Gary Brazil missed a late chance to snatch all three points as Fulham held promotion-chasing West Bromwich Albion to a goalless draw at Craven Cottage this evening.
Alan Dicks, seeking Fulham’s first home win of the new season, made two changes from the side that had ground out a narrow victory at Torquay United on Saturday with Peter Scott replacing Corey Browne in midfield and Kelly Haag coming in for George Georgiou up front. The Baggies were without top scorer Don Goodman but were buoyed by a vocal travelling support that numbered well into the hundreds.
Fulham could have taken an early lead when Jeff Eckhardt linked up with Graham Baker before finding Martin Pike, but the left back’s powerful drive was straight at West Brom goalkeeper Stuart Naylor. Albion almost scored from their first attack a minute later but Gary Bannister’s 20-yarder flew fractionally wide of Jim Stannard’s goal.
Udo Onwere’s flick on that put John Marshall in the clear but the veteran midfielder wasted Fulham’s best opportunity of the first half after racing into a one-on-one situation with the visiting goalkeeper – with his tame shot easily gathered by a grateful Naylor. The visitors were by far the stronger in the second half, with Stannard saving superbly from Adrian Foster when the West Brom winger looked favourite to score from close range.
Marshall then made a superb saving tackle on Tony Ford to prevent the Albion captain from striding through on goal before Brazil beat Naylor with a last-minute shot but clipped the top of the crossbar as both sides had to settle for a point apiece.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Newson, Onwere (Cobb 70), Scott, Baker, Brazil, Haag. Subs (not used): Morgan.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Naylor; Strodder, Harbey, Burgess, Bradley, McNally, Ford, Shakespeare, Williams, Bannister (Parkin 79), Foster (Ampadu 75).
ATTENDANCE: 4,523.
