David Datro Fofana scored twice on his home debut as Premier League strugglers Burnley came from 2-0 down to draw with Fulham at Turf Moor.
The Clarets looked set for a 10th home league defeat of the season as first-half goals from Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Muniz put Fulham in complete control.
But Chelsea loanee Fofana changed the game after being introduced as a second-half substitute, cutting the deficit in the 71st minute before netting a stoppage-time equaliser and racing into the stands where he was mobbed by delighted Burnley supporters.
“We did well in the game, it was amazing for me,” Fofana told BBC Match of the Day. “We are happy right now with one point.”
On his celebration after the second goal, he said: “First I wanted to dance, but I was so happy that I wanted to celebrate with the fans.”
The draw earned Burnley only a fifth home league point of the season and they remain in the relegation zone, seven points from safety, while Fulham have moved up to 12th.
Fulham took the lead after 17 minutes when Palhinha flicked on a near-post corner which deflected off Sander Berge and over Burnley keeper James Trafford.
Just three minutes and 45 seconds later, a long ball over the top beat the home offside trap, with left-back Vitinho slow to push out in Burnley’s high defensive line, and Muniz was able to lob Trafford for his first Premier League goal.
Fulham had the biggest chances early in the second half too, Trafford doing well to push a Tosin Adarabioyo header over the bar and save from Muniz at his near post.
Those stops kept Burnley in the match and they pulled one back as Fulham keeper Bernd Leno misjudged a cross, allowing Fofana to head into an empty net.
And deep into stoppage time the Ivory Coast striker – who joined Burnley in January after spending the first half of the season on loan with Union Berlin – slid ahead of his marker to bundle in Wilson Odobert’s low cross at the near post.
Fulham’s winless away run in the top flight now stretches to 11 matches, and the Cottagers have not won a league match in Burnley since April 1951 – a run of 29 games.
“It’s a really difficult one to take,” Fulham manager Marco Silva said. “Overall our performance before 2-1 was at a very good level, everyone felt another goal was coming for us.
“The first goal we conceded gave them a boost, the crowd as well. As a team we were naive in that moment, and were punished.”
Burnley show grit as new signings impress
No Premier League team has stayed up after taking just 12 points from their first 22 matches – Burnley’s total before Saturday’s fixture.
They realistically needed to start mounting their escape here, with an unkind fixture list featuring Liverpool away and Arsenal at home in their next two games.
And the Clarets started well – only a last-gasp Tim Ream tackle denied Odobert a glorious chance after eight minutes, while the young French winger shot just wide after weaving through the away defence later in the first half – but Fulham’s quick one-two punch knocked the wind out of Vincent Kompany’s side.
The introduction of Fofana helped to rouse the hosts, and there were also encouraging performances from Kompany’s other January acquisitions to provide Burnley fans with some hope they can launch a survival bid.
Right-back Lorenz Assignon started after arriving on loan from Rennes and put in a lively display, while their other deadline day signing – central defender Maxime Esteve – provided stability after coming on at half time.
“It was all round positive from the players we recruited,” Kompany told BBC Match of the Day. “Assignon against Willian played really well, and Fofana with his intensity gave us something different.”
This draw marks the first time in 19 Premier League games where Burnley have avoided defeat after falling behind.
“The two goals we conceded, that’s not something we can be happy about,” Kompany added. “The second half we had a go, it was exciting, and a great contribution from the new boys.
“The fans are brilliant, they have stuck behind us. There is fight in this team, we are going to carry on. 15 games left, we’ll go full steam ahead.”
For Fulham, their away frustration continues – although a point ends a five-match losing run away from Craven Cottage in the league.
It was a good day personally for Brazilian forward Muniz, who started after Raul Jimenez was ruled out by a hamstring issue, while Armando Broja was on the bench having joined on loan from Chelsea on deadline day.
With his game time perhaps about to be severely restricted, Muniz seized his chance to demonstrate his qualities to manager Marco Silva and looked emotional while celebrating his goal.
“A very good performance from him,” Silva said of Muniz. “A very good first half, good moments in the second half too. He’s a young boy who works very hard.”
Line-ups
Burnley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Trafford
- 20AssignonSubstituted forMassengoat 90′minutes
- 2O’Shea
- 18EkdalSubstituted forEsteveat 45′minutes
- 22da SilvaSubstituted forBruun Larsenat 87′minutes
- 8Brownhill
- 16BergeBooked at 84mins
- 21A RamseySubstituted forGudmundssonat 63′minutes
- 47Odobert
- 25AmdouniSubstituted forFofanaat 63′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 17Foster
Substitutes
- 7Gudmundsson
- 23Fofana
- 24Cullen
- 28Al Dakhil
- 31Trésor
- 33Esteve
- 34Bruun Larsen
- 42Massengo
- 49Muric
Fulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 17Leno
- 21Castagne
- 4Tosin
- 13Ream
- 33Robinson
- 26João Palhinha
- 6ReedBooked at 43mins
- 14De Cordova-ReidSubstituted forCairneyat 74′minutes
- 18PereiraBooked at 45minsSubstituted forTeteat 85′minutes
- 20Willian
- 19Muniz CarvalhoSubstituted forBrojaat 74′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Rodák
- 2Tete
- 9Broja
- 10Cairney
- 12Ballo-Touré
- 28Lukic
- 44De Fougerolles
- 57Sekularac
- 62King
- Referee:
- Darren Bond
- Attendance:
- 20,203
Live Text
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Match ends, Burnley 2, Fulham 2.
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Second Half ends, Burnley 2, Fulham 2.
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Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Jacob Bruun Larsen.
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David Datro Fofana (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
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Goal! Burnley 2, Fulham 2. David Datro Fofana (Burnley) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
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Substitution, Burnley. Han-Noah Massengo replaces Lorenz Assignon.
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Substitution, Burnley. Jacob Bruun Larsen replaces Vitinho.
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Armando Broja (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Maxime Esteve (Burnley).
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Substitution, Fulham. Kenny Tete replaces Andreas Pereira.
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Sander Berge (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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João Palhinha (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Sander Berge (Burnley).
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Attempt missed. Timothy Castagne (Fulham) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andreas Pereira with a cross.
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Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Vitinho.
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Antonee Robinson (Fulham) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Lorenz Assignon (Burnley).
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Foul by Armando Broja (Fulham).
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Dara O’Shea (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Tim Ream (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Player of the match
FofanaDavid Datro Fofana
Burnley
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Squad number23Player nameFofana
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Squad number33Player nameEsteve
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Squad number34Player nameBruun Larsen
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Squad number42Player nameMassengo
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Squad number7Player nameGudmundsson
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Squad number1Player nameTrafford
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Squad number47Player nameOdobert
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Squad number17Player nameFoster
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Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
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Squad number20Player nameAssignon
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Squad number16Player nameBerge
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Squad number2Player nameO’Shea
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Squad number25Player nameAmdouni
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Squad number18Player nameEkdal
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Squad number21Player nameA Ramsey
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Squad number22Player nameVitinho
Fulham
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Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha
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Squad number20Player nameWillian
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Squad number17Player nameLeno
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Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira
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Squad number33Player nameRobinson
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Squad number19Player nameRodrigo Muniz
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Squad number4Player nameTosin
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Squad number21Player nameCastagne
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Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid
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Squad number6Player nameReed
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Squad number13Player nameReam
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Squad number9Player nameBroja
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Squad number10Player nameCairney
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Squad number2Player nameTete