A LATE leveller from Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo meant Cherries missed the chance to go back to the top of the Championship at Fulham.

In a pulsating encounter between the two title-rivals in west London, Dominic Solanke caught the home side napping to open the scoring moments into the second half.

But after wave after wave of pressure from the Cottagers, centre-back Adarabioyo headed home a leveller with six minutes remaining to ensure a 1-1 draw.

That result meant Cherries remain a point behind leaders Fulham in the league table.

Cherries boss Scott Parker, against his former employers, made three changes from the side who were pegged back to a 2-2 draw with Coventry City last time out.

Gary Cahill and Adam Smith were passed fit from the off, while Emiliano Marcondes made his first league start since August.

Jefferson Lerma was banned with Gavin Kilkenny and Chris Mepham dropping to the bench as the visitors reverted to a back four.

Both sides had chances within the opening four minutes in an electric atmosphere at Craven Cottage.

Marcondes drove forward from midfield and found the run of Smith for the visitors. After a heavy first touch, the full-back’s shot was gathered by keeper Marek Rodak.

Neeskens Kebano then surged forward and worked Mark Travers at the other end from an acute angle.

Fulham then caused problems from a set piece. Jean Michael Seri’s corner was turned towards goal by Fabio Carvalho. His effort appeared to be blocked by the elbow of Cahill, but referee Tim Robinson waved play on.

A challenge from Lewis Cook on DR Congo international Kebano then incensed the home crowd with man-in-the-middle Robinson showing him a yellow card.

After Solanke took a whack to the head and was left donning a bandage, he put wide his first chance of the contest midway through the first half, heading off target from Marcondes’s teasing delivery.

The England international then went close on the counter for Cherries with half an hour on the clock. Good footwork allowed Solanke space in the box before he dragged an effort just wide of the far post.

But it was Fulham who looked more likely to break the deadlock and they could have had a penalty six minutes before the break.

Former Cherries loanee Harry Wilson went to ground in the box after appearing to be caught by Solanke, play was allowed to continue.

The Cottagers kept pushing forward. After Philip Billing gave away possession, Mitrovic and Carvalho were denied by a superb double block from Steve Cook from inside his own six-yard box.

And it was within seconds of the restart Cherries took the lead.

After Lewis Cook and Marcondes had touched the ball from kick-off, Philip Billing’s precise ball forward picked out the run of Solanke to slot home and stun the hosts.

Back came Fulham with gusto. Wilson sent a left-foot fizzer flying past Travers’s right-hand post.

Parker then looked to the bench and replaced Marcondes with Ben Pearson, who had returned from an ankle injury.

Mitrovic then came within inches of finding the deadlock. He powered a header over from Seri’s free-kick, after Smith fouled Wilson.

Another Mitrovic header was saved by Travers with 13 minutes remaining, as Marco Silva’s side piled on the pressure in a bid to force a leveller.

Kebano’s run met Tom Cairney’s pass and the winger was denied by a superb reaction save from Travers at his near post.

The Republic of Ireland international then flew to his right to somehow deny another header from Mitrovic, before Kebano fired wide on the rebound.

But the leveller was to come for the home side with six minutes remaining. Cairney’s pinpoint delivery found the head of central defender Adarabioyo to glance into the corner of the net.

Fulham: Rodak, Odoi, Bryan, Adarabioyo, Ream, Seri (Cairney, 70), Reed, Wilson, Carvalho (Decordova-Reid, 70), Kebano, Mitrovic.

Unused subs: Hector, Tete, Onomah, Muniz, Gazzaniga (g/k).

Booked: Carvalho, Bryan, Mitrovic.

Cherries: Travers, Stacey, Smith (Mepham, 88), Cahill, S Cook, Billing, L Cook, Christie, Marcondes (Pearson, 56), Anthony (Brady, 88), Solanke.

Unused subs: Kilkenny, Rogers, Lowe, Nyland (g/k).

Booked: L Cook, Stacey, Smith, Travers, Christie, Billing.

Referee: Tim Robinson.