Departing Tigana is humbled as Fulham are brushed aside

Fulham 0 Blackburn Rovers 4

Fulham, without a home and, as of the end of the season, without their manager Jean Tigana, produced a performance at Loftus Road last night that was, predictably, without confidence.

Hakan Sukur's first goals for Blackburn since arriving last December helped the visitors earn their best away win in five years, but in truth they never needed to be more than efficient against a side lacking true coherence or commitment.

In making the announcement of Tigana's imminent departure with seven games of the season still to play, Fulham appear to have scored a damaging own goal. Dramatic improvement will be required to ensure that the unthinkable – dropping down towards the relegation zone – does not come to pass.

Before witnessing his side's equal worst home showing during his time as manager, Tigana had used his programme notes to express his regrets about the club's decision. "I am sad that I will not be at Fulham next season,'' he wrote. "It is a difficult situation, but it is a situation that I have to accept, and that is football.''

Afterwards, the quietly spoken former French midfielder reflected philosophically on what he described as "our worst result in my time here". Acknowledging that it had been "a very difficult night", he added: "We didn't get the reaction we needed after they scored their opening penalty. The spirit wasn't there. I don't know why. For me it is easy, always, to focus on the game. Now it is only the players who have to find the good work to rebuild quickly.''

Asked what the players' reaction had been to the news that he was to leave, he replied: "I don't know exactly. No one player has talked about the future with me. There is a big question mark over their futures. I don't have the answer.''

According to Fulham's chief executive, Bruce Langham, the club has already had 30 serious applications for Tigana's position since the job was put out to tender following Fulham's 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford last Saturday week.

Among those said to have applied are Reading's manager Alan Pardew, George Burley, currently looking after Derby County, and the former Fulham manager Micky Adams, now in charge at Leicester.

Langham stressed that the new manager would be expected to "enhance what we have already got rather than change everything.'' He will also be expected to work within a tight budget at a club which has already downsized plans to redevelop its traditional home at Craven Cottage and faces an uncertain financial future.

Given these requirements, it was strange indeed to see Gianluca Vialli as an interested spectator in the director's box last night, given that his previous managerial stints at Chelsea and Watford established his reputation for two things: changing everything and spending money. It would be a surprise if Vialli was appointed. But then, as Tigana says, that is football.

That Fulham were demotivated from the start was no surprise, however, although it took Blackburn half an hour to recognise their opportunity.

Their opening goal arrived in the 36th minute when David Dunn converted a penalty after Lee Clark had handled his flicked header from a Garry Flitcroft cross, a move which swiftly followed a shot from Andy Cole that had been deflected on to the bar.

Five minutes later Hakan Sukur, who missed two months after breaking his leg in training soon after arriving at Ewood Park, claimed his first Blackburn goal, controlling a deep cross from Lucas Neill and beating Steve Finnan before poking the ball home from close range.

Seven minutes into the second half, Fulham's discomfort turned into humiliation in the space of 60 seconds. First Damien Duff made it 3-0 with an angled drive and then Hakan Sukur picked his way calmly through a disorganised defence to complete what had turned into a rout.

Fulham (4-4-2): Taylor 5; Finnan 4, Knight 4, Goma 5, Harley 5; Malbranque 7, Djétou 6, Clark 4 (Legwinski 5, 60), Boa Morte 6; Saha 4, Marlet 4 (Hammond 5, 60). Substitutes not used: Herrera (gk), Melville, Sava.

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Friedel 7; Neill 5, (Taylor 5, 52), Berg 5, Short 7, Gresko 5; Dunn 8, Tugay 7, (Gillespie 5, 68; Grabbi, 89), Flitcroft 5, Duff 8; Cole 6, Hakan Sukur 8. Substitutes not used: Kelly (gk), Yorke.

Referee: G Poll (Herts) 7.