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DATE:
Saturday 3rd
December 2005
MATCH PREVIEW BY: Martyn Todd
This weekend sees the Baggies take on Fulham at the Hawthorns
in a game where only three points will
be seen as sufficient.
Last season’s corresponding fixture saw a barn-stormer of a
game with three players sent off, as well as a
punch-up of which Don King would have been impressed!
The Hawthorns' clash will be the
first of two successive away games for Fulham - they visit Birmingham
City next weekend. Chris Coleman’s men should be full of confidence after
last Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers and they
will be expecting to take at least four points from the two games back to
Craven Cottage.
Up front they also possess a number of players of the highest
quality. Brian McBride, Luis Boa Morte and Collins John are all capable of
putting the ball in the back of the net. Again, I’m going to be
Mr. Negative and predict a 1-0 victory to our visitors, fingers
crossed I’m wrong (I usually am!) COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!! ALBION Albion will again
be without on-loan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland who is still struggling to
shake off the effects of the bruised kidney he sustained at Bolton last
month. Long-term injury victim Zoltan Gera will also miss the game
although he has now returned to training. Baggies' boss Bryan Robson looks
set to revert to the team that started at Middlesbrough last Sunday
meaning recalls for Kanu, Watson, Davies, Greening and Kuszczak after they
sat out the midweek Carling Cup tie at Old Trafford. Possible Line-up:
Kuszczak,
Watson, Davies, Clement,
Robinson, Greening, Wallwork, Inamoto, Kamara, Ellington, Kanu. FULHAM Fulham captain Luis Boa Morte should be available for
selection after shaking off a slight knock suffered during last Sunday's
2-1 victory over Bolton and defender Phillippe
Christanval may also return after recovering from his hamstring injury.
Claus Jensen will definitely miss the
game though due to a
groin injury. Possible Line-up:
Crossley, Volz,
Bocanegra, Goma, Rosenior, Malbranque, Bouba Diop, Radzinski, John,
McBride, Boa Morte.
THIS SEASON
Fulham currently lie in 14th place in the Barclays Premiership with 15
points from 14 games. Brian McBride is the club's leading scorer with six league and cup
goals. Chris Coleman's men have won two of their last three games.
They beat Manchester City 2-1 at Craven Cottage, lost 3-2 at Middlesbrough
and in their last game beat Bolton Wanderers, again by a 2-1 scoreline at
the Cottage. LAST SEASON
Finished 13th in
the Barclays Premiership, were knocked out of the FA Cup in the 5th round
by Bolton Wanderers and were beaten in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup by
Chelsea. Andy Cole finished the season as Fulham's top goalscorer
with 13 league and cup goals. ONES TO WATCH Brian
McBride - Skilful striker, excellent in the air and possesses a real eye
for goal. Luis
Boa Morte - A very quick and skilful player who is capable of playing in
midfield or as a striker. Papa
Bouba Diop - A big, strong, tough tackling midfielder. A good passer of
the ball and more than capable of chipping in with the odd goal. Very
dangerous at set-pieces.
The first league meetings between the two sides took
place in the Second Division during the 1907/08 season. The first game, on
December 28 at Craven Cottage ended all-square at 1-1 with Harry Wilcox
scoring the Albion goal. The return game at The Hawthorns on the last day
of the season saw Albion claim a 3-1 victory, Billy Jordan, Harry Wright
and Willie Thompson the Baggies' goalscorers.
Albion's biggest victory over the Cottagers is 6-1,
achieved twice, first in 1946/47 and then in 1962/63, both games took
place at The Hawthorns. The latter game saw Derek Kevan score four of the
Albion goals. Albion also recorded a 6-2 victory at The Hawthorns in
November 1965.
Fulham's best result against Albion came in August 1975
with a 4-0 victory at Craven Cottage. They also registered a 4-2 win at
The Hawthorns two seasons running; in 1959/60 and 1960/61.
Albion's first ever Premiership win came against Fulham
at The Hawthorns on August 31,2002, Darren Moore scoring the only goal of
the game in a 1-0 victory.
Albion have won just two of the last eight meetings
between the sides at The Hawthorns.
Albion
1-1 Fulham
Albion:
Kuszczak,
Scimeca, Gaardsoe, Purse, Robinson (Albrechtsen 25), (Gera 72), Koumas,
Johnson (Dyer 66), Clement, Greening, Kanu, Earnshaw.
Subs Not Used: Murphy (gk),
Horsfield Goalscorer: Kanu 88
Fulham:
Van der Sar,
Volz, Knight, Pearce, Green, Legwinski, Diop, Pembridge, Boa Morte, Cole,
John (Radzinski 57). Subs Not
Used: Crossley (gk), Malbranque, McBride, Goma
Goalscorer: Cole 72
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Assistant Referees:
Andrew Butler (Lancashire),
James Tattan (Merseyside)
Half-Time:
Albion
0-0 Fulham
Attendance:
24,128 Sky Sports Match Report: West
Brom 1 Fulham 1, sounds a fairly dull affair - do not believe it, there
will not be a Premiership game this season which has as much incident as
this. Three red cards, two goals, a missed penalty, a disallowed goal and
seven bookings were all seen during an action-packed encounter at The
Hawthorns. A lively opening period saw Robert Earnshaw blast a penalty
over on his first start, while Collins John had a goal ruled out for a
dubious offside. Papa Bouba Diop's red card on the hour inspired Fulham to
push forward and they took the lead through Andy Cole. Two more sending
offs followed with Neil Clement and Cole, before Kanu headed home a late
leveller. The match began in pulsating fashion and continued for the
entire opening period.
Fulham
were the brighter in the opening exchanges and debutant Tomasz Kuszczak
had to be alert to keep out Diop's header. Referee Mike Dean then made his
first telling contribution of the day when he disallowed John's goal for
offside, despite the fact the Dutchman had not peeled off the last man
until after being put through. West Brom
began to bring their front men into the game and Kanu and Earnshaw were
both denied their first goals for the club by Edwin van der Sar. The
chances came in quick succession as Kanu somehow failed to convert from
two yards after van der Sar parried Earnshaw's brilliant header. Kanu was
denied again as van der Sar blocked his goalbound header with a wonderful
right-handed save, when at full stretch. Cole then missed a gilt-edged
chance to put his side ahead after a nice move down the right involving
John and Luis Boa Morte teed up the former England star in the six-yard
box, but he could not make contact. Moments later and it was West Brom who
should have gone ahead, this time after they were awarded a penalty.
Jonathan Greening created the chance with a nice turn and cross for
Earnshaw and his header was blocked by Moritz Volz's hand - The Cottagers
protested vigorously with referee Dean, but it was a pretty clear-cut spot
kick. Fulham attempted to put off Earnshaw, who was handed the chance of a
debut goal, and it seemed to work as the Welshman scooped the ball well
over with a very poor effort. Kanu then smashed a header against the bar
as he stooped to get to a Jason Koumas cross - as the game continued to
fly from end to end.
Into the second half and Fulham continued to look dangerous in the opening exchanges with John and Cole both going close. Fulham's cause then suffered a huge blow as Diop shoved Darren Purse in the face as a corner was being taken, the incident occurred in front of Dean and he was left with little option but to send the African off - who had probably been the best player on the pitch up until he left the field. Despite going down to ten men Fulham continued looking the best side and substitute Tomasz Radzinski had two half chances as he made an immediate impact. Kuszczak then produced a wonderful save as Ian Pearce was picked out by Radzinski just eight yards out - but his effort, which also took a slight deflection off Martin Albrechtsen, was turned over by the Pole. Fulham deservedly took the lead with a classy move on 71 minutes, which was started and finished by Cole. He picked up the ball from Boa Morte and ran at the West Brom defence before picking out Mark Pembridge down the left, the Welsh midfielder then cut the ball back for Cole to slide home from two yards. Despite going behind, West Brom still could not stir themselves into action and Pearce came close to extending their lead but his header from Mark Pembridge's corner just flew wide. Substitute Zoltan Gera then forced van der Sar into a smart save, but at that point it was all West Brom had to offer in the second period. Then, as if Dean had not been busy enough, another two red cards came. The main incident began as Boa Morte broke clear and Clement clipped his heels. Dean immediately brought the red out, despite the fact Lloyd Dyer looked to have got back far enough for him not to be the last man. Then Clement squared up with Cole on his way off the pitch and the pair exchanged a number of punches, before being separated by team-mates. Dean was again left with little option but to hand out his third red of the afternoon to Cole. Just as the first sending off inspired Fulham, the second and third had the same effect on West Brom. Gary Megson's ten men now pushed forward and somehow dragged themselves back into the game. A Greening corner came in and Kanu was left unmarked to flick the ball past van der Sar for his first goal in a blue and white shirt. The match ended in a draw, which was probably harsh on the visitors, but the many incidents mean this game will be remembered as one of the most entertaining Premiership clashes in a long time. CURRENT CONNECTIONS Junichi Inamoto spent two years on loan at Craven Cottage from Japanese side Gamba Osaka. Zat Knight was a youth player at Albion before being released by the club. PAST CONNECTIONS Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Perry Digweed, Mark Grew, Tony Lange, Stacey North, Paul Peschisolido, Martin Pike, Bobby Robson, Arthur Rowley, Kevin Steggles and Brian Talbot. Vic Buckingham and Ray Harford both managed Albion and Fulham; Ex-Albion manager Archie Macauley played for Fulham during the 1950's; Gordon Clark managed Albion from 1959-61 and later had a spell as assistant manager at Fulham. ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS FULHAM
LAST TEN MATCHES AGAINST FULHAM
Tickets for this category C game are now on general sale. |
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