Sean Farrell scored a superb hat-trick as Fulham stunned promotion-chasing West Bromwich Albion by winning a five-goal thriller at the Hawthorns this afternoon.
The centre forward put the Cottagers in front the third minute with a fine volleyed finish from Mark Newson’s high ball. Farrell chested it down superbly, held off the attentions of a defender and angled a right-footed volley in off the far post. Jeff Eckhardt almost made it 2-0 moments later, lashing a volley fractionally wide of goal after an excellent run down the right by from Farrell and Fulham rued that miss when the Baggies went up the other end and scored from their first attack of the contest in the fifth minute.
Goalkeeper Stuart Naylor’s goal kick travelled all the way to Winston White on the right wing and his cut back found Gary Robson, rode a Glen Thomas’ tackle to find a shooting angle, and drove a low shot past Jim Stannard and into the corner of the net. Craig Shakespeare then supplied a couple of chances for Paul Williams and Darren Bradley as the hosts were roared forward by the majority of the more than 16,000 New Year’s Day spectators, but Fulham were no mood to roll over.
Peter Scott produced a peach of a cross from the left flank that Farrell glanced gloriously into the far corner to restore Fulham’s lead on 20 minutes. The visitors continued their sense of adventure as they threw numbers forward by their attacking approach left space at the back. Frank Sinclair should have levelled when Shakespeare found some space down the flank once more and crossed to the far post, but the winger fired a first-time volley wide of goal when he had time to bring the ball down before testing Stannard.
Farrell then saved Fulham at the other end clearing a Williams header from White’s corner off the goal-line three minutes before half time. Bobby Gould laid into his side during the interval and they emerged to attack with more purpose but couldn’t find an equaliser. Williams twice saw shots blocked during a goalmouth scramble just after the restart before Darren Bradley drilled a free-kick just wide of the far post. Stannard did brilliantly to palm away Williams’ header from away White corner, but Fulham survived that spell of prolonged pressure to fashion another chance for the in-form Farrell.
The former Luton Town striker completed his hat-trick midway through the second half when Eckhardt slipped a low ball out to the right flank for Scott. The midfielder had the presence of mind to play a low ball across the face of goal from the right rather than shoot as he entered the Albion penalty area and Farrell slid in to score from five yards out in front of the delighted travelling fans.
The Baggies did make it an anxious final fifteen minutes after Shakespeare converted a penalty when Thomas was penalised for handball but Fulham held on for an excellent away win.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Naylor; Rogers, Strodder (Fereday 45), Sinclair, Harbey, Bradley, McNally (Ampadu 78), Robson, White, Shakespeare, Williams.
GOALS: Robson (5), Shakespeare (pen 76).
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Finch (Onwere 45), G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, Scott, Brazil, Farrell. Subs (not used): Haag.
BOOKED: Scott.
GOALS: Farrell (3, 20, 67).
REFEREE: Paul Harrison (Oldham).
ATTENDANCE: 16,442.
