BLACKBURN Rovers dominated the first half against Fulham but went in at half-time trailing to a goal from Vincenzo Montella.

Mark Hughes' players carved out a host of chances but they were ultimately made to pay for a momentary lapse of concentration at a set-piece.

Fulham took the lead in the 10th minute when Papa Bouba Diop soared above Ryan Nelsen to meet a Simon Davies corner.

As his downward header kicked up off the turf, Montella tried to help it on its way and the ball flicked off his shoulder before nestling inside the left-hand post.

From that point on, it was all Rovers but a combination of poor finishing and some inspired goalkeeper by Antti Niemi left them frustrated.

Morten Gamst Pedersen went close with two free kicks from the edge of the area, Liam Rosenior headed a David Bentley cross against his own post, and a Jason Roberts shot was hacked off the line by Zat Knight with Niemi beaten.

Brad Friedel finally made his first save of the half in the 37th minute when Diop's piledriver took a wicked deflection, but the Rovers stopper brilliantly changed direction and managed to claw it to safety.

Fulham: Niemi, Bocanegra, Christanval, Knight, Rosenior, Brown, Montella, Radzinski, Diop, McBride, Davies. Subs: Lastuvka, Volz, Helguson, Routledge, Dempsey Rovers: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Mokoena, Pedersen, McCarthy, Roberts. Subs: Brown, Khizanishvili, Tugay, Gallagher, Derbyshire Referee: Mr G Poll