Fulham 2 Bristol Rovers 2:Danny Murphy's blistering drive 16 minutes from time spared Fulham from the list of Premier League names on the FA Cup scrapheap but battling Bristol Rovers will still be confident of getting through this third-round tie in a home replay after twice leading at Craven Cottage.
New Fulham boss Roy Hodgson saw his full-strength team - apart from the injured Brian McBride and Jimmy Bullard - fall behind right at the start when the League One team cashed in on a lucky break.
Fulham failed to clear a throw-in on the left and the ball bounced around in the area before Danny Coles, on loan from Hull, pounced to hit a shot that took a wicked deflection to totally confound keeper Antti Niemi as it ricocheted into the net.
And, although David Healy equalised just before half-time, it looked like curtains again for a Fulham team that has not won in 10 matches when Rovers centre back Craig Hinton, who had survived a confident penalty appeal against him when Clint Dempsey tumbled, headed powerfully home to restore their lead on 65 minutes.
Fulham showed so little invention in trying to break down a dedicated defensive action, however, that it was a travesty of justice when Murphy, the former England and Liverpool midfielder who joined them on a free transfer from Tottenham in August, thumped home a smashing long-distance shot.
The goal still could not silence the massed ranks of the travelling Rovers army who gave their favourites magnificent backing, and they almost cheered a winner when Niemi had to keep out a stinging effort from Sean Rigg in the 88th minute.
It was another reminder to the former Inter Milan, Blackburn and Finland boss Hodgson that he has plenty of work to do to turn around a Fulham side heading for relegation on current form.
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