Fulham score three goals but more importantly, earn three points as they climb out of the relegation zone to go thirteenth in the table. Prior to todays fixture they'd only scored eleven goals in their ten home games in the Premier League. Goals courtesy of Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland earned the Cottagers a well-deserved victory.
1-0
West Brom had been defending well before their hard work had been thrown away on the stroke of half time as Mulumbu was dispossessed on the edge of area by Etuhu, who then passed to Davies to fire his shot through the hands of Carson. The shot was powerful and moved in the air but the Baggies keeper would've been annoyed at himself for not keeping the effort out.
2-0
The second goal came in the 55th minute as Simon Davies was involved again, this time he swung in a corner that was met by the head of Clint Dempsey.
3-0
West Brom hadn't learned their lesson as Davies took another in-swinging corner into a similar area, but on this occasion Brede Hangeland powered it into the back of the net after arriving late at the back post.
West Brom were forced to play four full backs to form their defence. Debutant James Hurst, the Dutch Zuiverloon, Chilean International, Gonzalo Jara and the Slovakian Marek Cech were the players asked to shut out the Fulham attack.
They defended reasonably well but only had themselves to blame for the consistent Fulham pressure as every time they snatched the ball from them, they failed to clear their lines, allowing another attack from Fulham. They're going to need key players such as Olsson and Scharner to return if they're to stop their freefall down the table as they have Blackburn, Blackpool and Wigan to play over the next four weeks. They've lost eight of their last eleven league games, so it doesn't look promising.
The Midlands club were lacking any real firepower as Odemwingie played as a lone striker. Miller, Fortuné and Cox were all on the bench but Di Matteo didn't bring Fortuné on until after Fulham had scored their second goal.
Mark Hughes will be happy with his teams performance as they defended well whilst keeping the ball and playing patiently. Stockdale looked solid as he replaced Schwarzer who jetted off for the Asia Cup. Hughes will also be relieved seeing as it was their first home win in five matches. With Wigan, Stoke, Liverpool and Villa all to play by the end of February, Hughes will want his side to carry tonights form into his upcoming games so they can sustain a reasonable league position.
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