Fulham 1 Charlton 0

Last updated : 06 October 2002 By Footymad Previewer

The South-American fired home after Dean Kiely had beaten out Steed Malbranque's 20-yard shot.

However, the Addicks will feel robbed after they wasted two great chances to equalise with only four minutes left.

First Shaun Bartlett thumped the underside of the bar from barely eight yards out and seconds later he brought a brilliant save at the near post from Edwin Van der Sar.

Before that Fulham dominated the first hour and could have gone ahead after just 90 seconds when Steve Marlet rattled the crossbar with a close-range header before Luis Boa Morte's cross ended with Sava heading on to the roof of the net.

Jason Euell could have given the Addicks some relief after good work from John Robinson but he sliced his left-foot shot wide.

Mark Fish then denied Marlet a clear run on goal after 19 minutes but referee Jeff Winter waved away furious Fulham protests that their man had been fouled.

The west Londoners eventually scored through Sava in the 36th minute but an amazing blunder by Van der Sar almost brought Charlton level.

The Dutchman rolled out a ball which was intercepted by Robinson who unselfishly squared to Euell eight yards out.
 
However, the Charlton striker took an age to shoot and Van der Sar made a fine block.

Any thoughts that Charlton would lie down were scotched by a spirited second-half display.

A side playing with more confidence could have done better with the chances they created.

Abdes Ouaddou let in Euell, but although he had a clear sight of goal, the former Wimbledon striker sent his right-foot effort high into the stands in the 49th minute.

Fish was next to shoot wide after a corner dropped to him but when Bartlett missed his two chances Charlton knew they would finish their fifth game in a row without a win.