluka deal with his cross.

27 - Corluka blocks: Dempsey hits a half volley from 25 yards but it comes off Corluka for a corner.

24 - Yellow card: Dempsey goes into the book after catching Elano with an elbow - the Brazilian has a nasty cut under his right eye. Could easily have been a red card.

21 - GOAL! Elano's superb ball down the right releases Vassell who pulls the ball back for Benjani to score with a simple side-foot.

20 - Too high: Petrov, who is tormenting Stalteri, crosses for Vassell at the back post but it's just too high.

18 - Bullard blast: Fulham's chief threat shoots again from long range but Hart saves low to his left.

17 - Petrov threat: The Bulgarian links well with Ireland and crosses for Vassell, who takes too long to decide what to do and the chance is gone.

15: Doom and gloom? How are you feeling now Fulham fans? Your side has been on top but trails because of a sloppy error.

14 - Lucky escape: Benjani chases a long ball from Petrov, Keller misjudges and runs right past it but the City striker can't keep it in.

10 - GOAL! Stalteri loses possession cheaply to Petrov, who finds Ireland with a backheel and the midfielder curls a shot, with the aid of a slight deflection, over Keller and into the far corner.

9 - More danger: Bullard's free-kick is headed across goal by McBride and Elano has to touch it out for a corner.

7 - City attack: Elano sweeps the ball out to Petrov but his cross, aimed for Benjani, is easily cut out by Keller.

6 - Great save: Dempsey's low shot from 12 yards is pushed around the post by Hart.

4 - Positive start: Fulham have started brightly - Bullard tries his luck from 30 yards but is off target.

2 - Offside: Bullard crosses from the right and Dempsey controls with his chest, but is wrongly flagged offside.

Kick-off: City get the game started, with Sun Jihai at left back and captain Michael Ball in the centre.

Sanchez to blame: "On the subject of managers," says Billy Murphy, "the biggest mistake we made this season/last season was appointing Lawrie Sanchez. He's left the club in ruins, and it will be hard work to rebuild from it." I'll happily publish comments from people who aren't called Murphy, by the way.

Youth success: Dr Thaksin was on the pitch before the match to congratulate City's youth team for their FA Youth Cup victory, presenting the trophy to captain Ben Mee.

Backing Sven: Kenny Murphy in Ireland says: "The mark of success for a manager is whether the club moves forward or not and we have moved forward. If it's not broken, don't fix it." We can expect some vocal support for Sven from the crowd today.

Clear strategy: City owner Thaksin Shinawatra says in the programme notes that he has a clear strategy of qualifying for Europe next season before spending big in the summer of 2009 in pursuit of a Champions League place. No mention of Sven-Goran Eriksson's future. City fans, should Sven stay?

Faith in the boys: Billy Murphy admits Fulham probably deserve to go down but says he still has faith in them to get a result today. City's makeshift defence must give you Fulham fans out there cause for optimism.

Teams: Man City: Hart, Elano, Jihai, Corluka, Ball, Fernandes, Johnson, Ireland, Petrov, Vassell, Benjani. Subs: Isaksson, Logan, Geovanni, Castillo, Caicedo.

Fulham: Keller, Konchesky, Hughes, Hangeland, Stalteri, Bullard, Davies, Murphy, Dempsey, McBride, Healy. Subs: Warner, Bocanegra, Kamara, Nevland, Andreasen.

Teams news: It's all fairly straightforward, Fulham are unchanged from their defeat to Liverpool, while Sun Jihai replaces Richard Dunne in the centre of City's defence, meaning Elano stays at right back.

Welcome to skysports.com's live commentary on Manchester City v Fulham from Eastlands. Fulham could be relegated if they lose and other results go against them, while a third straight win for City would put pressure on Everton and Aston Villa in the race for the Uefa Cup. Send us your comments throughout the game; email andy.clarke@bskyb.com