Jimmy Bullard grabbed a late equaliser as Fulham stunned Blackburn Rovers to keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

The struggling Cottagers looked to be heading towards another defeat as Morten Gamst Pedersen headed Blackburn in front just before the hour at Ewood Park.

But Fulham hit back late on as Bullard stepped up to curl home a free-kick from the edge of the area.

A clumsy challenge by Clint Dempsey allowed Rovers their first chance from a 30-yard free-kick but Danny Murphy blocked Steven Reid's effort.

Blackburn's players were by far the busier in the opening minutes as they patiently looked for ways to break through the Fulham rearguard.

Cottagers goalkeeper Kasey Keller made a couple of nervous-looking clearances as Rovers pressed.

Morten Gamst Pedersen found good space down the left but his cross was wasteful and Stephen Warnock also broke into the box only for his square ball to evade everyone.

Paul Konchesky threatened to create Fulham's first chance as he pushed into the area but his pass was cut out and cleared.

Jimmy Bullard also floated in a dangerous-looking cross for Eddie Johnson but Warnock headed out for a corner.

David Bentley had an effort deflected for a corner and Roque Santa Cruz was denied by a good Paul Konchesky tackle but there had been little to excite the fans as the first half drifted towards its conclusion.

Zurab Khizanishvili had the first serious attempt on goal after 35 minutes when he headed Bentley's corner at Keller.

Blackburn won a corner early in the second half - but with Reid heading over, it came to nothing.

Yet the match was starting to show belated signs of coming to life, and Fulham almost conceded a freak goal moments later.

Reid looked set to lose out to Konchesky as he chased Santa Cruz's knock-down, but the ball somehow deflected off the pair and looped on to the bar and behind.

Pedersen then tried his luck from distance but failed to hit the target.

Fulham then launched a rare attack and almost snatched the lead as Johnson broke into the area and fired in a shot that clipped the outside of Brad Friedel's post.

But having survived that scare, Rovers hit back and grabbed the opener themselves just before the hour.

The newly-introduced Jason Roberts created the chance, delivering a fine cross for the unmarked Pedersen to head past Keller at the far post.

Fulham could have levelled within minutes. But Murphy's shot was blocked, and Dempsey could not make decent contact in the resulting goalmouth scramble.

Roberts had the chance to make the match safe but scuffed a shot and Keller saved easily.

Pedersen went close to a second with a superb curling effort from a 30-yard free-kick.

Roberts broke through again seven minutes from time but Keller rushed out and blocked with his feet from point-blank range.

The miss proved costly as Fulham grabbed a shock equaliser three minutes from time.

Christopher Samba was punished for high feet in a challenge with Johnson on the edge of the area and Jimmy Bullard stepped up to curl home the free-kick.