LONDON – Fulham, down to 10 men at the start of the second half, eked a point out of their relegation clash with Derby thanks in large part to the sterling efforts of their Finnish goalkeeper Antti Niemi.

Saturday’s goalless draw moved Derby off the foot of the table above Bolton with six points, with Fulham up to eight points and out of the drop zone but that status may only last until Monday depending on how struggling Tottenham fare against Newcastle.

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez made five changes from the side that were beaten 2-0 by Portsmouth – among them Collins John who missed out with a fever.

Sanchez’s counterpart Billy Davies made three changes from his team’s last defeat to Reading, with forward Craig Fagan back after a four match suspension.

As the crowd at Craven Cottage, with an eye on the evening’s World Cup final over in Paris, began to chant the rugby hymn Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Derby went close to taking the lead only for Kenny Miller’s effort to be denied by the first of a series of important saves from Niemi.

Niemi was also on hand to save the hosts’ embarrassment shortly afterwards after Aaron Hughes diverted a cross towards his own goal.

Fulham, looking every inch a side fighting against relegation, were down to 10 men three minutes after retaking the field following the break when defender Paul Konchesky was sent off for elbowing Fagan in the face.

Niemi was again called into action on the hour mark when he kept out a shot from Matt Oakley,

And the Finn, by far and away the star player on an indifferent afternoon for the Cottagers, produced another match-saver when blocking Miller’s low shot in the 76th minute.

Diomansy Kamara produced one of Fulham’s best chances to break the deadlock in the closing stages but the Rams’ keeper Stephen Bywater maintained the status quo.

Fulham have now failed to land a league win since the second game of the season.