By David Ornstein
**Zoltan Gera’s powerful first-half header proved decisive as Fulham kept alive their Europa League hopes with a nervy victory over CSKA Sofia. **Todor Timonov fired against the bar for CSKA before Danny Murphy put a penalty over after Ivan Ivanov’s foul on Gera.
Gera nodded Fulham ahead from Bjorn Helge Riise’s cross but they squandered a number of chances to make it two.
And the hosts were almost punished late on when Damien Duff was forced to clear a Spas Delev strike off the line.
Fulham’s win, allied to Roma’s victory at home to Basle, means Roy Hodgson’s men stay third in Group E - a point adrift of Basle and two behind Roma.
The final round of matches on 16 December sees the Cottagers travel to Basle and CSKA host Roma. The top two teams progressing to the last 32.
Injury, suspension and ineligibility meant Fulham were forced to make six changes from the side which started against Bolton on Saturday.
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But there was no sign of unfamiliarity as the hosts got off to a pulsating start, flooding forward in numbers and exhibiting a one-touch pass-and-move approach that CSKA struggled to contain.
With full-backs John Paintsil and Stephen Kelly marauding upfield, and Simon Davies and Gera pushing on to support lone-striker Bobby Zamora, Fulham were not short of attacking options and Murphy ensured a steady supply of pinpoint passes.
After CSKA goalkeeper Zdravko Chavdarov reacted well to deny Zamora and Davies, Timonov rattled the woodwork with a venomous left-footed drive - but an opener for the visitors would have come totally against the run of play.
Fulham, full of craft and cohesion, continued to push for a breakthrough and should have had their reward when Gera’s surge into the box was ended by Ivanov’s hopeless tackle.
Murphy appeared full of confidence as he stepped up but then blasted his spot-kick horribly high.
But CSKA, seemingly low on confidence despite the backing of a large and highly-vocal section of the crowd, failed to make Fulham pay.
And, moments after Paintsil saw a fizzing effort well-saved, Riise stood up an inviting cross from the right which Vidanov and Ivanov failed to deal with, allowing Gera to race through and head powerfully past Chavdarov.
Zamora ought to have doubled the lead when he volleyed over and another gilt-edged chance went begging as Davies dragged wide from eight yards out.
CSKA came out for the second half with a spring in their step and it looked as though Fulham might have been made to regret their profligacy.
Delev played Todor Yanchev through on goal, only for Kelly to arrive with a last-ditch challenge, before Delev shinned the ball wide following Yordan Minev’s right-wing cross.
More to follow.