Promotion chasing West Bromwich Albion picked up a precious point against champions-elect Fulham in a desperately dour encounter at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Neither side seriously came close to breaking the deadlock in a dreadful game and Gary Megson will be delighted with the draw that keeps the Baggies in the play-off positions. The best opening fell to Albion striker Bob Taylor but he uncharacteristically fluffed his lines in front of goal as the visitors were largely focused on nullifying Fulham’s attacking talent. They did successfully much to chagrin of perfectionist Jean Tigana, who cut a frustrated figure in the home dugout.
Fulham, who have won fifteen of their nineteen games at Craven Cottage this season, were very much second best in the first period here. Taylor clattered the woodwork with the clearest opening from Michael Appleton’s corner. The Albion winger has moved on since scoring straight from a corner here last year when Preston inflicted Fulham’s first defeat of a remarkable campaign but Appleton delivered another excellent display against the Cottagers.
Fulham saw much more of the ball than their visitors but couldn’t break down a belligerent Baggies defence. They had to survive a succession of chances that fell Albion’s way with Andy Melville diverting a drive from Taylor wide before the striker than forced a fine save out of his namesake Maik, the Fulham goalkeeper, after climbing highest to meet Richard Sneekes’ corner at the back post.
Russell Hoult wasn’t extended at all for the first half as the away side kept Louis Saha and Barry Hayles, who have plundered forty league goals between them, quiet. The hosts did improve in the second half with Saha sending a header wide and Hoult having to field a powerful strike from Lee Clark. Lee Hughes might have snatched a winner late on for Albion but he slipped at the vital moment after getting away from Melville, whilst Karl-Heinz Riedle was twice denied by good saves from Hoult as Fulham belatedly put the Baggies’ goal under pressure.
FULHAM (4-4-2): Taylor; Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Symons; Davis, John Collins (Riedle 66), Stolcers (Goldbaek 56), Clark; Saha, Hayles. Subs (not used): Hahnemann, Moller, Neilson.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-4-2): Hoult; Lyttle, Clement, Butler, Gilchrist; Sneekes, Jordao (A. Chambers 38), Appleton, van Blerk; Taylor (Roberts 59), Hughes. Subs (not used): Jensen, Sigurdsson, Quinn.
REFEREE: Matt Messias (York).
ATTENDANCE: 17,795
