Man of the moment Marcus Bent just can't stop scoring, he notched his 7th goal of the season with another emphatic finish at Craven Cottage.

But any thoughts Latics had of taking home all three points were cancelled out by Clint Dempsey's far post shot. Still, Latics pick up something away from home for the first time in nine games.

The game exploded into life on 69 minutes when Ryan Taylor's corner was not dealt with by Fulham, Michael Brown looped the ball back into the box, Titus Bramble flicked it on and Bent, suddenly in a yard of space, rifled the ball into the top corner.

Fulham struck back nine minutes later and in a frenetic last ten minutes; the game could have gone either way. Antonio Valencia was denied by Antti Niemi when released by substitute Antoine Sibierski and went clean through, but Chris Kirkland was also rescued Latics with some great saves. The Latics goalkeeper denied a Simon Davies shot and also blocked at the feet of Diomansy Kamara late on.

Latics' best efforts came from Ryan Taylor crosses, which totally deceived the Fulham defence but Titus Bramble and Paul Scharner just failed to get a vital connections. Substitute Antoine Sibierski get on the end of a Scharner free kick but the Frenchman's header clipped the top of the bar.

Both teams had also chances in the first half, and it was amazing that there were not more goals.

At the other end, Fulham went close too, notably when Paul Konchesky's 35 yard drive struck the bar, and Kamara's shot went wide after he latched onto a Davies free kick. Denny Landzaat also made a brilliant off the line clearance to prevent Carlos Bocanegra's shot.

It was a point well earned for Latics who are now just a single point from leaving the bottom three positions of the Premier League table.

Report by Jason Taylor (www.cockneylatic.co.uk)