A TYPICAL poacher’s goal from the prolific Jordan Rhodes ensured Rovers returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory.

The managerless and rock-bottom Cottagers had to play the entire second half with 10 men after Shaun Hutchinson was red carded for a horror tackle on Lee Williamson that left the recalled midfielder requiring a stretcher and oxygen.

And Rovers made them pay 13 minutes after the restart when Rhodes netted his fourth goal of the campaign.

But Fulham, led by caretaker manager Kit Symons, ended the contest on the front foot.

Ultimately, however, they could not break down a new-look Rovers defence that was determined to record the club’s first clean sheet of the season.

A fairly uneventful first half exploded into life in added time when Hutchinson was rightly sent off for a dreadful – bordering on disgraceful – foul on Williamson

Williamson was one of three changes made by Gary Bowyer to the side that had started Wednesday’s 3-2 home loss to Derby County.

Goalkeeper Jason Steele and centre back Shane Duffy were handed their full debuts following their arrival at Ewood Park on transfer deadline day.

The man who made way for Duffy, Matt Kilgallon, was named on the bench by Rovers boss Bowyer.

But former England number one Robinson did not travel to Craven Cottage with the club stating he had a knee injury.

Steele did not have a serious save to make in an opening period bereft of clear-cut chances.

The Cottagers, clearly buoyed both on and off the pitch by the departure of unpopular boss Felix Magath on Thursday, were fast out of their blocks.

But Rovers, with Williamson and Corry Evans protecting a back four that was exposed badly against Derby, killed any momentum the fired-up hosts attempted to muster and should have gone ahead in the 16th minute through man-of-the-moment Ben Marshall.

Alex Baptiste’s mis-hit pass dropped into Marshall’s path and he set off a lung-busting run toward the edge of the area where, instead of playing in Rhodes, he chose to shoot – and shoot well wide of Marcus Bettinelli’s right-hand post when he should have at least hit the target.

The recalled Bettinelli, who spent last season on loan at Accrington Stanley, then saved at the second attempt following Rudy Gestede's snap-shot from distance.

Fulham went closer in the 34th minute when their captain Scott Parker robbed the ball off Tom Cairney and played in Hugo Rodallega who ran at the Rovers defence before firing inches past the post from 20 yards.

Parker’s opposite number Grant Hanley then failed to get a telling touch to a Marshall corner as the half appeared to be a meandering to a close.

But that all changed when Williamson was the victim of a simply shocking challenge.

Momentum carried the 6ft 2in Hutchinson into it.

But there can be no excuse for the way Hutchinson, who to his credit later apologised, left his foot in late and high.

Williamson was replaced by Craig Conway and Bowyer was forced to make another substitute at half-time as Chris Taylor took the place of Cairney, who spent a lengthy time receiving treatment early on in the match after being fouled by Fernando Amorebieta.

Rovers, with the man advantage, started the second half brightly and Bettinelli saved from Gestede on the byline before Conway blazed over after Markus Olsson’s cross was only half-cleared.

But Rhodes showed his Scotland international team-mate how to do it in the 58th minute.

Conway’s cross found its way to Corry Evans, whose first-time effort deflected toward Rhodes who took a touch before stabbing the ball brilliantly past Bettinelli with the inside of his trusty right boot.

But the forward’s fourth goal in five games was so nearly cancelled out four minutes later.

Cottagers skipper Parker led a rapid breakaway which ended with Tim Hoogland playing a superb first-time pass through to £11m man Ross McCormack who, from a tight angle, forced Steele into a brilliant save with his feet.

And seven minutes after that Rhodes went close to making the match safe after chasing down a raking pass over the top from the outstanding Duffy.

But after side-stepping the out-rushing Bettinelli, his goal-bound shot was deflected behind by Burn.

But it was Fulham, against the odds, who finished the stronger and they went desperately close to an equaliser eight minutes from time when Hoogland, on the spin, blasted the ball just past the upright after a run and cross from lively sub George Williams.

However Rovers, with Steele standing magnificently firm, held on for a win which moved them up to ninth in the Championship standings.

And there was better news to come after the final whistle when Bowyer confirmed that Williamson will be ‘okay’ and that he had not suffered a break.

Fulham: Bettinelli, Hoogland, Hutchinson, Burn, Amorebieta, Christensen, Parker, Stafylidis (Roberts 83), Ruiz (Williams 73), McCormack, Rodallega. Subs not used: Kiraly, Bodurov, Kavanagh, Hyndman, Dembele.

Booked: McCormack, Hoogland, Amorebieta.

Sent off: Hutchinson 45.

Rovers: Steele, Baptiste, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson, Cairney (Taylor 46), Williamson (Conway 45), Evans, Marshall, Rhodes (Varney 78), Gestede. Subs not used: Eastwood, Henley, Kilgallon, King.

Booked: Evans, Taylor.

Goal: Rhodes 58.

Referee: Andy D’Urso.

Attendance: 16,456.