Fulham v West Brom
Only the Premier League's top three have won more away matches than West Brom
Somen Tchoyi snatched a late equaliser for West Brom just five minutes after coming off the bench.
Fulham looked to be cruising to victory after Clint Dempsey opened the scoring from close range midway through the second half.
But Tchoyi ran on to James Morrison's flick to equalise with a cross-shot for his first goal of the season.
Albion have lost only one of their last five Premier League away games and are eight points clear of the bottom three.
Fulham manager Martin Jol started without a recognised striker after selling Bobby Zamora to QPR in a £4 million deal , with Russian forward Pavel Pogrebnyak ineligible after joining from Stuttgart and Andy Johnson and Moussa Dembele absent through injury.
Did you know?
Other than ten-goal Clint Dempsey, no player in Fulham's starting line-up has managed more than two Premier League goals this season.
And, despite Dempsey opening the scoring with his 11th goal in 13 games in all competitions, this performance did little to dispel concerns that they may struggle for goals in the second-half of the season.
Other than that, and an effort that Dempsey had ruled out for offside in the first half, the Cottagers rarely looked like stretching a West Brom side that has picked up 18 of their 26 points away from home.
Fulham controlled possession from the start but struggled to create decent openings, with Steve Sidwell missing from distance on three occasions in the first half.
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The hosts did have the ball in the net after quick passes from Damien Duff and Danny Murphy played Dempsey but the American was offside.
Peter Odemwingie, who was a target for Fulham in the January transfer window, sliced well wide with his first chance after a good move involving Graham Dorrans and James Morrison.
The Nigerian did lay on a decent opening for Marc-Antoine Fortune, when he stepped inside Stephen Kelly and crossed, but the West Brom striker was denied by a low save from David Stockdale.
Fulham's only other chance of the first half came when Ben Foster rushed out and missed Danny Murphy's long ball forward but Bryan Ruiz's header dropped the wrong side of the post.
Fulham boss Martin Jol bemoans shortage of attacking options
Simon Cox had a curling effort from the right flank held by Stockdale at the start of the second half but Fulham were still struggling to find any penetration.
West Brom showed another example of their counter-attacking potential when Odemwingie found space down the right and crossed for Fortune, who was denied by a low save from Stockdale.
Bryan Ruiz showed some class when he slipped past Gareth McAuley's challenge but could only prod tamely straight at Foster.
John Arne Riise showed Fulham's growing frustration by trying his luck from almost 30 yards and Duff also clipped a cross just wide of the far post after a run that beat three players.
Roy Hodgson enjoys Fulham reception
But with 22 minutes remaining a disguised pass from Ruiz put Dempsey through a gap and he thumped past Foster.
West Brom had shown no sign of a response but Tchoyi latched on to Morrison's pass, held off Brede Hangeland and hit a shot with enough power to beat Stockdale.
Dempsey passed up a chance to score a second when he met Murphy's corner unmarked at the far post but headed high and wide of goal to ensure a happy return to Craven Cottage for Roy Hodgson.
Fulham manager Martin Jol
"To concede eight or nine minutes before the end, and with it being a bit unlucky as well, you are disappointed but they were difficult circumstances because Andy Johnson pulled out, Bobby (Zamora) has gone to QPR and Moussa Dembele couldn't play.
"Clint scores goals from the left and up-front. It's extraordinary to score goals the way he does.
"He is normally on the left but today he played up-front and you know there are goals in him so I was pleased."
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson:
"When they scored I was concerned because we'd done well up to that point and looked more likely. We were worth a point and when they scored you fear the worst but we got back in it but the last five minutes or so could have been calmer.
"The crowd were fantastic and everyone at the club was nice to me which was great. I wouldn't have been as happy had we lost but getting the point and the reception [I did] makes it a wonderful evening.
"The squad looks as though it will get stronger and that will be necessary in the last 15 games because we know it will be a dog-fight between a lot of teams trying to stay away from that wretched relegation zone that strikes fear into so many hearts."
Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (2)
Fulham
- 12 Stockdale
- 02 Kelly
- 03 JA Riise
- 05 Hangeland
- 14 Senderos
- 04 Sidwell
- 13 Murphy Booked
- 16 Duff
- 23 Dempsey
- 29 Davies
- 11 Ruiz
Substitutes
- 38 Etheridge
- 06 Baird
- 18 Hughes
- 10 Kasami
- 15 Gecov
- 21 Frei
- 42 Trotta
West Bromwich Albion
- 01 Foster
- 03 Olsson
- 20 Shorey
- 23 McAuley
- 30 Tamas
- 07 Morrison (Reid - 88' )
- 17 Dorrans
- 21 Mulumbu
- 24 Odemwingie
- 31 Cox (Tchoyi - 77' )
- 32 Fortune
Substitutes
- 13 Fulop
- 25 Dawson
- 05 Tchoyi
- 12 Reid
- 16 Allan
- 27 Mantom
- 29 Thorne
Live Text Commentary
Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00 +3:46John Arne Riise takes a shot. Youssouf Mulumbu gets a block in.
90:00 +2:51Bryan Ruiz fouled by Youssouf Mulumbu, the ref awards a free kick. Bryan Ruiz restarts play with the free kick.
87:59 SubstitutionSubstitution James Morrison leaves the field to be replaced by Steven Reid.
87:27Danny Murphy takes the inswinging corner, Clint Dempsey has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
87:12Danny Murphy takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Gabriel Tamas makes a clearance.
86:46Corner taken by Danny Murphy played to the near post, clearance made by Gabriel Tamas.
85:28James Morrison gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Bryan Ruiz. Free kick crossed by Danny Murphy.
81:49Assist by James Morrison.
81:49 Goal scoredGoal - Somen Tchoyi - Fulham 1 - 1 West Brom Somen Tchoyi fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Fulham 1-1 West Brom.
80:50Damien Duff delivers the ball.
76:25 SubstitutionSubstitution Somen Tchoyi is brought on as a substitute for Simon Cox.
75:31Graham Dorrans takes the inswinging corner, John Arne Riise manages to make a clearance.
75:19Gabriel Tamas produces a cross, Brede Hangeland manages to make a clearance.
74:57Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Graham Dorrans from the left by-line, David Stockdale makes a save.
74:52A cross is delivered by Peter Odemwingie, Damien Duff gets a block in.
74:32The ball is delivered by Nicky Shorey, clearance by Brede Hangeland.
73:45The ball is crossed by Nicky Shorey, blocked by Stephen Kelly. Corner from the left by-line taken by Graham Dorrans, clearance made by Brede Hangeland.
72:38Damien Duff delivers the ball, save made by Ben Foster.
71:47Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Bryan Ruiz by Jonas Olsson. Danny Murphy takes the free kick.
The assist for the goal came from Bryan Ruiz.
68:42 Goal scoredGoal - Clint Dempsey - Fulham 1 - 0 West Brom Clint Dempsey finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Fulham 1-0 West Brom.
68:26Centre by Stephen Kelly, clearance made by Jonas Olsson.
67:54A cross is delivered by Stephen Kelly.
64:20Effort from inside the area by Peter Odemwingie misses to the right of the goal.
62:51Peter Odemwingie takes a shot. Blocked by Steve Sidwell.
61:35The ball is swung over by Damien Duff.
60:11Shot by Peter Odemwingie from outside the box goes over the net.
59:12Effort from outside the penalty area by John Arne Riise goes wide left of the target.
59:00The ball is crossed by Damien Duff, clearance made by Gareth McAuley.
58:14Bryan Ruiz takes a shot. Save by Ben Foster.
57:41Graham Dorrans takes a shot. Save made by David Stockdale.
56:18Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Graham Dorrans played to the near post, clearance made by Simon Davies.
55:12Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Clint Dempsey by Gareth McAuley. Free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
53:06Inswinging corner taken by Damien Duff from the right by-line, clearance by Marc-Antoine Fortune.
50:36Free kick crossed by Graham Dorrans, clearance made by Brede Hangeland.
50:36 BookingBooking The referee cautions Danny Murphy for unsporting behaviour.
50:20Danny Murphy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Graham Dorrans.
49:44Centre by Graham Dorrans, David Stockdale makes a save.
47:51Simon Cox sends in a cross, Philippe Senderos manages to make a clearance.
47:01Simon Cox takes a shot. Save made by David Stockdale.
46:01Unfair challenge on Marc-Antoine Fortune by Brede Hangeland results in a free kick. Peter Odemwingie has an effort direct from the free kick.
45:01The second half kicks off.
45:00 +1:14 Half timeHalf Time The players leave the pitch at half time.
45:00 +0:14Danny Murphy sends in a cross, clearance by Jonas Olsson.
44:01The assistant referee flags for offside against Peter Odemwingie. Indirect free kick taken by Brede Hangeland.
43:36Clint Dempsey takes a shot. Save made by Ben Foster.
43:36Clint Dempsey takes a shot. Save by Ben Foster.
42:12Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Youssouf Mulumbu by Steve Sidwell. Gabriel Tamas takes the direct free kick.
41:32Marc-Antoine Fortune concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Murphy. Danny Murphy takes the direct free kick.
41:14The ball is crossed by Steve Sidwell.
40:57John Arne Riise produces a cross, clearance made by Jonas Olsson.
40:46Danny Murphy produces a cross, Gabriel Tamas manages to make a clearance.
40:29The ball is swung over by John Arne Riise, clearance made by Nicky Shorey.
39:45James Morrison takes a shot. Philippe Senderos gets a block in.
38:10Danny Murphy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Youssouf Mulumbu. Free kick taken by Gabriel Tamas.
37:41Danny Murphy delivers the ball, Gabriel Tamas manages to make a clearance.
36:47Unfair challenge on Youssouf Mulumbu by Steve Sidwell results in a free kick. Gabriel Tamas takes the free kick.
35:11Damien Duff takes a shot. Jonas Olsson gets a block in.
33:37Clint Dempsey has an effort at goal from long range that misses to the right of the target.
31:25Damien Duff sends in a cross.
30:55Youssouf Mulumbu concedes a free kick for a foul on Bryan Ruiz. Direct free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
29:37Shot on goal by Marc-Antoine Fortune from just inside the area goes over the target.
26:36Inswinging corner taken by Simon Davies from the left by-line.
26:01Danny Murphy produces a cross, Bryan Ruiz takes a shot. Save by Ben Foster.
24:52Nicky Shorey takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Brede Hangeland manages to make a clearance.
24:37Gabriel Tamas takes a shot. Save made by David Stockdale.
23:40Danny Murphy takes a shot. Blocked by Graham Dorrans. Shot from just outside the box by Steve Sidwell misses to the right of the goal.
22:20Graham Dorrans takes the inswinging corner, Gabriel Tamas takes a shot. Save by David Stockdale.
22:00Graham Dorrans takes a shot. Blocked by Brede Hangeland.
20:54Corner taken by Danny Murphy, save by Ben Foster.
18:58Effort on goal by Steve Sidwell from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
18:30A cross is delivered by Damien Duff, Jonas Olsson manages to make a clearance.
16:16A cross is delivered by Damien Duff, Gareth McAuley manages to make a clearance.
13:37Damien Duff takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Gareth McAuley.
13:01Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Damien Duff, clearance made by Marc-Antoine Fortune.
12:00Effort from deep inside the area by Peter Odemwingie misses to the right of the goal.
11:15Marc-Antoine Fortune is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Philippe Senderos.
10:46Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marc-Antoine Fortune by Steve Sidwell. James Morrison takes the direct free kick.
10:13The assistant referee signals for offside against Clint Dempsey. Free kick taken by Ben Foster.
9:35Steve Sidwell crosses the ball, clearance by Gabriel Tamas.
8:04The referee penalises Simon Cox for handball. John Arne Riise restarts play with the free kick.
7:46Centre by Simon Cox, clearance by Damien Duff.
7:08Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Graham Dorrans from the left by-line, David Stockdale makes a save.
6:40James Morrison takes a shot. David Stockdale makes a comfortable save.
4:49Simon Cox takes a shot. Save by David Stockdale.
4:49Simon Cox takes a shot. Save made by David Stockdale.
3:35Unfair challenge on Stephen Kelly by Marc-Antoine Fortune results in a free kick. David Stockdale takes the direct free kick.
1:59Steve Sidwell has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area missing to the wide left of the goal.
1:59Peter Odemwingie has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses left.
0:00The referee gets the match started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
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