Championship
West BromWest Bromwich Albion0FulhamFulham0

West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Fulham: Promotion chasers in stalemate

By Rob StevensBBC Sport
West Brom v Fulham
Chances were at a premium at The Hawthorns

West Bromwich Albion kept their automatic promotion hopes in their own hands despite a goalless draw against play-off bound Fulham at The Hawthorns.

Baggies defender Ahmed Hegazi made a crucial clearance to turn away Ivan Cavaleiro's header back across goal from in front of his own line in an otherwise cagey first half.

Visiting keeper Marek Rodak denied Grady Diangana from close range after the break, while Albion defender Semi Ajayi sent two headers from corners narrowly off target.

Fulham winger Anthony Knockaert then struck the crossbar with a dipping half-volley from outside the area, but the result means the west Londoners' chances of a top-two finish in the Championship are almost over.

West Brom, in second, are four points above third-placed Brentford having played a game more, while Fulham are five points below automatic promotion with two games to play.

Baggies edge closer to Premier League return

West Brom went into the game needing seven points from their final three fixtures to secure promotion to the Premier League, while Fulham realistically needed victory in the West Midlands to stay in the hunt for a top-two finish.

The situation made for a tense opening 45 minutes, but the game sprung into life in the final half hour, as Diangana saw his stabbed left-footed effort go narrowly wide after a crucial touch from Slovakian keeper Rodak.

As the influence of Baggies playmaker Matheus Pereira grew, Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed made a brilliant challenge to block a shot from Hal Robson-Kanu with the Wales international about to shoot inside the box.

Third-placed Brentford could move a point behind West Brom if they beat Preston North End on Wednesday (17:00 BST).

But Albion know that wins in their final two games against struggling Huddersfield Town and mid-table Queens Park Rangers will see Slaven Bilic's men return to the top flight after a two-year absence.

Fulham resigned to play-off challenge

Fulham were among the pre-season favourites for automatic promotion and an immediate return to the Premier League, but the Whites have not been in the top two at any point this season.

Back-to-back defeats by west London rivals Brentford and Championship leaders Leeds straight after the season resumed left them seven points off the top two.

Fulham responded well with four successive wins to close the gap before their trip to West Brom, but the visitors were unable to break down a stubborn defence as they lacked inspiration and cutting edge in the final third.

Knockaert's long-range effort was the closest they came to breaking the deadlock, although Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Championship's joint-top scorer this season, sent two headers from corners narrowly off target before the break.

The Whites will now face mid-table Sheffield Wednesday and an in-form Wigan Athletic side who are still hunting points to secure their place in the Championship for next season, with the Latics potentially facing a 12-point deduction for entering administration.

Fulham won promotion to the Premier League two years ago via the play-offs and Scott Parker's side, who need two more points to secure home advantage in the second leg of the semi-finals, will need to repeat the feat to go back up.

West Brom boss Slaven Bilic:

"We started the restart a bit slower, were a bit unlucky in first couple of games, but after that, in last five games, we are creating and dominating.

"We are in good form, playing good football. That's where I have my optimism and belief.

"I'm very proud with the way we played. We defended well and in the second half we kept the shape and composure and created more than enough chances.

"We just couldn't score but the composure, mentality, passion and quality made me really proud. It would be better if we had won the game of course but it's one game less to go and it's in our hands."

Fulham manager Scott Parker:

"We need to be focused, we're five unbeaten and it's a fourth clean sheet, we need to stay focused on the journey.

"We came to win the game and keep the pressure on. Up until the drinks break was perfect.

"The longer the game goes on it becomes a little bit more end to end. We tried to change things around a little bit but it didn't happen.

"The end goal that has been drummed into these players from day one is you're fortunate enough to have the play-offs."

Line-ups

West Brom

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Johnstone
  • 27O'Shea
  • 6Ajayi
  • 26Hegazi
  • 14TownsendBooked at 86mins
  • 8LivermoreBooked at 55mins
  • 19Sawyers
  • 29DianganaSubstituted forRobinsonat 85'minutes
  • 12Costa PereiraBooked at 50minsSubstituted forKrovinovicat 90+3'minutes
  • 13GrosickiSubstituted forPhillipsat 45'minutes
  • 15AustinSubstituted forRobson-Kanuat 66'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Furlong
  • 4Robson-Kanu
  • 5Bartley
  • 7Krovinovic
  • 10Phillips
  • 11Brunt
  • 16Harper
  • 23Bond
  • 47Robinson

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 12Rodák
  • 4Odoi
  • 3Hector
  • 13ReamSubstituted forChristieat 90'minutes
  • 23Bryan
  • 21Reed
  • 25OnomahSubstituted forJohansenat 77'minutes
  • 24Knockaert
  • 14De Cordova-Reid
  • 19CavaleiroSubstituted forKebanoat 43'minutes
  • 9Mitrovic

Substitutes

  • 1Bettinelli
  • 5Mawson
  • 6McDonald
  • 7Kebano
  • 8Johansen
  • 18Arter
  • 20Le Marchand
  • 22Christie
  • 43S Sessegnon
Referee:
Geoff Eltringham

Match Stats

Home TeamWest BromAway TeamFulham
Possession
Home45%
Away55%
Shots
Home12
Away6
Shots on Target
Home3
Away2
Corners
Home8
Away7
Fouls
Home12
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, Fulham 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, Fulham 0.

  3. Post update

    Harrison Reed (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion).

  5. Post update

    Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Dara O'Shea.

  6. Substitution

    Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Filip Krovinovic replaces Matheus Pereira.

  7. Post update

    Stefan Johansen (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion).

  9. Post update

    Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Dara O'Shea.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Fulham. Cyrus Christie replaces Tim Ream.

  11. Booking

    Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  12. Post update

    Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion).

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Callum Robinson replaces Grady Diangana.

  15. Post update

    Attempt saved. Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Anthony Knockaert.

  16. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Matheus Pereira.

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham).

  19. Post update

    Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Michael Hector.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Leeds43259969343584
2West Brom442216674413382
3Brentford432391178354378
4Fulham4422111158441477
5Nottm Forest4318151055431269
6Cardiff441716116257567
7Millwall441617115046465
8Swansea431615125550563
9Preston431711155652462
10Derby441613155860-261
11Bristol City431710165862-461
12Blackburn441612166057360
13Wigan441512175453157
14Reading441511185550556
15Sheff Wed441511185459-556
16QPR44159206171-1054
17Middlesbrough441214184557-1250
18Stoke43147225666-1049
19Birmingham431213185269-1749
20Huddersfield441212204965-1648
21Charlton431210214758-1146
22Hull44129235783-2645
23Luton44129235080-3045
24Barnsley431013204667-2143
View full Championship table