City Hart, Zabaleta, Ben Haim, Dunne, Kompany, M Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Vassell, Wright-Phillips, Benjani – subs Jo(unused), Caicedo(unused), Schmeichel(unused), Berti(unused), Logan(unused), Onuoha(unused), Evans(77).

Fulham Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Bullard, Dempsey, Murphy, Davies, Johnson, Zamora – sub Zuberbuhler(unused), Nevland(unused), Gera(unused), Etuhu(unused), Stoor(unused), Andreasen(unused), Kallio(unused)

BENJANI PUTS CITY INTO AN EARLY LEAD

The match kicked off with a low bright winter sun which Fulham were trying to use to their advantage by changing ends so Joe Hart would have the problem of sighting the ball in the first half.
However it was Fulham who couldn’t deal with a fantastic cross from Pablo Zabaleta in the sixth minute, it found the head of Benjani on the edge of the area, and the Zimbabwean sstriker made no mistake heading passed Schwarzer to give City an early 1-0 lead.
Mark Hughes side were very comfortable for the first 20 minutes, and then Fulham had a penalty appeal when the ball hit Richard Dunnes arm, however, to the Craven Cottage faithfull, the referee’s decision that it was accidental, was not what they felt was correct.

Five minutes later the disgruntled Fulham fans had something to cheers about, the ball was played through by Zamora to Jimmy Bullard on the edge of the penalty area, he drove into the box and from a difficult wide angle, smashed the ball into the far side of the net, and it was 1-1.
The second half was combative but there were no clear cut chances for either side and a draw seemed a fair result.