West Brom and Fulham shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns that did not suit either side.
Fulham hard a far brighter start and made their early dominance count when Bobby Decordova-Reid scored after just ten minutes. Played in by the returning Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Jamaican coolly slotted past Baggies keeper Sam Johnstone to give his side a deserved lead.
The Whites could and should have had a few more goals in the first-half and Reid went close again but saw his effort ricochet off the post. Had it been a few inches to the right, it would have been 2-0 to Fulham within 20 minutes and the game would have largely been done and dusted.
Fulham continued to dominate and even forced Sam Allardyce, in charge at West Brom since December, into a tactical change after a little over 24 minutes. Forward Karlan Grant was brought on in place of young centre back Dara O’Shea as the home team searched for a way into the game.
However, there was never an opportunity for West Brom to get back into it in the first half. The Baggies were sloppy in possession and were kept at an arm’s length from Fulham the whole time, who went close through Ademola Lookman and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The teams went in at half time, and any outcome other than a Fulham win seemed inconceivable. How wrong that turned out to be.
To be a fly on the wall in that West Brom changing room at half time. Whatever ‘Big Sam’ said to his players clearly worked wonders.
New signing, Senegalese forward Mbaye Diagne was introduced for the second-half and had a near-instant impact thanks to his dynamism and pace in behind.
Fulham looked nervy and West Brom grabbed an equaliser after two second half minutes, central defender Kyle Bartley prodding home from close range to restore parity on the afternoon.
The transformation in West Brom’s play was marked. They looked energised and a lot more willing to press. Fulham were being forced into errors that weren’t made in the first-half.
The tables had turned quite dramatically, and it looked for all the world like it would be the Baggies who scored next, and that is exactly how it played out.
It was from a Diagne cross that Brazilian dynamo Matheus Pereira was able to steer home past Alphonse Areola, and West Brom found themselves in the lead.
They looked a completely different unit to the one that went down the tunnel at half-time and had gotten themselves a shot at three points.
The same could be said for Fulham, who had headed down the tunnel looking like they were in complete control yet resumed play as if they had forgotten who they were, and what they were doing on a field in Birmingham on a snowy Saturday afternoon.
Soon enough, the momentum had switched hands again. Fulham brought on Ivan Cavaleiro and Harrison Reed in an effort to get back on top in a game where winning was the only acceptable outcome for either side.
And it was Reed out wide who found Cavaleiro in the box with a lovely sweeping ball. Cavaleiro, who recently has come under fire for some below-par performances did well to guide the ball home with his head.
It was then a case of both teams searching for a goal that would come with three points and boosted survival hopes as an extra reward. Fulham came closest to the elusive goal, but Aleksandar Mitrovic saw his effort stopped on the line by the keeper Johnstone. With that, the game finished all square.
It’s a frustrating result for both sides, but particularly Fulham, who will be disappointed to have thrown away the advantages they had so convincingly created in the first half.
They head into the new week with home games against Leicester and West Ham to look forward to, whilst West Brom play Sheffield United at home on Tuesday before travelling to Spurs next weekend in what will be their maiden visit to the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
By Dylan Chavasse
