Saturday September 15, 2012 Day 4 Finished Craven Cottage

Fulham 3 - 0 West Bromwich Albion

  • Berbatov 32’, 45’ (pen.)
  • Sidwell 89’

23 comments | Write your comment

  1. Berbatov double disposes of Baggies

    Berbatov double disposes of Baggies

    Dimitar Berbatov scored a first-half brace as Fulham comfortably beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 in the Premier League at Craven Cottage. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Fulham
    • West Bromwich Albion
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+2 That's it from the Cottage. An easy win following that first half sending off.
    • 90+1 Fulham play the ball around at ease.
    • 89' That’s it. Three for the hosts. Fulham break quickly. Rodallega heads against the bar from close range and Sidwell volleys the rebound home to make it 3-0.
    • 87' Gilt-edged chance for Jones. A long, angled ball beats the whole Fulham backline but the full-back, right on the edge of the six-yard box makes a limp attempt at cross-cum-shot and Schwarzer claims.
    • 85' Decent break from Lukaku but his cross is too deep. He did well to hold off Hangeland.
    • 83' Literally one of the worst dives I have ever seen from Riether. It infuriates Olsson so much that he elects not to clear the ball but to launch it at the full-back. Brunt also remonstrates with him. Shocking.
    • 81' Foster comes out and claims at the feet of Berbatov. This is a procession now.
    • 79' This has been a decent performance by Fulham but you feel that they are still lacking something in the central midfield area.
    • 77' Balls flash across the West Brom box as Fulham pile on he pressure. It is keep ball now.
    • 75' Rosenberg for Yacob as Clarke goes for broke.
    • 73' Duff breaks forward, drifts between players and then finds Rodallega on the edge. His effort is deflected and Foster does well again to turn the effort around the post.
    • 71' Fantastic double save from Foster. He manages to parry Sidwell’s swerving effort from outside the box before blocking at the feet of Duff.
    • 70' Rodallega tries to find Berbatov but the ball is just behind him and the chance is gone.
    • 68' Foster claims a deep Duff corner. He finds Brunt, who slips the ball to Lukaku in the channel. He makes a yard inside the box and works Schwarzer. Decent stop.
    • 66' The tempo remians subdued.
    • 64' West Brom, down to ten men, are showing more adventure here and you have to wonder how they would have fared in the first half with this kind of attitude.
    • 62' Mulumbu forages down the right, cuts back inside and finds Brunt. He comes back on his right foot and forces Schwarzer into the save from just outside the box.
    • 60' Sidwell gives away a free-kick inside his own half. West Brom go long but Hangeland clears. They must do better there. Set-pieces look their likeliest avenue and that was poor.
    • 58' West Brom knock the ball around their back four before Ridgewell looks to find Lukaku with a long diagonal. The ball had too much on it but the Belgian had gone a second too soon.
    • 56' Duff is in acres of space down the right but his cross is poor. The ball falls to Berbatov, who uses a run from Riise to open up a shooting opportunity but his effort is always rising.
    • 54' The tempo is quite laboured this half and Fulham need to be careful, they probably need a third to see this one off.
    • 52' Fulham working the ball in front of their visitors. Riise has two chances from distance but both are blocked.
    • 49' We have a slight hiatus for injuries to Yacob and Berbatov
    • 48' Berba has scored five hattricks in his time in England - odds are that'll be six come 16.45.
    • 47' The Baggies need a goal early on.
    • 46' West Brom get us underway.
    • - Lukaku and Brunt for Fortune and Long.
    • 45+2 That's it from the first half.
    • 45+1' Berbatov opens his body up and nonchalantly sends it into the opposite corner. 2-0.
    • 45' Oh dear. Kacaniklic runs at Jones, beats him for pace and the full-back hauls him down for a penalty.
    • 44' They’ll be looking to get to half-time unscathed and then Clarke can make a few changes.
    • 42' West Brom are in real trouble here – they have looked very cautious thus far and the sending off of Odemwingie has made their task all the harder.
    • 40' Berbatov, completely unmarked, sends a diving header the wrong side of the post.
    • 38' Riether wins the ball with a robust but fair challenge. Odemwingie turns around and for reasons only known to himself scythes the full-back down. Literally just turned around and booted him. Madness.
    • 37' Odemwingie has a moment of madness and is off.
    • 36' Berbatov gives away a free-kick in a dangerous area. Morrison swings the ball over to the back post, there is a bit of a melee and just as Olsson looked to level things up, Hangeland blocks.
    • 34' That completely changes the dynamics of the game now. West Brom looked happy to allow their hosts to come on to them and then hit them on the break. But now, there is a definite change in intensity from the visitors.
    • 33' No chance for Foster there. That was probably the first clear cut chance of the game.
    • 32' What a debut goal. Kacaniklic drives in from the left, beats two players and then finds Berbatov inside the box. The Bulgarian opens his body and bends it into the top corner with two West Brom lunges to little avail.
    • 30' Long does well to squeeze between two Fulham players and find Morrison but Ridgewell takes his eye off the ball as he visitors looks to switch the play.
    • 28' Lots of good build-up play from both sides but the final ball has been lacking thus far.
    • 27' West Brom move forward with Mulumbu and he slips a ball in behind the Fulham back four to Jones, whose cross is dangerous but just behind Long. Hangeland makes a hash of the clearance though, scuffing it into Long before regaining his composure and clearing his lines.
    • 25' Whenever Fulham pick the pace up they threaten. They are making great progress down the wings. Riether is again into the penalty box but his delivery lets him down and Olsson stabs his rather scuffed cross away for a throw.
    • 23' Penalty? Kacaniklic feeds Rodallega on the penalty spot and the Colombian lets the ball run across his body as Olsson slides in recklessly. He is lucky to not give away a penalty – he looks to have won the ball with his chest.
    • 21' Riether once again makes a great overlap and bends a ball across the six-yard box but a West Brom foot just manages to get there before Rodallega, who was prowling.
    • 19' Berbatov exchanges with Kacaniklic inside the box but the youngster is ushered off the ball. Goal-kick.
    • 18' Ridgewell wins a good header from a Foster hoick up field but Long is a little too hasty in his efforts to challenge Baird and gives away a free-kick.
    • 17' It is a real waste as it is far too high and goes out on the full.
    • 16' Ridgewell gives away his third foul against Duff thus far. Duff to deliver.
    • 15' As far as I can tell, Long has yet to touch the ball.
    • 14' The Baggies work the ball well down the right and Jones fires a ball across the six-yard box. West Brom’s best move thus far.
    • 12' Wrst Brom are extremely deep, which, defensively, in itself isn’t a huge issue. However, for about the third time already they struggle to clear their lines and offer Fulham secondary opportunities and Clarke looks furious.
    • 10' But, credit to the visitors, they remain patient until Morrison works some space and stings the palms of Schwarzer from twenty-five yards out. The resulting corner is poor and Fulham move forward again.
    • 8' West Brom now have a small spell of possession but with so much distance between Long, up top on his own, and the rest of the team, they struggle to offer any real sort of threat to the home goal.
    • 7' Long is running the channels well but he is cutting an isolated figure up top.
    • 6' Odemwingie twists this way and that to open up some space for a shot. He finally works a yard and draws a smart stop from Schwarzer from about twenty yards out.
    • 4' West Brom have dropped ten yards now and allow the hosts to knock the ball around in front of them. Both full-backs are utilising long switches to open up space.
    • 3' Fulham have started brightly and Berbatov gets across his man to flick a ball goalwards. Great over lap from Riether to set it up but there's not enough power on the effort.
    • 2' Fulham have only lost once here this calendar year, so the visitors, who can go top with a win, face a tougher task than it may appear.
    • 1' The home crowd make a tremendous racket as the hosts get us underway.
    • 14:55 The referee for today’s match is Graham Salisbury.
    • 14:50 There’s hope for Fulham fans though: the last time West Brom won a league match at Fulham was October 1967 and it two years since West Brom won a PL match in the capital – 3-2 at Arsenal on September 25, 2010.
    • 14:45 However, following their unbeaten start – that has included a draw at Tottenham and the defeat of both Merseyside clubs – the Baggies sit in third place above both Manchester clubs. In fact, this is West Brom’s best start to a top flight season since 1978-79 when they won their first three matches.
    • 14:40 In fact, of the 48 goals that helped secure a second successive top-10 finish last term, 36 of them were scored by players who are no longer at the club. The hosts very much look like a side in transition. Martin Jol will be looking to stop the rot against the Baggies, who he played for between 1982 and 1984, making 67 appearances.
    • 14:35 Fulham's encouraging opening to the season - a five-goal demolition of Norwich – was soon tempered by three successive losses and the loss of Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele.
    • 14:30 Having missed the 2-0 home success over Everton last time out, on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has recovered from an ankle injury to be in the West Brom match day squad. Steven Reid, who suffered a hamstring injury during the second half of the match against the Toffees, failed a late fitness test and joins Jerome Thomas on the sidelines, who is out having undergone minor knee surgery.
    • 14:25 For Fulham, Brian Ruiz is still out having missed the last two games with a hamstring problem, but Dimitar Berbatov makes his first start for the Cottagers. Kieran Richardson misses out with a hip problem but fellow new signing Giorgos Karagounis is on the bench.
    • 14:20 Fulham: Schwarzer, Riise, Hangeland, Baird, Hughes, Riether, Sidwell, Duff, Kacaniklic, Berbatov, Rodallega. Subs: Stockdale, Kelly, Kasami, Karagounis, Briggs, Trotta, Smith /// WBA: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Yacob; Odemwingie, Morrison, Fortune, Long. Subs: Myhill, Gera, Dorrans, Lukaku, Rosenberg, Dawson, Brunt.
    • 14:15 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Fulham and West Bromwich Albion from Craven Cottage.

  • Summary

    • 89' That’s it. Three for the hosts. Fulham break quickly. Rodallega heads against the bar from close range and Sidwell volleys the rebound home to make it 3-0.
    • 87' Gilt-edged chance for Jones. A long, angled ball beats the whole Fulham backline but the full-back, right on the edge of the six-yard box makes a limp attempt at cross-cum-shot and Schwarzer claims.
    • 83' Literally one of the worst dives I have ever seen from Riether. It infuriates Olsson so much that he elects not to clear the ball but to launch it at the full-back. Brunt also remonstrates with him. Shocking.
    • 71' Fantastic double save from Foster. He manages to parry Sidwell’s swerving effort from outside the box before blocking at the feet of Duff.
    • 62' Mulumbu forages down the right, cuts back inside and finds Brunt. He comes back on his right foot and forces Schwarzer into the save from just outside the box.
    • 45+1' Berbatov opens his body up and nonchalantly sends it into the opposite corner. 2-0.
    • 40' Berbatov, completely unmarked, sends a diving header the wrong side of the post.
    • 37' Odemwingie has a moment of madness and is off.
    • 32' What a debut goal. Kacaniklic drives in from the left, beats two players and then finds Berbatov inside the box. The Bulgarian opens his body and bends it into the top corner with two West Brom lunges to little avail.
    • 23' Penalty? Kacaniklic feeds Rodallega on the penalty spot and the Colombian lets the ball run across his body as Olsson slides in recklessly. He is lucky to not give away a penalty – he looks to have won the ball with his chest.
    • 21' Riether once again makes a great overlap and bends a ball across the six-yard box but a West Brom foot just manages to get there before Rodallega, who was prowling.
    • 10' But, credit to the visitors, they remain patient until Morrison works some space and stings the palms of Schwarzer from twenty-five yards out. The resulting corner is poor and Fulham move forward again.
    • 6' Odemwingie twists this way and that to open up some space for a shot. He finally works a yard and draws a smart stop from Schwarzer from about twenty yards out.
    • 3' Fulham have started brightly and Berbatov gets across his man to flick a ball goalwards. Great over lap from Riether to set it up but there's not enough power on the effort.
    • 14:20 Fulham: Schwarzer, Riise, Hangeland, Baird, Hughes, Riether, Sidwell, Duff, Kacaniklic, Berbatov, Rodallega. Subs: Stockdale, Kelly, Kasami, Karagounis, Briggs, Trotta, Smith /// WBA: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Yacob; Odemwingie, Morrison, Fortune, Long. Subs: Myhill, Gera, Dorrans, Lukaku, Rosenberg, Dawson, Brunt.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      8 7
      Defenders
      7.9 7
      7.3 6
      7.6 6
      8.2 7
      Midfielders
      Goal 8.2 7
      7.7 6
      Substitution Out90′ 8.9 7
      Substitution Out84′ 8.4 8
      Strikers
      7.4 7
      Goals ×2 9.2 9
      Subs
      Substitution In84′ 7 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.7 8
      Defenders
      3.8 7
      5.9 6
      4.6 5
      5.1 5
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out76′ 5.2 5
      4.3 5
      Red Card 1.1 2
      6 6
      Substitution Out45′ 5.2 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out45′ 4.2 4
      Subs
      Substitution In76′ 3 6
      Substitution In45′ 3 6
      Substitution In45′ 6.8 7

Comment 3 - 23 of 23

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  1. yahoo censor eff a gee then, as in ciggy

    From Stalins Ghost, on Sun 16 Sep 19:35

  2. both Berbatov and Drogba are like a well maintained­ well tuned classics. Both Sir Alex and Wenger are­ mistaken not to have kept and sign them respectively.

    From Mehran, on Sat 15 Sep 22:10

  3. Went to the game great match Alex Smith My friend knows­ you lol

    From , on Sat 15 Sep 21:25

  4. Shows you what a fool Fergie is. Berbatov is pure­ class. And I'm a M U follower!

    From Tires, on Sat 15 Sep 18:24

  5. Steamrollered, Duffers roasted Ridgwell, Dave­ terrorised their CD's and Berb's strolled around having­ a #$%$ doing whatever the fork he liked. Class, Class,­ Class. COYW

    From Stalins Ghost, on Sat 15 Sep 17:23

  6. Great start to the season and then th--, no i won't­ go on, back to reality. Boing Boing

    From Keith, on Sat 15 Sep 17:15

  7. Foster is saving WBA at the moment from one of­ Fulham's five scores.

    From johnp, on Sat 15 Sep 16:44

  8. Foster is saving WBA at the moment from one of­ Fulham's five scores.

    From johnp, on Sat 15 Sep 16:44

  9. WBA are in a false position and today they're­ returning to earth, this is going to be hard work this­ season for them to avoid relegation.

    From Diogenes, on Sat 15 Sep 15:58

  10. come on the dingles baggies

    From bill w, on Sat 15 Sep 15:56

  11. WBA........ pushing the self-destruct button again.­ Arghhhh! More misery.

    From Philip, on Sat 15 Sep 15:55

  12. barba u are the man budy

    From Alex, on Sat 15 Sep 15:50

  13. OH! #$%$

    From Philip, on Sat 15 Sep 15:50

  14. gooooooool

    From Istvan, on Sat 15 Sep 15:50

  15. gooooooool

    From Istvan, on Sat 15 Sep 15:50

  16. Yes where's Petric, Still considering the players­ missing, pet, rico, ruiz and diarra, not a terrible­ looking team. Berbs and Dave (Rodallega-rodders-dave)­ looked good together at the cheats so lets hope they­ can bang a few in

    From Stalins Ghost, on Sat 15 Sep 15:22

  17. Wot! no Petric, he must be injured surely for Trotta to­ be on the bench.

    From Stalins Ghost, on Sat 15 Sep 15:09

  18. where is petric?

    From Marian, on Sat 15 Sep 14:53

  19. How can we expect Fulham to win this? They have been­ eviscerated by team losses. Very Poor management, and I­ do not think it is Jol's fault.

    From robert g, on Sat 15 Sep 13:30

  20. come on baggie boys keep the form going 2 - 1 to the­ super stripes. albion till i die we hate the villa!

    From welly, on Sat 15 Sep 8:53
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