Match Report Fulham (2) 2-0 (0) West Bromwich Albion Premier League Match Day 07 at Craven Cottage Monday 2nd November 2020    KO: 17:30 Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire) Live on Sky Sports Box Office

Fulham Striker Bobby De Cordova-Reid

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Put in the hard work, face up, front up and don’t hide was Scott Parker’s pre-match rallying cry to his players. On this evidence the message was heard loud and clear.

On a night when only victory would do for the two favourites for Premier League relegation only Parker’s Fulham rose to the occasion, producing both the performance and result required.

Their cause was certainly aided by West Brom’s failure to provide much of a challenge.

With both teams searching for reason to be optimistic after winless starts, the shortage of any would have been both worrying and ominous for Slaven Bilic.

But Fulham’s performance was virtually complete, doing the damage in the first half before successfully and professionally seeing the game out in the second to claim a much-needed first three points of the season, climb out of the bottom three and dump West Brom in it.

Fulham Defender Ola Aina

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Given the stakes, even this early in the season, Parker could hardly have asked for more.

There were vital contributions throughout his side, from his new-look defence right through to attacking spearhead Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Mitrovic grafted all game, occupying West Brom’s two centre-backs and capping a selfless display by setting up both goals for Bobby Dercordova-Reid and Ola Aina.

The full-back’s outrageous strike deserved a crowd and certainly more than a pay-per-view audience.

Fulham’s defence – entirely different to the one which started their opening league game, featuring debutant Joachim Andersen and no survivors from their Championship campaign - provided the foundations for this victory.

Match Stats	Fulham	West Brom
Goals	(2) 2	0 (0)
Scorers	De Cordova-Reid 26
	Aina 30
,
Goal attempts	13	10
On target	6	1
Shooting Accuracy	46%	10%
Possession	45%	55%
Passes	303	369
Passes Success	77%	79%
Crosses	16	13
Crosses Success	6%	31%
Corners	5	2
Tackles	16	28
Tackles Success	38%	54%
Saves	1	2
Fouls	13	11
Offsides	1	4
Yellows	3	2
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

They defended defiantly, always managing to get a body in the way when required, and it is surely no coincidence that the increased quality right across his rearguard resulted in a first league clean sheet for Parker’s side.

And Fulham’s midfield of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who was at times inspired, Mario Lemina and Tom Cairney hassled, harried, outthought and outfought West Brom’s.

After an early scare when Conor Townsend’s cross deceived Alphonse Areola and hit the bar, Fulham took control.

When Decordova-Reid nodded in Mitrovic’s header back across goal few would argue Fulham’s lead was undeserved.

Four minutes later and it was 2-0. Aina started the move with a cheeky backheel that summed up the hosts’ growing confidence and finished it by smashing a rising drive into the top corner with his supposedly weaker left foot.

West Brom had just one real sniff of goal when Fulham gave the ball away presenting Grant with a chance he fired wide.

The way both Fulham and West Brom were playing it was not an opportunity he could afford to spurn.

Bilic made changes to try and turn the tide but only Fulham looked like adding to the scoring.

Andersen, impressive on his debut, almost chipped in with a goal, whipping a volley just wide while Cairney and Decordova-Reid both had efforts desperately cleared off the line.

Man of the match: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa

Fulham: Areola, Aina, Adarabioyo, Andersen, Robinson, Lemina (Reed 46), Anguissa, Cairney, Decordova-Reid (Cavaleiro 85), Mitrovic, Lookman (Bryan 90).

Unused substitutes: Rodak, Odoi, Ream, Loftus-Cheek

Goals:
De Cordova-Reid 26 ( Mitrovic rises highest to head the ball back across goal and into the path of Dercordova-Reid, who, despite the best efforts of Ivanovic on the line, heads home from close range)

Aina 30 (Decordova-Reid picks out Mitrovic and the striker flicks the ball into the path of Aina. The full back then hammers the ball from 20 yards ith his left foot and the ball arrows into the top corner)

Booked: De Cordova-Reid (55,dp), Lookman (57,f), Reed (83,tw)

West Bromwich Albion: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanovic, Townsend, Livermore (Sawyers 56), Diangana, Krovinovic (Phillips 70), Gallagher, Pereira (Robinson 56), Grant

Unused substitutes: Button, Gibbs, Bartley, Edwards.

Booked: Gallagher (47,f), Sawyers (69,f),

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

Attendance: 0