Fulham 2, West Brom 0: Christopher Lepkowski's big match verdict

Feb 23 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

ALBION’S best performer? That’s the easy bit – Scott Carson’s goalposts.

The Baggies lost 2-0 but it could have been far worse had the woodwork not come to their rescue.

Defeat wasn’t a major surprise. Fulham are strong at home, Albion don’t travel well.

Perhaps more worrying is the fall-out from such a defeat and the manner of it.

Losing to a better side, which Fulham undoubtedly are, is one thing. But the lack of passion suggested that hope has gone.

Heads were dropping far too easily among the away players. Mistakes became more prominent and, frankly, Albion played like a side that’s coming to terms with its fate.

The Baggies will be relegated if there are any more performances like this.

They were too easy to play against, too sloppy in possession and second best in all departments.

The home side hit both posts and the crossbar during the first half, before hitting the bar again after the break. Albion fans must have felt like hitting the bar themselves.

Carson was Albion’s best performer on the basis that he kept the score down.

Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson grabbed the glory but Albion could easily have been down by several goals by then.

They were given an early scare when Johnson was brought down by Gianni Zuiverloon on four minutes. Danny Murphy’s resulting 20-yard free-kick was tipped on to the post by Carson and cleared away by Abdoulaye Meite.

Albion were far too generous with possession and almost paid for it in the 24th minute when Borja Valero lost the ball in Fulham’s half. A succession of passes later and Clint Dempsey could only watch as his chipped curler flew over Carson but bounced against the post before being cleared.

Carson’s goal frame again came to Albion’s rescue just after the half-hour. Murphy tried his luck with a long-range chip, Carson was beaten but this time the ball cannoned against the bar and into the stand.

Fulham went close once more in the 39th minute. Murphy’s chip was headed towards the goal by Leon Barnett. Carson had already committed himself by racing out but the keeper managed to get back to scramble the ball away before it crossed the line.

Albion had pushed their luck for the final time.