ROVERS missed out on the chance to put pressure on those sides ahead of them in the league after Jimmy Bullard's late free-kick earned Fulham a share of the points at Ewood Park.

After a forgettable first half, thankfully the second burst into life when Rovers took the lead just before the hour mark, Morten Gamst Pedersen heading home Jason Robert's cross.

Rovers had chances to put the game beyond Roy Hodgson's side, but were made to regret those missed chances when former Wigan midfielder Bullard curled home an 89th minute leveller.

The point extends Rovers' record to one defeat in eleven games, but it was certainly a case of points dropped against the relegation threatened side.

With Brett Emerton out with a groin strain, Mark Hughes was forced into changing a winning side after last week's last-gasp victory over Newcastle United.

Tugay getting the nod ahead of David Dunn, the former Turkish international making his first start since the defeat at the Emirates almost a month ago. Dunn, who missed the game against Newcastle, had to settle for a place on the bench.

But from the bench the first half won't have made comfortable viewing as both sides struggled to make any impact, the play on the pitch was as poor as the weather. Rovers were always looking to take the play towards Roy Hodgson's side, but couldn't find a way past a stubborn Fulham defence.

The only meaningful effort on target in the first half was a header from defender Zurab Khizanishvili, but Kasey Keller, preferred in goal to Antti Niemi, made a routine save.

Rovers were perhaps fortunate to have Khizanishvili on the pitch when on eleven minutes it looked like the Georgian had brought Fulham forward Eddie Johnson down, as last man Khizanishvili held his breath but referee Mike Riley felt that the American forward had made a meal of the challenge, telling him to get to his feet.

Fulham rarely threatened, their five-man midfield working hard to close down the gaps and putting pressure on the ball at every opportunity frustrating the home side. Roque Santa Cruz was thwarted by Paul Konchesky after taking advantage of a defensive slip but the Paraguayan was tackled in the area before he could unleash a shot.

Less than a minute later Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy exchanged passes, but Aaron Hughes nipped in to clear the danger before a Rovers player could get an effort away.

The woodwork was struck at both ends of the ground inside the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, Paul Konchesky very nearly scored an unfortunate own goal when he and Steven Reid raced onto Roque Santa Cruz's flick, the former West Ham defender got to the ball first but could only direct it high towards goal, as it looped over Keller, he was relieved to see the ball bounce behind off the top of the crossbar.

Fulham almost scored with their first attack of the second half, Danny Murphy found Eddie Johnson in space, he had options as he raced towards goal but chose to shoot to the near post, his effort clipping the corner of post and bar.

Just before the hour Mark Hughes threw on Jason Roberts and Matt Derbyshire and it had an immediate effect. On the right side of midfield Bentley fed Roberts down the line and his centre was inch perfect for Morten Gamst Pedersen to head powerfully into the back of the net.

But Rovers almost squandered that hard fought lead within seconds of the restart. A quickly taken corner kick catching the home side out, Danny Murphy's effort threw a crowded area deflected into the path of Clint Dempsey, but with his back to goal he couldn't get the required touch with the goal at his mercy.

That proved to be Dempsey's last involvement as Roy Hodgson threw caution to the wind in bringing on a second striker on Brian McBride to join Johnson up front.

The relief of getting the goal, allied by the switch in formation from Fulham meant Rovers were finding more room around the pitch. Jason Roberts should have doubled the home side's lead on 72 minutes but he shot weakly at Keller.

Morten Gamst Pedersen went looking for his and Rovers' second goal of the game, but his sweetly struck free-kick went a yard the wrong side of the post with Keller nowhere.

Pedersen then showed the defensive side to his game when a quick break saw Fulham threaten, the impressive Norwegian getting back to block Simon Davies' centre.

Bentley drove the ball into the side netting, whilst Jason Roberts was denied by Kasey Keller as Rovers pressed for a second goal that would surely kill the game, but with just the slender one-goal lead there was always the danger that Fulham could grab something on the break. Hodgson bringing on another striker in David Healy for that final push.

And so it proved, when Christopher Samba caught Eddie Johnson with a high boot on the edge of the area after clearing the ball. After a delay it was Jimmy Bullard who stepped up to curl a wonderful free-kick over the wall and into the back of the net.

There was to be no additional late drama and as referee Mike Riley blew the final whistle it was the 300 or so fans from London who were celebrating an unlikely point as Rovers were left to ponder just how they managed to throw away the victory.

ROVERS: Friedel, Ooijer (c), Samba, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Bentley, Tugay (sub Roberts 57 mins), Reid, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy (sub Derbyshire 57 mins).

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Mokoena, Dunn.

FULHAM: Keller, Konchesky, Johnson, Stalteri, Hughes (c), Bullard, Dempsey (sub McBride 65 mins), Davies, Andreasen, Murphy (sub Healy 84 mins), Hangeland.

Subs not used: Niemi (GK), Volz, Bocanegra.

Booked: Tugay, Warnock (Rovers), Stalteri, Healy (Fulham)

Attendance: 20,362