Match Report
Fulham (0) 1-1 (0) West Bromwich Albion
Championship Match Day 07 1920 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 14th September KO: 12:30pm
Referee:
David Webb (Lancashire)
|
Fulham’s stadium may be being rebuilt but it was their defensive foundations that wobbled as Marcus Bettinelli’s error cost them a win against West Brom.
The Riverside Stand will take two years to reconstruct and Scott Parker had a summer of his own renovation work in west London.
On the back of this, there’s plenty still to be done after Anthony Knockaert’s lucky effort was cancelled out by Semi Ajayi’s header.
This means Fulham have now gone three league games without a win.
Their problem is obvious – with 17 shots leading to just one goal on Saturday. They lack the clinical touch needed to turn possession into points.
Parker was not happy: ‘I’m disappointed overall with the result.
The first-half we were dominant, we had some glorious opportunities.
‘I think if we had gone in 2-0 at half-time I don’t think anyone would have been begrudging that.
‘After the goal really we played into West Brom’s hands a bit and went away from how I want to play.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Goals |
(0) 1 |
1 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Knockaert 49 |
Ajayi 80 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
17 |
9 |
| On target |
6 |
3 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
35% |
33% |
| Possession |
69% |
31% |
| Passes |
547 |
247 |
| Passes Success |
89% |
70% |
| Crosses |
27 |
11 |
| Crosses Success |
19% |
27% |
| Corners |
13 |
3 |
| Tackles |
19 |
15 |
| Tackles Success |
68% |
67% |
| Saves |
2 |
5 |
| Fouls |
13 |
10 |
| Offsides |
1 |
0 |
| Yellows |
0 |
0 |
| Reds |
2 |
1 |
| source: SkySports |
‘We turned the game into a bit of a basketball match, going from back to front very early.’
The Baggies named an unaltered side while Fulham were forced into one change after Harry Arter’s suspension, with Bobby Decordova-Reid taking his place.
It had little impact in the first-half as Fulham dominated.
Within 10 minutes Ivan Cavaleiro had a shot blocked wide, while Cairney hit the bar. Johnstone was also equal to a curling effort from Anthony Knockaert.
Knockaert then spurned a glorious chance just before half-time before making amends after re-emerging for the second period, sending a cross-cum-shot over Johnstone’s head and into the net.
Then Fulham dipped off and West Brom grew.
Darnell Furlong sent the ball crashing into the side netting – an outcome that fooled the Baggies fans behind the goal – while Bettinelli had to be brave to cut out a Kyle Edwards cross.
By the 80th minute, when Ajayi leapt highest after Bettinelli was caught under his bar, sending a parry into the defender’s path, Bilic’s side had deserved a goal.
The Croatian was happy with the outcome: ‘We’ve had to come here, we got a point, we deserved a point and there’s a feeling from their crowd that they were more happy with the final whistle.
‘We were the ones who finished stronger. It’s good for us.’
Parker agreed with Bilic’s assessment: ‘[We] have to have the bravery to keep playing even when West Brom are in the ascendancy. If they don’t do that, it’s 1-1 and to be honest at the end, they could have won it.’
Home will clearly not be rebuilt in a day and Parker will have to keep redrafting his own blueprint after this frustrating draw.
Fulham: Bettinelli, S Sessegnon (Odoi 90), Mawson, Ream, Bryan, De Cordova-Reid (Onomah 85), Reed, Cairney, Knockaert, Mitrovic, Cavaleiro
Unused substitutes: Rodak, Le Marchand, McDonald, Johansen, Kamara
Goals:
Knockaert 49 (left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ivan Cavaleiro.)
Booked: S. Sessegnon (41,f), Odoi (90+4,f)
West Bromwich Albion: Johnstone, Furlong, Semi Ajayi, Bartley, Ferguson, Livermore (Krovinovic 59), Sawyers, Phillips (Edwards 59), Pereira, Diangana (Robson-Kanu 69), Austin
Unused substitutes: Bond, O'Shea, Brunt, Zohore
Goals:
Ajayi 80 (header from very close range to the bottom left corner following a corner.)
Booked: Furlong (56,f),
Referee:
David Webb (Lancashire)
Attendance: N/A