Fulham 1 West Brom 1
Fulham were undone by a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser by Gareth McAuley.
The Whites were heading for their first home win in six attempts thanks to Steve Sidwell’s first-half volley before McAuley headed home a Chris Brunt corner right at the death.
Martin Jol’s side had three goals ruled out for offside and hit the bar in a game in which they looked comfortable – and the second disallowed goal from Dimitar Berbatov was a questionable decision.
Summer signing Fernando Amorebieta made his debut as a second-half substitute but there was concern for Bryan Ruiz when he was stretchered off late in the game.
Philippe Senderos was preferred to Amorebieta at centre-back to replace the injured Aaron Hughes and he had a solid game, playing an important part in Fulham’s opener.
The Swiss defender muscled in to head down a Kieran Richardson corner to Sidwell, who coolly slotted home inside Boaz Myhill’s near post on 22 minutes.
Richardson was making his first appearance after returning from a hamstring problem and Pajtim Kasami came in for the injured Darren Bent, while there was no place in the matchday squad for John Arne Riise.
Berbatov was clearly offside when he tapped in after Fulham’s best move of the first half but the Bulgarian appeared to be level with his marker when he slotted home for a second time just after the break.
Berbatov had further chances, shooting straight at the legs of Myhill and then sending an acrobatic volley just over the bar.
Fulham’s third chalked-off effort came after Ruiz sent a fierce effort against the crossbar, with Sidwell in an offside position when he headed the rebound to substitute Hugo Rodallega, who blasted into an empty net.
Ruiz had to be carried off after he landed awkwardly under a heavy challenge from Liam Ridgewell.
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Stockdale; Riether, Hangeland, Senderos, Richardson (Amorebieta 67); Parker, Sidwell; Ruiz (Duff 90), Kasami, Kacaniklic; Berbatov (Rodallega 77).
Subs not used: Etheridge, Karagounis, Taarabt, Zverotic.
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This post was last modified on 14/09/2013