Fulham 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
Baggie Bird at the Johnny Haynes Statue
Well Christmas doesn’t come around all too often, but when the wife is the one who suggests to you that taking in an Albion game on a visit to London and the surrounding areas would be nice, one would be foolish to turn down the chance. Even more so given the discrepancy in Albion’s away form versus their home form.
Add in to the pile that the wife’s last suggestions of a trip saw us taking in a trip to the Emirates with me absolutely dreading a hammering. End result was a famous 3-2 win for the Baggies, with a missed penalty thrown in to the bargain and the Baggies having led their noted opponents 3-0 at one stage. Such was my disbelief was that I honestly felt after the match that we had scored our third after Arsenal had got one back.
Needless to say that the Baggies 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage did not quite live up to those standards, but it was certainly a different experience and was a solid point against a side showing strong home form.
Irish Mascot "Mal" at Johnny Haynes
Like the Arsenal trip, the West Bromwich Albion had taken up a small amount of the tickets they were offered. Whereas at the Emirates, many Baggies faithful including myself had to search high and low for tickets in the home end and be on best behaviour, Fulham offer the unique solution of a neutral end right next to the away support.
In fairness, there was quite a decent understanding of supporters of which side of the neutral end belonged to whom, with the vast majority of the Baggies congregated next to the designated travelling support while the Fulham fans filled out towards the other side of the stand. There was some mixing but little trouble, though this did not dampen the atmosphere and the chants – the quality of the football in the first half almost did though.
The Baggies, in there away red strip had a couple of injury concerns and new signing Liam Ridgewell was ineligible to play. Fortuné and Odemwingie formed a rare partnership at the front, Tamas continued filling in at right back while in the absence of tHomas, the midfield certainly lacked pace with Simon Cox filling in out on the wide right.
The first half was very scrappy with little in the way of open chances. Morrisson was probably the Baggies main threat with driving runs from deep and one of his trademark shots from outside the box was well handled by the opposing goalkeeper. In front of us, it is difficult to think of any save of note that foster had to make though he once again proved commanding when crosses poured in. It was generally a scrappy game, with passes going astray.
Dorrans attempts a second half free kick
Things started to liven up in the second half with both sides creating more openings. Odemwingie became the dominant figure in the Baggies attacks and a particular one should have seem launch the trigger but he instead placed a pass back to Fortuné which was cut out. Just as the Baggies were getting on top after the hour mark, Fulham turned the tide with a series of crosses and corners. Eventually a series of mis-hit clearances proved costly and the dangerous Clint Dempsey scored to put the Cottagers a goal ahead
There was little in the way of a Baggies fight-back as the Londoners controlled the tempo and possession for a good ten minutes after that. Roy, back at his own club then made a substitution with Somen Tchoyi coming on for Simon Cox. “Watch out for this fella” I said to my wife, who wasn’t overy perturbed about the Baggies predicament, “he’s fun to watch if nothing else.”
And my what fun it was, after spending nearly ten minutes not close to the ball, a through ball was put in for the Cameroon utility player. Thoughts running through my mind of what fancy tricks, pull-backs, nutmegs he would do – or he might he simply trip over. This time, simple. Being closed down by a defender and with alot to do, a simple but classic first touch and then lifting his right leg back and cooly slotting it into the bottom-right hand corner. It was time for some Boing Boing fun as we found ourselves level.
About eight minutes were left in the game after this and the sides seemed contented to settle for the draw. A good point, a good experience. Surprisingly I think the wife enjoyed the Emirates trip in comparison to this one more than I did though.
Tchoyi after scoring celebrating with Odemwingie and the Baggies faithful
Baggie Bird at the Johnny Haynes Statue
Well Christmas doesn’t come around all too often, but when the wife is the one who suggests to you that taking in an Albion game on a visit to London and the surrounding areas would be nice, one would be foolish to turn down the chance. Even more so given the discrepancy in Albion’s away form versus their home form.
Add in to the pile that the wife’s last suggestions of a trip saw us taking in a trip to the Emirates with me absolutely dreading a hammering. End result was a famous 3-2 win for the Baggies, with a missed penalty thrown in to the bargain and the Baggies having led their noted opponents 3-0 at one stage. Such was my disbelief was that I honestly felt after the match that we had scored our third after Arsenal had got one back.
Needless to say that the Baggies 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage did not quite live up to those standards, but it was certainly a different experience and was a solid point against a side showing strong home form.
Irish Mascot "Mal" at Johnny Haynes
Like the Arsenal trip, the West Bromwich Albion had taken up a small amount of the tickets they were offered. Whereas at the Emirates, many Baggies faithful including myself had to search high and low for tickets in the home end and be on best behaviour, Fulham offer the unique solution of a neutral end right next to the away support.
In fairness, there was quite a decent understanding of supporters of which side of the neutral end belonged to whom, with the vast majority of the Baggies congregated next to the designated travelling support while the Fulham fans filled out towards the other side of the stand. There was some mixing but little trouble, though this did not dampen the atmosphere and the chants – the quality of the football in the first half almost did though.
The Baggies, in there away red strip had a couple of injury concerns and new signing Liam Ridgewell was ineligible to play. Fortuné and Odemwingie formed a rare partnership at the front, Tamas continued filling in at right back while in the absence of tHomas, the midfield certainly lacked pace with Simon Cox filling in out on the wide right.
The first half was very scrappy with little in the way of open chances. Morrisson was probably the Baggies main threat with driving runs from deep and one of his trademark shots from outside the box was well handled by the opposing goalkeeper. In front of us, it is difficult to think of any save of note that foster had to make though he once again proved commanding when crosses poured in. It was generally a scrappy game, with passes going astray.
Dorrans attempts a second half free kick
Things started to liven up in the second half with both sides creating more openings. Odemwingie became the dominant figure in the Baggies attacks and a particular one should have seem launch the trigger but he instead placed a pass back to Fortuné which was cut out. Just as the Baggies were getting on top after the hour mark, Fulham turned the tide with a series of crosses and corners. Eventually a series of mis-hit clearances proved costly and the dangerous Clint Dempsey scored to put the Cottagers a goal ahead
There was little in the way of a Baggies fight-back as the Londoners controlled the tempo and possession for a good ten minutes after that. Roy, back at his own club then made a substitution with Somen Tchoyi coming on for Simon Cox. “Watch out for this fella” I said to my wife, who wasn’t overy perturbed about the Baggies predicament, “he’s fun to watch if nothing else.”
And my what fun it was, after spending nearly ten minutes not close to the ball, a through ball was put in for the Cameroon utility player. Thoughts running through my mind of what fancy tricks, pull-backs, nutmegs he would do – or he might he simply trip over. This time, simple. Being closed down by a defender and with alot to do, a simple but classic first touch and then lifting his right leg back and cooly slotting it into the bottom-right hand corner. It was time for some Boing Boing fun as we found ourselves level.
About eight minutes were left in the game after this and the sides seemed contented to settle for the draw. A good point, a good experience. Surprisingly I think the wife enjoyed the Emirates trip in comparison to this one more than I did though.
