Bournemouth were on a way to a precious win at Fulham, one that would have lifted them to the top of the EFL Championship, but a late Tosin Adarabioyo header salvaged a point for the Cottagers and kept them at the top of the table.
The Cherries, managed by the former Fulham captain and head coach Scott Parker arrived to London knowing that they would have to keep big striker Aleksandar Mitrovic quiet in order to leapfrog the London side at the summit of the Championship standings – and they succeeded in doing so. But, unfortunately for them, defenders can score goals too!Mitrovic remained goalless, and a Dominic Solanke goal just seconds into the second half put Bournemouth on course to a win, but their defences couldn’t resist as Fulham kept coming forward in search of a leveller. Marco Silva’s side continued to knock on the door in pursuit of an equaliser, and the visiting goalkeeper Mark Travers was called into action to stifle Kebano’s angled strike at his near post. The ‘visitors’ goalie managed to keep Mitrovic twice in the second half as the home team’s frustration kept building.
One of many hopeful balls into Cherries’ box simply had to be met by a Fulham player, but few would have expected Abdul-Nasir Oluwatosin Oluwadoyinsolami Adarabioyo to be the one. The former England youth international, who is still eligible for a Super Eagles call-up through his Nigerian origins, rose the highest and thumped a firm header past Travers to make it 1-1.The final whistle marked the seventh home match in a row in which Fulham couldn’t beat the tough Cherries. They still remain top of the table as the race for the promotion to the Premier League promises to go down to the wire..EFL CHAMPIONSHIP – Round 21FridayFulham – Bournemouth 1-1 (0-0)/Adarabioyo 84 – Solanke 46/Saturday15.30: (3.00) Coventry (3.10) WBA (2.50)18.00: (2.20) Blackburn (3.35) Preston (3.35)18.00: (2.80) Blackpool (3.00) Luton (2.75)18.00: (2.55) Bristol City (3.10) Derby (2.90)18.00: (3.05) Cardiff (3.25) Sheffield Utd (2.40)18.00: (2.85) Barnsley (3.00) Huddersfield (2.70)18.00: (2.50) Reading (3.20) Hull (2.95)18.00: (2.10) Middlesbrough. (3.20) Swansea (3.80)18.00: (2.30) Millwall (2.95) Birmingham (3.60)18.00: (1.82) Nott.Forest (3.45) Peterborough (4.70)Sunday17.30: (2.40) QPR (3.20) Stoke (3.10)***odds are subject to change