Premier League - Saturday 18th September 2004, 12:00 AM
West Brom1
(0)
-
(0)
1
Fulham
Attendance: 24128
Referee: M Dean
Match events
Match review
Kanu came to West Bromwich Albion's rescue as the Baggies' week of turmoil ended in rancour and recrimination at The Hawthorns.
The Nigerian grabbed a point four minutes from the end of a match which saw three red cards, a mass brawl and a missed penalty.
 |
| Fulham striker Andy Cole gets another Premiership goal for his club |
Andy Cole had given the visitors a 71st-minute lead shortly after Papa Bouba Diop was sent off for striking Thomas Gaardsoe.
Then seven minutes from time goalscorer Cole for dismissed for his reaction to Neil Clement's rash challenge on Luis Boa Morte.
Clement was immediately dismissed by referee Mike Dean which provoked a fracas involving almost every player on the pitch.
The late drama overshadowed Robert Earnshaw's debut penalty miss in the first half.
But it proved a fitting ending to a week of chaos in the Black Country which has left boss Gary Megson's future hanging by a thread.
Megson has become engaged in a much publicised spat with his chairman Jeremy Peace and was desperate for a first three-point haul of the season to quell rising discontent.
His day started badly when he was forced to hand Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak an unexpected debut after regular number one Russell Hoult reported ill.
And Kuszczak's nerves looked the most likely source of a Fulham opener in a first half the home side largely controlled.
Chris Coleman's men had lost three games in a row travelling to The Hawthorns and offered little threat up front in the early stages.
Kuszczak tried his best to help them by fumbling Papa Bouba Diop's first-minute header then letting a weak effort from Collins John slip through his hands and into the back of the net.
Mercifully for the keeper, referee Mike Dean had already blown for an infringement by the visiting striker.
Energetic Earnshaw made a good early impression alongside Kanu but was well shackled by full-back Volz.
He resorted to a long-range effort in the 10th minute which flew way over van der Sar's bar.
The dangerous Diop was left unmarked in the Albion box in the 11th minute but after Kuszczak failed to intercept the danger was hacked clear by Thomas Gaardsoe.
Albion stepped up the pace and Kanu failed with two golden chances in the 14th minute.
First van der Sar blocked Earnshaw's close-range effort and the Nigerian's rebound was deflected over the bar.
And from the resulting corner Kanu's free header was superbly tipped away one-handed by the stretching keeper.
The visitors did begin to have some luck getting around the back of the Baggies defence.
Cole cut in from the left flank in the 20th minute but his angled shot was deflected out by Riccardo Scimeca.
Then the former Blackburn man just failed to get a touch to Boa Morte's well-placed cross across the face of goal.
Volz's handball in the box just before the half hour prompted referee Dean to point to the spot despite extensive Fulham protests.
| Match Stats |
WBA |
Fulham |
| Goals |
1 |
1 |
| Poss. |
49% |
51% |
| Goal attempts |
8 |
9 |
| On Target |
5 |
3 |
| Offsides |
6 |
2 |
| Corners |
11 |
9 |
| Fouls |
11 |
6 |
| Yellows |
2 |
5 |
| Reds |
1 |
2 |
| source: soccernet |
John was booked for protesting and van der Sar for straying from his line before the under-pressure Earnshaw blew his big chance.
And Kanu missed another chance two minutes later when his diving header nearly caught out van der Sar and looped over his head to clatter the crossbar.
A dull start to the second period was notable only for Kuszczak's brave dive at the feet of John in the box.
Coleman's first change almost worked wonders when Tomasz Radzinski replaced John and moments later just failed to steer home Sylvain Legwinski's header at the far post.
Fulham's challenge might have faltered when Diop received his red card for unnecessarily striking out at Gaardsoe as the pair waited for delivery of a Fulham corner.
But instead the visitors responded by surging forward and were rewarded with Cole's simple goal in the 71st minute which silenced The Hawthorns.
Albion rallied with substitute Zoltan Gera's effort punched clear by van der Sar and Clement booked for a penalty box dive.
Then came the late drama with Cole and Clement each seeing red before Kanu headed home Koumas' corner to leave Megson breathing a huge sigh of relief.
West Brom Kuszczak, Scimeca, Gaardsoe, Purse, Robinson (Albrechtsen 25), Koumas, Johnson (Dyer 66), Clement, Greening, Kanu, Earnshaw, Albrechtsen (Gera 72).
Subs Not Used: Horsfield, Murphy.
Sent Off: Clement (84).
Booked: Purse, Clement.
Goals: Kanu 88.
Fulham Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Pearce, Green, Legwinski, Diop, Pembridge, Boa Morte, Cole, John (Radzinski 57).
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Malbranque, McBride, Goma.
Sent Off: Diop (61,vc), Cole (85,vc).
Booked: John(29,d), Van der Sar(30,tw), Green(43,f), Knight(61,d), Legwinski(62,f).
Goals: Cole 72.
Att: 24,128
Ref: M Dean (Wirral).