FULHAM'S former assistant boss Steve Kean was left fuming after Bobby Zamora's 89 th minute spot-kick settled an absorbing contest at the Cottage.

Ref Mark Clattenburg – at the centre of last week's Wayne Rooney elbow controversy – awarded the softest of penalties for an apparent tug by Rovers' Grant Hanley on Aaron Hiughes at a corner.

But the Whites, whose appeals were muted, weren't complaining, having had a good shout for a penalty turned down in the first half when Christopher Samba clipped Andrew Johnson's ankle.

It was Zamora's (pictured) first goal since August after a season blighted by injury and gives Mark Hughes' men more breathing space in a crowded league table.

Victory appeared to have evaded Fulham until that moment in spite of two goals from Damien Duff – on target in the draw at Man City last week - which doubled the Irishman's goals tally for the season.

Both Duff's goals were similar efforts – involving a cut inside onto his favoured left foot and a low drilled shot through a defender's legs inside Paul Robinson's near post.

The Blackburn keeper was possibly at fault for both goals, but particularly the first one on 37 th minutes, which he allowed to squirm through his grip.

Blackburn hit back to level twice. Their first, on the stroke of half time, came when Dickson Etuhu was dispossessed on the edge of the area by Steven Nzonzi and Hanley's chip flew past Mark Schwarzer off the shoulder of Brede Hangeland.

The Whites regained the lead on 59 minutes, but lost it on 66 when Jason Roberts hooked a ball back from the byline for David Hoillet to volley home.

Rovers will feel hard done by – Chris Baird had to head off the line after Mame Biram Diouf latched on to a weak punch from Schwarzer to send a looping header goalwards, just before the second Blackburn equaliser.

But Fulham will point to Etuhu going close in the first half and Zamora almost scoring with his first touch on 70 minutes – his free-kick outside the area taking a deflection which almost took it past Robinson.

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