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Fulham escapes relegation zone with a Johns goal

Collins Johns celebrated his 20th birthday in style with a first-half goal as Fulham climbed out of the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw at Charlton.

The Dutch striker produced a stinging right-footed volley to hand Chris Coleman's side a 27th minute lead, with Danny Murphy coming up with Charlton's equalizer two minutes after the interval.

That was the in-form attacker's fourth goal of the season -- he only managed three in the whole of last season.

Fulham moved up a place to fourth ahead of Birmingham with highflying Charlton up a place into fifth, 11 points adrift of Chelsea.

Coleman was hugely relieved to have escaped the drop zone, albeit only by goal difference.

"It's a massive thing. This has been the first time we've been in the bottom three since I took charge and it's the worst feeling. It's not where I want us to be and the only way to get away from that is to get results -- we started tonight," he said.

Murphy, who won the man of the match award, reflected: "It's better than losing a game. We played well in the first half, but the second half was scrappy, not the best to watch."

Fulham took control of the game after Radostin Kishishev was cautioned for bringing down Claus Jensen. The Dane's resultant free-kick found Steed Malbranque whose cross from the right picked out John to volley the ball from the center of the box past Charlton's Danish keeper Stephan Andersen.

The Fulham defense was partly at fault just after the interval, failing to deal with Chris Powell's slide-rule pass from the left which Murphy slammed right-footed into the bottom right of the Fulham net.

Charlton, who would have gone second with a win, dominated the opening exchanges with winger Dennis Rommedahl hitting the post after a deft pass from the lively Murphy.

Charlton's Jay Bothroyd came off the bench and threatened the visitors' goal but it was Fulham who finished the best with Tomasz Radzinski and Luis Boa Morte both fluffing opportunities.
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