LONDON, Dec 6: Jimmy Bullard’s first goal of the Premier League season gave Fulham a 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Saturday.

England coach Fabio Capello, who has called up Bullard but never selected him to play, saw the midfielder cancel out Benjani Mwaruwari’s early goal for Man City at Craven Cottage.

Despite being without their injured Brazilian striking duo of Robinho and Elano, City led in the sixth minute through Benjani. The Zimbabwe striker leapt above Fulham defenders Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland to head in Pablo Zabaleta’s cross.

Having been denied a penalty when City captain Richard Dunne handled the ball, Fulham were level in the 27th after Bobby Zamora worked the ball down the right before sliding across to Bullard. From a tight angle, he fired past goalkeeper Joe Hart.

After the break, Zamora shot high and curled wide, while Hart palmed over a powerful free kick from Bullard as Fulham had to settle for a third draw in a row.

“I saw it going in the top corner and it was a great save,” Bullard said of his free kick. “It was a point gained because City are a difficult team to play against.”

Later Saturday, Liverpool were looking to maintain their one-point lead atop the Premier League against Blackburn, whose manager Paul Ince is under pressure to hold onto his job.

Second-place Chelsea can break the record for consecutive away league wins by clinching their 11th at Bolton, while two days after Roy Keane resigned as manager, Sunderland were at Manchester United as an 18-1 rank outsider.—AP