West Bromwich Albion 1 - Fulham 2

Date:	Tuesday 1st January 2013
Competition:	Barclays Premier League
WBA: 4.2	(4-2-3-1) Foster 4.9, Jones 6.9, McAuley 5.5, Tamas 5.8, Ridgewell 5.0, Mulumbu 5.7, Brunt 3.0 (Thorne, 84 5.4), Fortun 4.4 (Odemwingie, 65 5.4), Morrison 4.7, Gera 4.0 (Long, 65 5.5), Lukaku 6.7 Unused subs: Myhill, Jara Reyes, Dawson, Rosenberg Manager: Steve Clarke 3.9
Fulham: 5.4	(4-4-1-1) Stockdale, Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs, Dejagah, Karagounis (Rodallega, 76), Sidwell, Kačaniklić, Ruiz, Berbatov (Senderos, 93) Unused subs: Somogyi, Baird, Kasami, Richardson, Frei
Scorers:	Lukaku (49); Berbatov (39), Kačaniklić (58)
Referee:	Mike Dean (Wirral) 5.7
Attendance:	25,436   Home Fans 4.9   Away Fans 3.5

Bobby Hope:

Well the obvious question is who was on the sauce last night? - what an absolutely awful first half - excluding Lukaku. I understand bad patches and even bad performances but some of it was inexcusable. And before I go any further can someone let me in on why Dorrans wasn't even on the bench? Oh and let's give Berbatov all the space he needs shall we? I'm sorry but there must have been a case for putting Mulumbu on him to man mark him - he absolutely ran the show.

Can someone also tell me why Brunt is playing? And don't give me the 'left foot wand' rhetoric - he was absolutely awful.

On a positive we did the hard work to get the goal back so the response was very good and we could have got the second goal soon after with more (any) luck. They then get their second from a great pass and great first touch but why was Foster out there when McAuley and Jones were both on the man??

Lukaku was brilliant and he personally did not deserve to lose but the midfield performance was the worst I have seen for a long time hence my question about Dorrans - he had a very good game, in my opinion, at Old Trafford. Needless to say we missed Olsson and Yacob. Give Olsson the captaincy and drop Brunt. Gera and Morrison weren't much better. Jones caused trouble and is growing in confidence. Very disappointing for everyone.

oshawabaggie:

Last season we had one of the better records of gaining points from losing positions. This year we have one of the worst. Consequently if we don't score first we can pretty well kiss the game goodbye (exception Norwich). With a stronger squad than last year, why should this be? Wrong mental approach? Wrong strategy? Just one of those funny trends in football?

Lately we seem to start games so slowly that we immediately cede the initiative. Why can't SC have his halftime talk BEFORE the game? Another loss without Jonas - can we clone him?

Athz:

Arrived at the Hawthorns early in glorious sunshine and was really looking forward to some exhibition football to set the tone for 2013 ... should have known better as we were to be given a performance barely worthy of a Championship team fighting relegation. Passing and ball control was absolutely awful - I find it hard enough to accept Lukaku's one-footed wasteful play at 19 (therefore can't see him lasting long with Chelsea) but Brunt has no excuse at all. Likewise Fortune and Gera could have passed a kidney stone better than a ball. The first half was the dullest I have ever seen and Fulham didn't do much to make it any brighter. The crowd were rather too easily and quickly subdued, and any attempts at revival failed. There was a 10-minute spell in the second half when Albion must have thought they were still in 2012, bombarding the Fulham goal and lifting the crowd but then Albion went back to the future.

Why did we give Berbatov so much space and respect? And why have the media given him so much credit? He was lethargic and petulant, not special in any way at all, and we should have closed him down.

We missed Olson. Odemwingie and Long should have started, they showed appropriate confidence and skill when they came on but eventually the rest of the team must have asked them to stop showing them up.

A defeat would have been OK if Albion had played with more energy. Sorry, I don't accept the old four games-in-a-week excuse.

Simon in Perth Australia:

Another terrible performance. In our last 4 games, we only deserved to beat QPR. Clarke has an incredible record compared to all our other managers in recent history, but some of his decisions still really baffle me.

A Few weeks ago against Norwich, Brunt and Dorrans were in defensive mid position with Brunt having an absolute shocker and Dorrans managing well. Yet it was Dorrans who got subbed at half time. In this game he has persisted with Brunt in DM for the injured Yacob when Brunt has to be one of the poorest DMs in the league. His strengths are shooting, crossing and passing and his weaknesses are tackling and strength, which are vital for DM. Opponents continue to go past him like he's standing still.

Now I hear we are going to let Dorrans go. I'm not pleased about this at all.

Lukaku seems to be receiving a lot of praise, but I don't see it. I understand resting long against Man Utd (where no points expected) in a busy period of games but Long has to start a game against Fulham where we need and should get 3 points. Lukaku has been hit and miss all season. Yes, he scored this game, but even Tony Hibbert would have scored from there.

Davo from Dudley:

What an absolute waste of an afternoon. Apart from Jones, McAuley and dare I say it Tamas, who else turned up? Am struggling to see why a fit Dorrans was not even on the bench? Is he up for sale?

And why oh why does Brunt continue as Captain? His body language when HIS pass goes astray or when HE gives the ball away is atrocious, and not that of a leader of our team.

Also, did anyone else notice Foster's reluctance to kick the ball? Is he still injured / injured again?

Nuff said, let's go and whup Harry's ass and get a good run in the cup going.