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Peter Higgs at Daily Mail |
Fulham (1) 1 West Brom (0) 1
Martin Jol hit back at the Craven Cottage boo-boys who called for his sacking after Gareth McAuley's soaring injury-time header denied Fulham a home victory for the sixth successive match.
The Dutchman insisted that four points from four games and a mid-table position were not reasons to press the panic button.
'It's disappointing to hear the fans chanting Jol out,' said the Fulham manager. 'But I tell the players you cannot fight expectation. It's not as if we're bottom of the table.
We're 12th but if you expect too much you can get a shock.
'We played well but we couldn't get the second goal. When you soak up pressure at the end, there's always a chance you'll concede.'
Jol was happy with the performance of his side, bar the late lapse in concentration which led to the Baggies levelling matters.
'If you soak up pressure in the last 10, 15 minutes, it is always possible to concede a goal.
'It is always the same in football. If you score one goal and they smell blood, you have to score another one.
'I haven't experienced three offside goals in one match before, especially the one from Berbatov. I thought that probably was not offside.
'The third one with Bryan Ruiz, he should have scored. He was six or seven yards out and he hit the bar.'
Ruiz will undergo a scan to determine the extent of his injury while Berbatov went off with a hamstring problem.
Jol's opposite number, Steve Clarke, witnessed his team climb off the foot of the table with their first league goal of the season after more than 360 minutes of football.
Forced to start without record signing Stephane Sessegnon, whose work permit was delayed, and the injured Shane Long, he was delighted that his team's character was rewarded.
'There were signs in the second half when we showed that we we will be a force in the Premier league again this season,' said the West Brom manager.
Jol's men had looked like winners for most of the game, taking the lead in the 22nd minute.
Their goal came from the same corner as McAuley's equaliser and the centre-back was involved again as he challenged Philippe Senderos for Alexander Kacaniklic's cross only to the see the ball drop to Steve Sidwell, whose volley bounced through the hands of keeper Boaz Myhill.
With Scott Parker pulling the strings in midfield Fulham created opportunities.
Dimitar Berbatov twice had efforts ruled out offside.
For Albion, Nicolas Anelka lacked the finishing touch from two opportunities set up by new signing Victor Anichebe.
Clarke's team should have been finished off six minutes from time when Brian Ruiz was left unmarked ten yards out, but only managed to hit the bar.
McAuley made Fulham pay as he soared to power home Chris Brunt's injury-time flag kick.
FULHAM: Stockdale 7, Riether 7, Hangeland 6, Senderos 7, Richardson 6 (Amorebieta 6, 67), Sidwell 8, Parker 8, Kasami 7, Kacaniklic 7, Ruiz 7 (Duff 90), Berbatov 6,
Subs not used: Etheridge, Zverotic, Karagounis, Taarabt, Rodallega
Scorer: Sidwell (21)
WEST BROM: Myhill 6, Olsson 6, Ridgewell 7, McAuley 7, Jones 6, Yacob 6 (Morrison 63), Brunt 7, Amalfitano 6 (Sinclair 6, 63), Mulumbu 5, Anichebe 6 (Berahino 78), Anelka 6
Subs not used: Daniels, Popov, Dawson, Rosenberg
Scorer: MCAuley (90+)
Booked: Jones
Referee: Lee Probert 6
Attendance: 25,560
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