Sport

Fulham lack City's passion

A tempestuous, sour and inflammatory game was not what Fulham needed at the end of one of the most turbulent, miserable weeks…

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Mon Dec 16 2002 - 00:00

A tempestuous, sour and inflammatory game was not what Fulham needed at the end of one of the most turbulent, miserable weeks in their recent past. But yesterday they ran into a pumped-up Birmingham side who cared not a jot for their travails, and Fulham wilted. This was not a time for quiet reflection.

Outbattled by a side reduced to 10 men for 25 minutes and psyched out by legitimate intimidation, Fulham were poor. These sides meet again in the FA Cup next month and, with Darren Purse's dismissal making it three sendings off in their league meetings this season, it will not be a game for the faint-hearted.

Yet Fulham will again come away with nothing if they do not match Birmingham's desire, courage and passion. While the spiteful nature of the game, with endless scuffles and confrontations, was wearing, Fulham did not compete at Birmingham's level.

After the game the recriminations continued. Rufus Brevett and Clinton Morrison, who had been involved in a slanging match during the game, continued their dispute outside the players' lounge. The bust-up, involving friends and family of the two players, was an unsavoury end to a hard-fought match.

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Birmingham provided the one piece of clinical, quality finishing in the seventh minute. Jovan Kirovski played a one-two with Morrison and sent a well-crafted curling shot across goal, beyond Edwin van der Sar and into the far corner. City should have wrapped it up within two minutes of the restart when Damien Johnson sent a free-kick narrowly over and Morrison was denied with a half an hour remaining by Van der Sar's legs. Guardian Service

BIRMINGHAM: Vaesen, Tebily, Purse, Cunningham, Kenna, Damien Johnson (Woodhouse 75), Kirovski (Powell 73), Savage, Cisse, Morrison, Horsfield (Hughes 80). Subs not used: Bennett, Fagan. Sent Off: Purse (70). Booked: Damien Johnson, Horsfield, Purse, Kirovski, Powell, Tebily, Cisse. Goal: Kirovski 7.

FULHAM: Van der Sar, Finnan, Melville (Clark 66), Goma, Brevett, Djetou, Legwinski, Davis, Wome (Inamoto 46), Malbranque, Boa Morte, Inamoto (Willock 52). Subs not used: Taylor, Goldbaek. Booked: Malbranque, Clark, Brevett.

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).