A late equalizer deprived Fulham of all three points at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
For this fixture, Martin Jol made three changes to the side he selected for the previous fixture. Aaron Hughes, out injured, was replace by Phillipe Senderos, Patjim Kasami came in for the injured Darren Bent and Kieran Richardson returned in place of Jon Arne Riise.
The first half took a while to get going, apart from a shot from Ruiz that went wide, there was very little of significance to talk about until Fulham opened the scoring with 22 minutes on the clock. The goal came from an unexpected source, Steve Sidwell, who reacted the quickest to stab home a loose ball at the near post after a corner had been nodded down with the goal, incidentally; coming on Sidwell`s 400th career appearance.
Dimitar Berbatov thought he`d doubled the lead, as West Brom laboured, but the Bulgarian, who finished with aplomb at the back post, was adjudged to have been offside. As for West Brom, apart from an effort that David Stockdale saved, easily, on the stroke of half time, they offered very little going forward.
Half Time – Fulham 1 West Brom 0
Berbatov, early in the second half, had the ball in the back of the net, but was once again thwarted by the offside flag, although this time, unlike the decision in the first half, there was very little in it. West Brom had a chance for West Brom after Anichebe beat Hangeland but his shot was straight at Stockdale who cleared with his feet.
Craven Cottage was almost on its feet when Ruiz saw his cross met with an outrageous overhead kick from Berbatov that just flew over the bar, typical of the skills the Bulgarian possesses. Anelka, played in by Anichebe, forced Stockdale into a fine save as the visitors looked to get level.
Fulham were to have a third goal disallowed when Ruiz saw his shot hit the bar and when Hugo Rodallega stuck the rebound in the offside flag was up once again this time for Sidwell.
Just as you thought the three points were Fulham`s a Brunt corner was met by the head of McAuley who powered his header home to level matters up in the final minute of normal time!
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