Once again this season, West Brom showed they have fantastic resilience in salvaging a point against promotion contenders Fulham.
Semi Ajayi scored his first goal for the Baggies since his arrival from Rotherham United to cancel out Fulham’s opener from Anthony Knockaert.
For large parts of the game, Albion were outplayed and totally on the back-foot as Fulham’s midfield trio of Bobby Reid, Tom Cairney and Harrison Reed were running the show, but the visitors solid defensive work kept them in the game to grab a point and remain unbeaten.
The Baggies though were fortunate that Fulham were not out of sight in the first half as Tom Cairney crashed the ball off the bar in the 16th minute, after being slipped in by Harrison Reed, and Sam Johnstone made a couple of good saves to deny Anthony Knockaert and Bobby Reid later on.
Charlie Austin spurned a couple of decent chances as his acrobatic effort went over the bar before heading straight at Marcus Bettinelli from Matt Phillips’s free kick leaving him without a league goal to his name so far.
Knockaert, who had been a nuisance all day got Fulham’s opener in fortuitous fashion as his dinked effort went into the top corner beyond a puzzled Johnstone, who had no chance with it.
The introduction of Kyle Edwards, Filip Krovinovic and Hal Robson-Kanu made the difference which led us to have a very good final 15 minute spell and that saw Semi Ajayi rescue a point after Bettinelli poorly palmed Matheus Pereira’s corner straight to the Nigerian international, who nodded Albion back on level terms and that keeps us without a defeat in the league so far.
Here’s how we rated the players today:
Sam Johnstone - 7
Made a couple of decent stops in the first half and made another one in the second half after a kicking mistake. Generally solid.
Darnell Furlong - 6.5
Difficult afternoon trying to contain Cavaleiro. Was unlucky not to score a header from a corner, sending it just wide shortly after we grabbed the equaliser.
Semi Ajayi - 8
Brilliant afternoon for Ajayi who grabbed his first goal in Albion colours and contained danger-man Aleksandar Mitrovic very well alongside Bartley.
Kyle Bartley - 8
Likewise Bartley was exceptional, containing Mitrovic so well and didn’t put a foot wrong. Man of the Match.
Nathan Ferguson - 7
Another composed performance from the youngster, who stood his ground very well against Knockaert, particularly being out of position.
Jake Livermore (C) - 4 (subbed off 59')
Poor today from the captain who has started this season very well. Struggled to contain Fulham’s influential midfield and was with withdrawn just before the hour mark.
Romaine Sawyers - 5
Sawyers was uncharacteristically anonymous in the first half. Drived forward in midfield more in the second half when searching for an equaliser but mostly quiet.
Matt Phillips - 4 (subbed off 59')
Another player not at the races today and was withdrawn for Edwards. Ineffective.
Matheus Pereira - 6.5
Quiet in the first half but made things happen in the final 15 minutes of the game. Put the corner in for the goal too.
Grady Diangana - 6 (subbed off 69')
Tried to make things happen whilst having little of the ball in the first half. Set up Furlong in the second half who smashed it into the side-netting but was wIthdrawn for Robson-Kanu with 20 minutes to go.
Charlie Austin - 5
Another game without a goal for Austin who missed 2 chances in the first half but completed his first 90 minutes which is a positive.
Filip Krovinovic - 6 (subbed on 59')
Didn’t get too much of the ball but posed a threat going forward late in the game.
Kyle Edwards - 7 (subbed on 59')
Made a great impact after coming on causing havoc down the left side. Catalyst for Albion’s revival adding much needed pace to the attack.
Hal Robson-Kanu - 6.5 (subbed on 69')
Another sub that made an impact. Was unlucky not to get on the end of Edward’s cross and earned Albion the corner that got us the equaliser.