Barclays Premier League
Gareth Davis reports from Craven Cottage

Derby's wait for an away goal this season goes on but it wasn't for the want of trying as they came up against an inspired Antti Niemi in the Fulham goal.

Niemi produced several fine saves, the pick of which denied Kenny Miller in the second half, as the Rams produced their best performance on the road this season.

Fulham were reduced to ten men just before half-time as Paul Konchesky saw red for elbowing Craig Fagan but they still played a large part in the game after the break.

Giles Barnes also came close more than once for Derby, who leave Craven Cottage off the bottom of the table but with injury concerns over Claude Davis, Jay McEveley and Dean Leacock, all of whom were forced to leave the game early.

Darren Moore, Craig Fagan and Eddie Lewis were back in the Derby County side following the international break - Fagan after suspension, Moore after injury and Lewis restored to the starting line-up.

The American winger was playing against his former club at Craven Cottage, as was Dean Leacock - who lined up in an unfamiliar role sitting in front of the back four.

Fagan was up top alongside Kenny Miller in his first senior action since the start of September.

Fulham threatened the Derby box early on with a series of free-kicks and crosses from wide areas but they couldn't find a vital touch.

And Derby almost found themselves in front on 11 minutes as Miller combined with Matt Oakley before picking up the skipper's pass and drilling a lot effort that Antti Niemi turned away at his near post.

Niemi was in action again a few minutes later as Miller released Lewis down the left and the winger took a touch before firing another near-post effort that the Finn pushed wide.

Fulham stormed forward from the corner and though Derby defended Steve Davis's initial delivery, Seol Ky-Heon came in on the second ball and drove just past the post.

Leacock saw yellow on 28 for a foul on Clint Dempsey in midfield, the first card of referee Phil Dowd's afternoon.

And the home side should have opened the lead a couple of minutes later as Derby only half-cleared Davis's cross but Danny Murphy couldn't get a good connection on his shot from ten yards.

At the other end Derby were a fine save away from going in front.

Stephen Pearson powered down the right and crossed low where Aaron Hughes turned the ball goalwards while attempting to clear but Niemi got back to block and grab the ball at the second attempt.

Possession was fairly even but the better opportunities had gone Derby's way in the first 40 minutes.

And the Rams were forced into a tactical switch a couple of minutes before half-time as Claude Davis hobbled off after taking an accidental kick, with Giles Barnes his replacement.

That meant Leacock returned to his more natural centre-back position with Barnes in midfield.

Fulham's numbers were reduced in first-half stoppage-time as Konchesky saw red for swinging an elbow at Fagan, a decision that angered the home faithful.

Fagan picked up a yellow card for presumably an initial foul - Fulham were awarded a free-kick following the incident - though the Derby man's offence was unclear.

Fulham's half-time re-organisation saw Carlos Bocanegra come on in place of Seol and slot in at left-back.

The home faithful shouted loud for a penalty just 90 seconds in as Bouazza's cross struck Jay McEveley but replays showed the ball clearly came off his stomach.

Murphy then curled a free-kick tamely into the arms of Stephen Bywater.

At the other end Niemi was forced into another flying save as Oakley took aim from 25 yards with a cracker that the Finn spectacularly pushed away.

Niemi continued his resistance on 57 as Lewis whipped over a left-wing corner that Barnes rose to meet powerfully, only for the Fulham stopper to somehow sneak out a foot on the line.

Bywater's hands were warmed by a Chris Baird effort from distance, though the shot was never seriously threatening to break the deadlock.

Dempsey looked as though he was about to break clear until Leacock got in with a fine challenge, though the ball rolled out to Kamara who could only fire well over from just inside the box.

Back roared Derby however and Niemi had to be sharp again as Barnes smashed one goalwards after Fulham failed to clear a corner.

The chances continued and Dempsey was next to threaten but his close-range shot hit Bywater and went out for a corner, from which the same two players combined as the American's header was touched over by Bywater.

There was a concern for Derby with 20 to go as McEveley fell awkwardly after a high ball and was unable to continue after lengthy treatment.

He was able to walk off the field, however, though he was looking groggy as Andy Griffin took his place.

Derby's best chance yet arrived on 75 minutes as a ball from the back somehow found its way through the Fulham defence to Miller, who came in from the left and tried to place his shot past Niemi - who was once again equal with yet another fine save.

The Rams' defensive injury concerns increased soon afterwards as Leacock was forced from the field with what looked like a groin injury, and replaced by Steve Howard.

That meant a re-shuffle with Griffin at right-back, Mears in the middle alongside Moore and Lewis at left-back, with Howard joining the attack.

With Derby still settling in Kamara threatened once more, though Bywater wasn't overly troubled.

Howard was an inch away from winning the game on 87 as he couldn't quite stretch enough to reach Griffin's delightful low ball in from the right.

Miller almost pinched what would have been a deserved three points right at the death but his shot rolled agonisingly wide of the post with Niemi - at last - beaten.

It wasn't to be for the Rams but they can take plenty of heart from the way they created plenty of chances and also kept their first clean sheet on the road this season.

FULHAM: Niemi, Konchesky, Stefanovic, Seol (Bocanegra HT), S Davis (Davies 69), Kamara (Healy 86), Hughes (C), Dempsey, Bouazza, Murphy, Baird.

SUBS: Warner (GK), Smertin.

DERBY: Bywater, McEveley (Griffin 70), Leacock, Oakley (C), Fagan, Miller, Lewis, C Davis (Barnes 43), Moore, Mears, Pearson.

SUBS: Jones, Howard, Earnshaw.

ATTENDANCE: 22,576.