It was exactly 12 months to the day when Albion played out arguably their worst performance of 2012 against Everton. That too was an early kick off in front of the TV cameras to welcome in the New Year. Lighting seldom strikes twice but it did at The Hawthorns against Fulham.
After Albion’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United a few days ago, Clarke made five changes to the side which were unfortunate not to get anything against the table toppers. In came the influential Youssouf Mulumbu, Zoltan Gera, James Morrison, Marc-Antonie Fortune and Romelu Lukaku. George Thorne, who impressed against United, was benched.
First half
It should’ve been obvious what was to come in the next 90 minutes when the teams kicked off with Albion unusually attacking the Birmingham Road End. Albion were slow out of the blocks and allowed Fulham to dictate possession in the early stages. The midfield trio of Mulumbu, Brunt and Morrison failed to get to grips with their opposite numbers. That allowed Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz time, and more importantly space, to control the tempo of the game.
The most interesting part of the opening 15 minutes was when the 8th minute was greeted by a round of applause from the home fans in honour of Chelsea’s recent destruction of our rivals from Witton.
The Baggies were really struggling to get any sort of foothold in the game. Too often balls were misplaced or first touches over hit gifting the ball back to the visitors. Sidwell fizzed a shot just over Foster’s post in the first effort of the game. McAuley headed Albion’s first chance wide in the 18th minute. Tamas then headed a Brunt corner wide.
Albion were trying to get back into the game but were punished for their lethargic start five minutes before the break. Berbatov was allowed to turn on the edge of his area. His long, diagonal ball found Ashkan Dejagah. Ridgewell allowed the winger to control the ball and then failed to prevent the winger from jinking his side. The ball was pulled back to Berbatov who made no mistake from the edge of area.
Mulumbu then wasted a good chance when, unmarked, he headed Ridgewell’s cross wide from seven yards. Fulham were worthy leaders as they went into the break one up.
After the break
Although CBB may have missed out of the Queen’s New Year Honours List, she was rewarded for her services to half time refreshments during the interval. Thanks CBB, we all appreciate the soup and sausage rolls!
When the game restarted it was obvious that Clarke and his coaching staff had given the players a few choice words. The tempo was better. Brunt, Mulumbu and Morrison were closing their men quicker cutting off the supply to Berbatov and Ruiz.
After a subdued opening 45 minutes, Albion fans finally had some New Year cheer four minutes after the break. Billy Jones did excellently down the right. He cut inside and centred for Lukuku to poke home. Although the Belgium international claimed the goal, the final touch may have come off a Fulham toe.
The goal rejuvenated Albion. Another almost followed when Morrison found Lukaku. The forward spun his marker but his right foot volley cannoned back off the post. A minute later the post again denied us again. After Mulumbu had won the ball, Lukaku’s shot was palmed wide by Stockdale leaving Zoltan Gera with an open net. But his shot somehow hit the post, Brunt’s follow-up was headed off the line. A goal was coming. Unfortunately for Albion it was Fulham who scored.
Luiz’s long ball caught out Billy Jones and Gareth McAuley. The ball fell to Kacaniklic who took advantage of Ben Foster’s poor positioning to slot the ball underneath the on-rushing ‘keeper. With Jones and McAuley in close proximity there was absolutely no need for Foster to come rushing off his line. The momentum which Albion had created was undone by Foster’s moment of madness.
The goal knocked the wind out of Albion’s sails. The game reverted back to how it was in the first half with Berbatov and Ruiz dropping off Tamas and McAuley to control the game once more. Clarke brought on Long and Odemwingie for the ineffective Gera and Fortune but the substitution failed to ignite Albion.
The Baggies did get into promising positions down the flanks as the game wore on, but the final ball summed up Albion’s overall performance: poor. Late on Jones and Odemwingie got to the byline but their crosses were easily dealt with when forwards were waiting.
On reflection
Albion never got going. I’m not sure whether it was the early kick off on New Year’s Day, the heavy pitch at United or four games inside ten games. One thing is for certain though, this was Albion’s worst performance under Steve Clarke. Only Romelu Lukaku, Gareth McAuley and Billy Jones had decent games – but even the latter two were involved in Fulham’s second.
Our five-man midfield failed to gel in the first half and too often passes went astray or, when they did find their man, first touches allowed Fulham to get a foot in. James Morrison and Zoltan Gera were the two main culprits. Youssouf Mulumbu failed to impose himself on the game and Chris Brunt looked tired throughout. George Thorne should’ve been introduced for the Albion skipper long before his introduction four minutes from time.
It would be wrong to point the finger of blame solely at Brunt. Sure he had a poor game but so did Foster, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Morrison, Gera and Fortune. Long and Odemwingie had little impact when they were introduced. For us to win games in the Premier League we need these players playing to their full potential. Too many players simply had an off day.
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