Fulham welcomed Stoke City to Craven Cottage hoping to record their first win since the opening day of the Premier League season and ease some pressure on under-fire manager Martin Jol.
With the visiting Potters winless in three and also struggling for form, the first half was the tense affair that many expected it to be, with two Stoke penalty appeals the main talking points of the opening 45 minutes.
Cottagers full-back Sascha Riether had twice denied Robert Huth an opener with goalline clearances, before Darren Bent came off the bench to score the only goal of the game seven minutes from time.
Below, you can read how the action unfolded in West London.
Afternoon, all! These are two sides, Fulham in particular, who are in need of a win to halt their stuttering Premier League form. Let's take a look at today's teams...
FULHAM: Stockdale; Riether, Hangeland, Senderos, Amorebieta; Duff, Karagounis, Sidwell, Ruiz; Kasami; Berbatov
SUBS: Etheridge, Richardson, Taarbat, Rodallega, Zverotic, Boateng, Bent
STOKE: Begovic; Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Pieters; Wilson, Nzonzi, Ireland; Walters, Arnautovic, Etherington
SUBS: Sorensen, Adam, Assaidi, Whelan, Palacios, Jones, Crouch
In his quest for a first victory since the opening day of the season, Jol has made four changes to his starting lineup, some of them enforced, and some of them tactical.
The most high profile of his quartet of recalls is that of Bryan Ruiz, who scored off the bench in their defeat to the Bluebirds last time out. He will be one of three players to provide support to lone striker Dimitar Berbatov.
Another one of the Cottagers' attacking-midfield trio is Damien Duff, who is preferred to Alex Kacaniklic on the left flank. Darren Bent drops out as Jol reverts to 4-2-3-1.
There is another straight swap in the centre of midfield, with Giorgos Karagounis replacing the unfit Scott Parker, who suffered a thigh injury seven minutes into last weekend's Cardiff loss.
Philippe Senderos returns to the team in the centre of defence, perhaps to add some more height to the Fulham XI in a bid to combat Stoke's threat from set pieces.
Kieran Richardson is the player that misses out, with Fernando Amorebieta, the first Venezuelan representative in the Premier League, shifted across to fill his left-back position.
Bent, Hugo Rodallega and Adel Taarabt are among Jol's options on an attacking Fulham bench that does not include sidelined trio Maarten Stekelenburg, Aaron Hughes or Ashkan Dejagah.
There are two alterations made by Mark Hughes, who returns to the club that he left after just one season back in 2011, a decision that the Welshman admits may have been a mistake.
Summer signing Marko Arnautovic has been employed on the left flank since arriving from Werder Bremen, but the Austrian gets a go through the middle today as Stoke's centre forward.
The physical presence of Kenywne Jones is sacrificed to accommodate Arnautovic's flair, and he is named on the bench alongside Peter Crouch, which is perhaps an indication of Hughes attempting to change the playing style implemented by Tony Pulis.
With Arnautovic moved inside, there is room for Matthew Etherington to return on the left wing. He missed the defeat by Norwich after suffering whiplash in a car accident.
Stephen Ireland for Charlie Adam was a half-time change made by Hughes in their loss to the Canaries, and the Potters manager saw enough to make the same swap to his starting XI today.
This will be Ireland's first Premier League start for his new club, so he has some way to go to match Jon Walters' run of 96 consecutive top-flight starts. The forward has passed a fitness test on a groin problem to edge towards the magic three figures.
STAT: The Whites have won six of their last seven matches against Stoke at Craven Cottage. A good omen for Jol, who will be hoping that good record continues today!
One problem that has been shared by these two clubs this season is their struggle to score goals. Both teams have only found the net four times in the Premier League, with Fulham's star man Berbatov yet to open his account for the season.
Jol's future with the Cottagers may be under question, but he certainly seems to be committed to the Fulham cause after revealing that he recently turned down the chance to manage a "top European club".
The Dutchman told reporters: "I had an offer from a top European club last week, but I want to succeed here," Jol told reporters. "I get my offers, but I don't want to say who [from]."
"There might be better managers, but I have the feeling I am still the man for this job.
"I like the club and especially the people who work for us and the players. I'm not someone who wants to escape all of the time."
ONE TO WATCH: I will be keeping a close eye on Marko Arnautovic this afternoon. The Austrian has the ability to create something out of nothing, and at just £2m, could be one of the bargains of the summer if he finds his feet in England.
PREDICTION: I see this being a fairly tense contest where one goal could decide it. Berbatov has been quiet this season, so I'm backing him to find his magic today and win it for Fulham. I'll plump for 1-0.
The action is underway in West London...
BLOCKED! Berbatov and Ruiz link up on the edge of the box before the Costa Rican gets a shot away which Shawcross dives in-front of and blocks.
Huth brings down Ruiz just inside the Stoke half and the Cottagers take a quick free kick which eventually comes to Karagounis, whose effort is again blocked by a Potters defender.
Pieters is guilty of an awful piece of simulation as, after a tussle with Kasami, the Fulham man moves his arm in Pieters' direction, barely clipping his ear, but the Stoke full-back falls to the floor as if he'd taken a Floyd Mayweather right hook!
SHOT! Ireland delivers a free kick into the box which Hangeland gets up to clear at the back post. His header only falls to Arnautovic on the edge of the box, though, and the Austrian volleys wide with a sliced shot that was always going away from goal.
PENALTY APPEAL! Ireland runs from deep on the inside left channel, and he is followed by Senderos. Stoke's loan signing gets ahead of the Swiss defender and there is an exchange of shirt tugging before Senderos goes to ground and takes Ireland with him, courtesy of a clumsy-looking challenge. Only a corner given, though.
This has been a positive start from the visitors and apart from in the opening couple of minutes, the potentially dangerous strike pairing of Ruiz and Berbatov have been starved of the ball. A momentary concern though, as Wilson requires treatment following a blow to the stomach.
Fulham counter down the left wing, with Duff releasing Ruiz to get to the byline. Berbatov is in the box, and Sidwell joins him with a late run into the area, but the cross is intercepted at the near post by Huth and put behind for a corner.
UPDATE: We haven't had many signs of a goal here, but Liverpool have wasted little time in establishing a lead over Crystal Palace. Suarez and Sturridge have both already netted, and the Reds lead 2-0.
PENALTY APPEAL! Stoke claim for a penalty once more, and this time a foul is given, but outside of the box! Walters gets away from Amorebieta, who pulls him back before clipping his heels and sending the Stoke man down. Referee Roger East confers with his assistant and decides that the initial contact was NOT in the area.
OFF THE LINE! Fulham have a lucky escape again as Huth climbs above Berbatov to direct a header towards the top corner, which Riether heads away from underneath his own crossbar. Stockdale was beaten that's for sure, but his defender saved him.
Kasami leads another Fulham break, this time through the middle. He has Duff overlapping him on the left, and was looking to play him in before Wilson brings him down.
SHOT! Nice interplay between Kasami and Duff inside a crowded Stoke penalty area, but the Irishman cannot find space to squeeze a shot away. He instead lays the ball back to Sidwell, who fires a 20-yard first-time strike some way over the crossbar.
CHANCE! Duff stands a cross up which is just over the head of Berbatov. Kasami collects the leftovers at the back post, and attempts a similar chip which Sidwell stretches to head onto the roof of the net.
Karagounis breaks up a Stoke attack and feeds Duff early. The experienced winger travels with the ball before having a long-range shot blocked. The rebound just evades Ruiz.
I would suggest that Mark Hughes will be the happier of the two managers if the scoreline stays like this when half time is called. Martin Jol would have wanted an early goal to get this home crowd behind his side, but if anything, it is Stoke who have looked slightly more likely.
We are entering first-half stoppage time, of which there will be two minutes...
HALF TIME: Fulham 0-0 Stoke
As expected, this has been a pretty tense contest thus far, with referee Roger East probably the central figure in a 45 minutes of few chances.
Stoke have had two penalty shouts turned down, firstly when Philippe Senderos tussled with Stephen Ireland near the byline, and later when Fernando Amorebieta tripped Jon Walters. The official and his assistant correctly deemed the second offence outside of the area, but Stoke may argue that his judgement of their first appeal was not as accurate.
STATS: Stoke have enjoyed 55% of the possession but have converted that into just one shot on target. Meanwhile, Fulham are yet to test Asmir Begovic in the Potters goal.
Fulham resume the action at Craven Cottage, and there is news of a change for the hosts, and a slightly concerning one at that...
SUBSTITUTION: Fulham captain Brede Hangeland has not emerged for the second half and we are hearing that his withdrawal is injury related. Kieran Richardson is on in his place.
CHANCE! For the second time in the match, Huth gets the better of his marker Berbatov from a set piece and his header has Stockdale worried but eventually goes a yard over the crossbar.
PENALTY APPEAL! This time it is Fulham's turn to feel aggrieved as Roger East turns down their appeals for a penalty when Berbatov goes to ground under the challenge of Shawcross.
SUBSTITUTION: Mark Hughes makes his first change of the match, swapping Glenn Whelan for Wilson, who may not have fully recovered from a rib injury suffered in the first half, in midfield.
SUBSTITUTION: Jol follows suit by introducing some fresh legs in the centre of the park. Derek Boateng, who has not featured since the opening day of the season, replaces the tiring Karagounis.
BOOKING: Whelen's impact on the game is immediate, but not positive as he is yellow carded for a late challenge on Berbatov, whom he caught on the ankle.
SHOT! Arnautovic tries his luck from distance for the third time in this contest and again fails to find the target. At the other end, his opposite number Berbatov is limping and indicating to the home bench that he is not able to continue.
SAVE! Fourth time lucky for the Austrian forward, as he receives a layoff from Walters and bends a shot towards the bottom corner which Stockdale gets down to hold well.
SUBSTITUTIONS: The flurry of substitutions continue as each side makes an alteration. Fulham's change is enforced as Berbatov leaves the field to be replaced by Bent, while Hughes replaces the recalled Etherington with Liverpool loanee Oussama Assaidi.
CLOSE! Berbatov's departure has forced Fulham to reshuffle their man-marking at corners, and Senderos has taken over Huth-watching duties. However, the German loses his new marker at a set piece far too easily, and has the best of his trio of headed opportunities today, but again guides the ball just over the crossbar.
CHANCE! Stoke are applying some maintained pressure on the Fulham goal now, and Ireland is the latest to try his luck, but his left-footed volley from Assaidi's cross drifts a few yards wide.
Nervy moment for the visitors as Shawcross miscues an attempted clearance over Begovic, who has to track back and claim the loose ball which, for a second, was threatening to go into the Stoke net and straight onto the Christmas bloopers dvds.
BOOKINGS: Both Walters and Richardson are punished with yellow cards following a childish tussle, which finished with them face-to-face, as Stoke were preparing to take a throw-in. Talk about unnecessary.
Sidwell opts to shoot under pressure from Whelan on the edge of the box, when releasing the overlapping Riether may have been a better option. Nevertheless, Fulham have a corner.
CLOSE! Corners are proving to be a real source of opportunities for Stoke, and for the umpteenth time today, Huth wins the ball in the air. However, as he did in the first half, Riether is perfectly positioned on the post to clear it right off the goalline. Huth might be thinking, it just isn't his day...
CHANCE! Riether is aware of a short pass from N'Zonzi and he intercepts the loose ball before sprinting 80 yards up the field to the edge of the Stoke area. He has options in the middle, but opts to shoot, and his tame effort is parried behind by Begovic.
GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Stoke (Bent)
What a massive goal this could be for Fulham! Kasami travels through the middle before crossing into the box, seemingly towards nobody in particular. However, the ball ricochets off a Stoke defender and falls to Bent, who, as calm as you like, cuts back onto his left foot to fool the sprawling Begovic and slot into the empty net!
SUBSTITUTION: Hughes responds by immediately throwing on Peter Crouch in place of Walters. Expect some long balls into the Fulham box and an even greater threat from set pieces.
The question is, can Fulham hang on? They have conceded 90th-minute goals in each of their last two home Premier League games. Three would most certainly not be the charm for Martin Jol.
We are entering second-half stoppage time, of which there will be FOUR minutes...
CHANCE! Bent has a great opportunity to put the result beyond doubt, and he again tries to cut back onto his left foot in the box, but Pieters anticipates that and makes a good saving challenge.
FULL TIME: Fulham 1-0 Stoke
A massive win for Martin Jol as super-sub Darren Bent secures Fulham and his under-pressure manager their first victory since the opening day of the season. It was a tense and scrappy affair between two teams struggling at present, particularly offensively, and Bent's moment of extreme composure was enough to separate the sides.
That victory lifts the Cottagers out of the Premier League relegation zone and level on points with Stoke, who are now without a win in four top-flight outings. West Ham slip into the bottom three ahead of their London derby with Spurs on Sunday.
That's it from me for this afternoon. Be sure to stay tuned with Sports Mole for coverage of this evening's Premier League clash between Sunderland and Manchester United. Thanks for joining us from Craven Cottage today. Martin Jol can breathe a little easier now...
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
