Fulham pay price for lack of cutting edge

Fulham began life after Bobby Zamora with a whimper as West Brom secured a point on Roy Hodgson’s first return to Craven Cottage.

The 31-year-old striker left for west London rivals QPR on Monday, leaving the home side bereft of attacking ideas.

Heading into the match, Martin Jol ran with a line-up missing a recognised striker as new signing Pavel Pogrebnyak was not registered in time to feature and Andrew Johnson was left out of the 18-man squad.

Reported Fulham target Peter Odemwingie was recalled to the West Brom starting line-up.

The hosts deservedly made the breakthrough in the 69th minute, having had the better of the game up to then.

Graham Dorrans’ rash clearance gave Fulham possession and Bryan Ruiz played a neat pass to Clint Dempsey, who directed the ball past Baggies keeper Ben Foster.

Fulham continued to press after breaking the deadlock but were caught out by West Brom eight minutes from time. Tchoyi, having come off the substitutes’ bench five minutes earlier, latched onto a James Morrison pass to fire past David Stockdale.

Fulham continued to press but a second goal proved beyond them.

FULHAM: Stockdale, Kelly, Hangeland, Senderos, John Arne Riise, Duff, Murphy, Sidwell, Davies, Dempsey, Ruiz.

WEST BROM: Foster, Tamas, McAuley, Olsson, Shorey, Cox (Tchoyi 77), Morrison (Reid 88), Mulumbu, Dorrans, Fortune, Odemwingie.

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancs).