HAD Andy Johnson not been forced off the field after 34 minutes with an injured knee, Fulham’s victory would surely have been greater. After 19 minutes, Johnson’s strike partner, Bobby Zamora, had been forced off having hurt his back. But in the case of Zamora, the substitute Erik Nevland was arguably a more mobile and incisive figure.

Both teams lacked regular players. Fulham were missing the lively and intelligent Wales winger Simon Davies. Stoke were without former Manchester United defender Danny Higginbotham, and their best hope of goals in the shape of James Beattie.

The game ultimately faded away in the sunshine, but at least Fulham could content themselves with having scored on 29 minutes with an excellent and well worked goal.

Johnson found Nevland, who resourcefully rode a tackle, made swift progress, then returned the ball to Johnson, who neatly and accurately served Nevland again, now on his right, and his shot streaked past Thomas Sorensen and into the far corner of the Stoke goal.

After 40 minutes Fulham nearly doubled their lead with a cleverly worked free kick. Paul Konchesky ran at the ball as though he was going to take it left-footed. Instead, the ever resourceful Fulham skipper Danny Murphy touched the ball out to the left, where Konchesky turned it back into the goalmouth. There, the rushing Dickson Etuhu made contact deep in the box, only to boot the ball over the bar.

It was almost half-time when a soft back-pass by Abdoulaye Faye was pursued by Nevland. Thomas Sorensen came desperately out of goal to plunge on the ball just as Nevland, who had an equally valid case for pursuing it, made contact with his boot. It caught the keeper, who lay prone. There seemed no cogent reason why referee Lee Mason should award a free kick against Nevland and add insult to injury by flourishing a yellow card.

In the second half the game died on its feet, or at least on the feet of the contestants. Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, was predictably “delighted we could win this match after losing our two front runners”.

There had been a doubt over the fitness of Zamora, who had complained of twinges in his back, although Hodgson had hoped the symptoms would disappear during the warm-up.But the injury to Johnson, said Hodgson, was quite unexpected. He acknowledged how dangerous Stoke can be from throw-ins. However, Rory Delap’s throws were capably dealt with by the heads of the Fulham defence.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis seemed reconciled to the fact it was hardly Delap’s day. “Rory will have games like that,” he said. “But he’s okay.” Tempting to say that Stoke were somewhat Delapidated. Throughout the game, though, Pulis was right to emphasise few chances were made by either side. Stoke did not provoke a single save from Mark Schwarzer.

Two Stoke players did stand out. One was their striker, the powerfully built but extremely deft and intelligent Ricardo Fuller. The other was the right flanker, Liam Lawrence, who never stopped running throughout a game in which he refused to despair or relent.

Whether or not Fulham will finish in the top seven and qualify for a place in the Europa League remains, says Hodgson cautiously, to be seen. “There is no guarantee we’ll be top seven in four weeks’ time.” There are difficult games to come, he emphasised. But hope there must be, especially when Johnson can complete a full game.

Star man: Liam Lawrence (Stoke)

Yellow cards: Fulham: Nevland; Stoke: Shawcross, Lawrence.

Referee: L Mason.

Attendance: 25,069.

FULHAM: Schwarzer 6, Pantsil 6, Hughes 6, Hangeland 6, Konchesky 6 (Baird 82min), Dempsey 7, Murphy 7, Etuhu 6, Gera 6, Zamora 6 (Nevland 19min, 7), Johnson 7 (Kamara 34min, 6).

STOKE: Sorensen 6, Kelly 6 (Sonko 83min), Shawcross 6, Abdoulaye Faye 6, Pugh 6 (Dickinson 87min), Lawrence 7, Whelan 6, Delap 5, Etherington 5, Fuller 7, Cresswell 5 (Camara 83min).