sport
  • match commentary
  • English Barclays Premier League
  • 15 September 2012, 3:00pm
  • Craven Cottage
  • Attendance: 25,691
FulhamFulhamvWest BromWest Brom
3
  • Berbatov, 32
  • Berbatov, pen 45+1
  • Sidwell, 89
0

live commentary

90 mins:FULL TIME: FULHAM 3-0 WBA. There is the final whistle! Fulham's excellent home form continues with a performance of real dominance against ten man WBA whose unbeaten record has gone.

90 mins:A late change from Fulham with young Alex Smith replacing Damien Duff.

89 mins:GOAL: FULHAM 3-0 WBA. There is the third! STEVE SIDWELL just carries on his run into the box and is on hand to bundle home from three yards. Poor defending again.

88 mins:A superb hit from the edge of the box from Rodallega who is well denied by Foster.

86 mins:Into the final five minutes or so here at the Cottage and the home fans are starting to get up from their seats.

86 mins:Kacaniklic is replaced by Kasami.

83 mins:Damien Duff drives into the box and is bundled over by Olsson but the referee is not interested.

80 mins:The final ten minutes look likt being pretty calm in this one to be honest.

78 mins:Can West Brom just force their way through one to make this a nervous finish for Fulham?

75 mins:A final change for West Brom with Yacob replaced by Markus Rosenborg.

73 mins:Fulham again look to stretch the lead as Rodallega curls one inside the far post but Ridgewell heads it away off the line.

70 mins:Berbatov can see the hat-trick moment coming his way as Sidwell's drive is palmed down by Foster who reacts very quickly to deny the Bulgarian.

68 mins:Much better! Romelu Lukaku storms beyond two would-be tacklers and hits a stinging drive towards the bottom corner that Schwarzer does well to save.

66 mins:Less than 25 minutes to go here and Berbatov forces another save from Foster.

63 mins:West Brom just have nothing to give in response here and can't wait for the final whistle.

60 mins:Fulham are cruising here and it looks like the Odemwingie red card really killed the game off.

58 mins:Ridgewell appears to be struggling with a knock now and might need to go off.

56 mins:Dimitar Berbatov tees himself up for an effort at a hat-trick but he fires over the bar from the edge of the box.

53 mins:West Brom are still offering very little in attack and you'd almost suggest they just want to avoid a hammering now.

51 mins:A bit of a stoppage here as Yacob requires some treatment.

48 mins:A sensible start to the second period from Fulham who are looking to make sure they do nothing silly.

46 mins:We are back underway at the Cottage.

45 mins:West Brom have made a double change at the break with Romelu Lukaku replacing Fortune and Brunt replacing Long.

45 mins:HALF TIME: FULHAM 2-0 WBA. Fulham had enjoyed plenty of possession but Dimitar Berbatov has had a home debut to remember with two goals and will fancy a hat-trick against ten man WBA.

45 mins:GOAL: FULHAM 2-0 WBA. A cool spot kick from DIMITAR BERBATOV sends Foster the wrong way to double the lead.

44 mins:PENALTY! Fulham will have a chance to double their lead as Kacaniklic's quick feet tempt Jones into a late lunge.

43 mins:The advantage on the scoreboard may only be one goal in Fulham's favour but with a one man advantage as well they are looking very comfortable.

40 mins:Another chance for Berbatov as Kacaniklic's cross finds the Bulgarian free in the box but he heads wide of the post.

38 mins:RED CARD (ODEMWINGIE). The Baggies are down to ten men as PETER ODEMWINGIE aims a pointless kick out at Riether and is rightly given his marching orders.

35 mins:Fulham really have the bit between their teeth now and they have the Baggies on the rack now.

32 mins:GOAL: FULHAM 1-0 WBA. Lovely! It was going to take something special to break the deadlock here and DIMITAR BERBATOV has provided with a superb curling effort that nestles in the top corner.

30 mins:Both sides have looked pedestrian and a little short of ideas in attack which is making for an easy day for the defenders.

27 mins:Almost a chance for Shane Long as a cross from Morrison gets all the way through to him at the far post but he can't bring it under control.

24 mins:Dimitar Berbatov is already cutting a frustrated figure as he starts to drop deep to find the ball.

21 mins:A decent save from Ben Foster as he reaches out to stop Berbatov's volley finding the corner.

18 mins:Fulham are suffering from a real lack of dynamism here with West Brom very comfortable at the back.

15 mins:We have had quarter of an hour here and although the passing has been good from both sides we have been very short on goalmouth action.

12 mins:Fulham are looking quite happy to maintain possession but there is little thrust to their attacking play.

9 mins:Only a short backlift but a hell of a hit from Morrison that forces a superb diving save from Schwarzer.

6 mins:West Brom are sitting quite deep here at the moment and allowing Fulham to come onto them.

3 mins:Dimitar Berbatov has seen plenty of the ball early on here.

1 mins:We are underway at the Cottage.

West Brom: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Yacob, Odemwingie, Morrison, Fortune, Long.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Duff, Sidwell, Baird, Kacaniklic, Berbatov, Rodallega.

West Brom have started the season superbly under Steve Clarke and remain undefeated to this point.

Fulham started with a bang here at the Cottage but since the demolition of Norwich they have suffered two straight defeats and lost star men Dempsey and Dembele.

Welcome to Craven Cottage for an intriguing clash as West Brom travel to Fulham.

team line-up

1Mark Schwarzer
3John Arne Riise
5Brede Hangeland
18Aaron Hughes
27Sascha Riether
6Chris Baird
31Alexander Kacaniklic84
7Steve Sidwell
16Damien Duff91
20Hugo Rodallega
9Dimitar Berbatov

substitutes

14Giorgios Karagounis
13David Stockdale
17Matthew Briggs
39Marcello Trotta
2Stephen Kelly
8Pajtim Kasami84
40Alex Smith91

referee

Roger East

team line-up

1Ben Foster
6Liam Ridgewell
23Gareth McAuley
3Jonas Olsson
28Billy Jones
21Youssuf Mulumbu
7James Morrison
5Claudio Yacob76
32Marc-Antoine Fortuné45
24Peter Odemwingie
9Shane Long45

substitutes

17Graham Dorrans
13Boaz Myhill
11Chris Brunt45
20Romelu Lukaku45
22Zoltán Gera
8Markus Rosenberg76
25Craig Dawson

referee

Roger East

match stats

possession %6337
shots on target105
shots off target82
corners54
tackles won1113
offsides31