The first match of Fulham's life after Kit Symons ended in a 1-1 draw at MK Dons on Saturday. Dean Bowditch gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half but Moussa Dembele's leveller just before the break earnerd the visitors a point. Here, GetWestLondon picks apart what happened on and off the pitch in Milton Keynes.

Man of the Match

He may have shipped five goals in his last outing as Fulham keeper, but if it weren't for Joe Lewis, MK Dons could have been three goals up before the Whites had even had time to settle into the game. Fulham are evidently missing Andy Lonergan between the sticks, as most teams would their regular number one, but Lewis showed huge signs of improvement at Stadium:MK and helped prevent what looked early on like it could have been another heavy defeat.

Moment of the Match

For all of MK Dons' early pressure, it was Fulham who should really have taken the lead when Moussa Dembele missed the sort of chance which should give him nightmares, scuffing over from a few yards out with the goal at his mercy. The Frenchman has been in decent form of late, and made up for his miss later with Fulham's equaliser, but who knows how the game would have panned out if that chance had gone in and the Whites taken the lead?

Manager Watch

He might not want the job full time, but Peter Grant looked every inch the gaffer on Saturday, prowling the touchline and constantly on his feet in the technical area to deliver instructions to his players. It may not have been the most inspiring of performances, but a point on the road at least stops the rot and gives Grant something solid to build on during his interim spell. Tellingly, Alan Curbishley was in the stands, which says little for his prospects of returning to the dugout.

Mattila the hun-gry

He only had a 20 minute cameo near the end, but Sakari Mattila once again looked good, just as he had when previously thrown on. Aside from the Capital One Cup defeat to Stoke, which has been his only start so far, the summer signing from Aalesund has only enjoyed brief substitute appearances so far, but surely it cannot be long before the Finland international is given the chance to properly show what he can do and earn his first league start.

McCormack the saviour

On the hunt: Ross McCormack

There will have been little in the way of inspiration for the travelling fans to take away from Milton Keynes, but things would probably be a lot worse without Ross McCormack . The Whites' top scorer was a constant threat to the Dons' back four, always running the channels and looking for the ball, pulling players out of position, and it was his cross which provided Moussa Dembele with Fulham's equaliser. Whatever pans out for Fulham this season, McCormack will have a huge say in it.