Championship leaders Derby County headed to out-of-form Fulham on a seven-game unbeaten run in the Championship.
The Rams were hoping to extend their lead at the top, but they fell to a 2-0 defeat as Fulham won their first game in nine to pull eight points clear of the bottom three.
Read how it all unfolded at Craven Cottage in our minute-by-minute updates below.
2.31pmAfternoon folks! There's 11 games kicking off at 3pm in the Championship this afternoon and we'll be focussing here on the match between Fulham and Derby. Let's get straight to the teams.
2.33pmFULHAM XI: Bettinelli; Richards, Bodurov, Hutchinson, Stafylidis; Tunnicliffe, Parker; Christensen, Ruiz; McCormack, Woodrow
Subs: Kiraly, Hoogland, Kacaniklic, Fofana, Dembele, Kavanagh, Burn
Subs: Kiraly, Hoogland, Kacaniklic, Fofana, Dembele, Kavanagh, Burn
2.35pmDERBY XI: Grant; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth; Mascarell, Hughes, Hendrick; Lingard, Ince; Bent
Subs: Roos, Buxton, Bryson, Albentosa, Russell, Ward, Dawkins
Subs: Roos, Buxton, Bryson, Albentosa, Russell, Ward, Dawkins
2.37pmFulham boss Kit Symons makes two changes to the side that were beaten 3-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday. Out come Seko Fofana and Hugo Rodallega, with Scott Parker and Cauley Woodrow taking their respective places in midfield and attack.
2.39pmAs for Derby, Steve McClaren makes just one change to his lineup as Omar Mascarell replaces George Thorne, who is missing altogether this afternoon.
2.41pmREFEREE WATCH: The man with the whistle today is Mike Jones.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images2.43pmClick here to see how the table looks going into matchday 34. Derby are two clear of Middlesbrough at the top and also five above third-placed Ipswich Town, who don't play until tomorrow against fifth-placed Norwich City. Today is a chance for Derby to pull further clear in the race for automatic promotion.
2.45pmAs mentioned above, Fulham are on an eight-game winless run, six of those games coming in the league. They've earned just two points out of a possible 18 in the Championship recently and sit 20th in the table, just five points clear of the bottom three.
2.48pm
PRE-MATCH: #DCFC players complete their warmups ahead of today's @SkyBetChamp game against @FulhamFC. pic.twitter.com/LIqKUMq8up
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) February 28, 2015
2.50pmPREDICTION! Ten minutes until kickoff at Craven Cottage, so it's time for my pre-game prediction. It's hard to look past Derby here, and I'm backing them to win 3-1.
2.51pmAs for you guys, 76.5% of you have also backed Derby on our pre-match preview.
2.53pmMyself and colleague Matt Law also looked ahead to the game earlier this week on the Sports Mole Sofa:
2.56pmThis match will be the third time this season that the Rams and the Cottagers have met and the omens aren't good for Fulham as Derby scored five in both the August league win and October victory in the Capital One Cup.
2.58pmHowever, Fulham have lost just one of their last 10 home games against Derby in league competition (W6 D3).
2.59pm
Scott Parker leads the Whites out onto the pitch. We are just moments away from kick-off here at Craven Cottage #COYW pic.twitter.com/KvJfEo8bor
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 28, 2015
0 minKICKOFF! Fulham get us underway in West London, where it's a cloudy, but dry day.
2 minIpswich and Norwich don't play until tomorrow, but all of the other teams are in action and I'll keep you posted regularly on some of the important games, including two big games at the bottom involving the four sides below Fulham in the table.
5 minLittle of note has happened in the early stages, with Derby looking a little more comfortable on the ball.
7 minSHOT! First meaningful effort comes from Bent as he opens his body from the left and curls an effort a yard or so wide. Bettinelli was positioned well and watched it wide.
3.09pmUPDATE: The first goal of the day in the Championship arrives at Elland Road and it's a goal for Leeds United against Watford, who started the day sixth in the table. Good news for Derby and the other promotion chasers.
10 minFulham threaten for the first time as Christensen tees up McCormack, whose ambitious effort from about 25 yards fizzes wide of the right-hand post.
11 minBOOKING! Jones gets out his yellow card for the first time today to caution Fulham midfielder Tunnicliffe, who brought down Christie on the right.
15 minA couple of dangerous moments for Fulham as Derby search for the opening goal. First, Ince's inviting low cross was well-cleared by the Cottagers' backline before Mascarell's curler from 20 yards went harmlessly wide.
16 minCHANCE! Maybe the best chance of the match so far as Christensen digs out a cross that is met by the onrushing Tunnicliffe, who can't keep his diving header down from 15 yards.
17 minCLOSE! Almost the opener for Derby as Mascarell's corner is met at the near post by Darren Bent, with the Aston Villa loanee's header drifting wide.
3.19pmUPDATE: Leeds are now 2-0 up on Watford, while Millwall take the lead at Rotherham United. If things stay as they are, Fulham would be just three points above the drop zone.
22 minDerby keeper Grant is lucky that Woodrow's instinctive flick from Parker's volley, which was going wide, is straight into his arms. That could have easily wrongfooted him and ended up in the back of the net.
24 minCHANCE! Big, big chance for Fulham to take the lead as McCormack spins past Keogh before sliding it into Tunnicliffe on the left. His first touch is good, but his finish isn't as he fails to get his foot around it and only blasts wide of the near post.
26 minYou should have this page open in a new tab while you're following this afternoon's football so that you can check in on the live table. As you'll see, Bournemouth and Blackburn still haven't kicked off as there was a traffic accident that has led to a 3.30pm start.
29 minLooking at the stats so far, there's only been one shot on target and that was from Woodrow with that reactionary header.
31 minGOAL! FULHAM 1-0 DERBY (BODUROV)
31 minWhat a goal to break the deadlock at Craven Cottage and you have to say that underdogs Fulham deserve it. Centre-back Bodurov uses the outside of his boot to direct a volley into the far corner, fabulous finish after a good minute or so of pressure from the home side.
34 minShotton gets away with a lazy pass out of defence and Derby are able to streak forward on the counter. Hendrick finds Ince, but his shot is blocked.
3.36pmUPDATE: Wolves take the lead against Cardiff City and as things stand only eight points separate the top eight! What a last couple of months we're in for.
38 minWhat a way to open your account!
ACTION SHOT: Bodurov celebrates his first goal for the Whites. #COYW pic.twitter.com/EM6ZL95d7M
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 28, 2015
40 minBeing behind won't faze Derby, especially at Fulham, where they overturned a 2-0 deficit to win 5-2 in the League Cup in October. Symons will no doubt be reminding his players about that if they still lead at half time.
42 minFULHAM SUB: Unfortunate for the home side as Christensen goes off injured and is replaced by another youngster, Sean Kavanagh.
44 minDerby still haven't managed a shot on target this half and as long as Fulham can see this out, they will have a fully-deserved lead at half time.
45 minGOAL! FULHAM 2-0 DERBY (WOODROW)
45 minThe Cottagers double their advantage just before the break and it's another nice goal as they break forward in numbers. Parker picks out McCormack on the left and he does well to dink over a cross that Woodrow heads home from close range. The league leaders are in real trouble!
45+1 minTwo minutes of added time in the first half and what a 45 minutes it's been for Fulham.
45+3 minHALF-TIME: FULHAM 2-0 DERBY
3.50pmThe home side (without a win in eight games) take a 2-0 lead after 45 minutes against the league leaders (unbeaten in seven in the league).
© Getty Images
© Getty Images3.53pmWell-taken goals from Bodurov and Woodrow see Fulham in front and if you're only just joining us, recap the first half with our half-time report.
3.56pmSTATS!
Shots (on target): Fulham 12(3)-5(0) Derby
Possession: Fulham 47%-53% Derby
Corners: Fulham 4-2 Derby
Fouls: Fulham 5-3 Derby
Shots (on target): Fulham 12(3)-5(0) Derby
Possession: Fulham 47%-53% Derby
Corners: Fulham 4-2 Derby
Fouls: Fulham 5-3 Derby
3.59pmFulham might be in a great position, but they won't need reminding about what happened when Derby were last at Craven Cottage in October. The Rams fell two behind but then fired in five goals in less than 20 minutes to romp through to the fifth round of the League Cup.
4.02pmHALF-TIME SCORES: Birmingham 1-0 Brentford, Blackpool 0-1 Wigan, Bolton 0-0 Brighton, Cardiff 0-1 Wolves, Charlton 1-0 Huddersfield, Leeds 2-1 Watford, Reading 0-0 Forest, Rotherham 0-1 Millwall, Sheff Weds 0-0 Boro
46 minDERBY SUBS: No messing about from McClaren as he makes two changes - Lingard and Christie off, Buxton and Russell on. That will see Shotton move from centre-back to right-back.
46 minKICKOFF! Derby get the second half underway.
47 minDerby need a goal early on and they almost get one as Shotton gets up well to meet a corner, but he can only head wide.
49 minBy the way, this is Russell's first Derby appearance in over a month because of injury. The Rams' fans will be delighted to see the Scottish international back.
51 minBizarre moment here as referee Jones changes his mind to award a goal kick after Hutchinson had clearly toed it out of play for a corner. Even the Fulham man looked a little surprised to see the decision go their way and Derby aren't happy at all.
54 minMascarell makes the right decision at the back post as he stoops low to head it out for a corner with Woodrow waiting just behind to pounce on any indecision. Derby are understandably piling more men forward, but they do look a little vulnerable on the counter.
4.15pmUPDATE: Derby might be far from their best, but the good news for them is that only one of the other sides in the top eight - eighth-placed Wolves - are winning. The Rams' nearest challengers Boro are now behind as well as Sheffield Wednesday score a penalty at Hillsborough.
58 minWoodrow sees a shot blocked from distance when perhaps he should have looked left for a teammate. The game is really open at the moment and I'd be very surprised if there aren't any further goals.
4.18pmUPDATE: Even better news for Derby as Boro fall two down at Wednesday. However, Watford have levelled things up against Leeds as Vydra tucks home.
61 min
MATCH ACTION: @DarrenBent heads @Omascarell's narrowly wide at the near post pic.twitter.com/fBPO5Q5ljJ
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) February 28, 2015
61 minHalf-chance for Derby as Ince swings over a corner that Bent can only glance wide. Less than half an hour to go now at Craven Cottage.
64 minDERBY SUB: The visitors have now made all three of their changes as Bent, who is clutching his right leg, hobbles off to be replaced by Bryson. It's hardly a like-for-like change, with Bryson a central midfielder. What we'll probably see is Russell going as the central striker.
66 minCLOSE! This could be a massive moment! Forsyth makes a goal-saving block at the back post to deny McCormack after Parker had got to the byline and somehow dug out a low cross that missed Grant and went all the way across the six-yard box.
4.28pmUPDATE: I mentioned earlier that it looks like an eight-horse race for the playoffs, but there's one team trying to join the party and Nottingham Forest are on course for their fifth win in six games under Dougie Freedman as they lead Reading 2-0. In the big game at the bottom, Wigan now lead Blackpool 2-0 - the Tangerines are surely doomed.
69 minInce lets fly from outside the area and it takes a deflection that slows it down a little and helps Bettinelli make the save. The visitors are still in this, but they need a goal soon.
71 minThis afternoon's attendance at Craven Cottage is 20,424.
72 minSAVE! It's all Derby at the moment and they threaten again as Ince's deep free kick is headed low at goal by Hendrick, with Bettinelli making a comfortable save.
75 minInce has a go himself and it's a really well-hit first-time effort that hits Hutchinson to go out for a corner. About 15 minutes to go.
76 minFine defending by Bodurov as he comes across to clear the danger with Derby trying to get through on goal. The Cottagers are playing perhaps their best football of 2015.
78 minCHANCE! Opportunity for Fulham to put the game to bed as McCormack goes clear on goal. He is forced a little wide and can only slap a low shot straight at Grant, who makes the save with his feet.
79 minFULHAM SUB: Second change by the home side as Parker, who has had a fine game, is replaced by Hoogland.
81 minA decent chance for Derby as they win a free kick in the centre about 20 yards out. Ince takes it on, but can only fire into the wall as we enter the final 10 minutes.
4.42pmUPDATE: Watford have turned it around against Leeds. They now lead 3-2 at Elland Road and are set to move within three points of Derby as it stands.
86 minFULHAM SUB: Derby's players appear to have accepted defeat here as Fulham make their final change - Woodrow off, Dembele on.
88 minThe shot count is pretty even with Fulham on 16 and Derby on 14. However, just two of the Rams' attempts have been on target. Not good enough in front of goal.
90 minOFF THE BAR! So close to a third for Fulham as substitute Dembele powers into the area and thunders a left-footed shot against the woodwork.
90+1 minThe fourth official indicates that there will be three minutes of added time.
90+3 minCLOSE! Fulham again threaten a third as McCormack's cutback is flicked towards goal by Dembele. He didn't quite get enough on it to hit the target, though.
90+3 minFULL-TIME: FULHAM 2-0 DERBY
4.53pmDerby's seven-game unbeaten run in the Championship comes to an end as Fulham pick up their first league win in seven. The goals came in the first half from Bodurov and Woodrow.
4.55pmResults at the bottom have been good for Fulham as well and they pull eight points clear of the drop zone. Derby stay top, but it's shaping up to be a really close race for the title.
4.57pm
ACTION SHOT: Woodrow scored in the 44th minute to make it 2-0 against Derby County here at the Cottage today. #COYW pic.twitter.com/Orgx9LVRJe
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 28, 2015
4.59pmClick here to see the latest Championship table. Remember, Bournemouth (0-0) Blackburn still has about half an hour to go because of a delayed kickoff.
5.02pmAnyway, that's all we've got time for here. It was a massive win for Fulham and although Derby will be gutted with their performance, at least they're still top. Most of the results went their way this afternoon.
