Fulham travelled to The Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion today knowing that no away team has won this fixture in Premier League history.
The Cottagers - struggling at the wrong end of the table - scored a precious victory to lift the clear of the relegation zone thanks to goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Alexander Kacaniklic.
Defeat leaves the Baggies in seventh.
You can read how all the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole. Today's early kickoff sees West Bromwich Albion take on Fulham at The Hawthorns in the first match of 2013.
The Cottagers are unbeaten in their last four against West Brom, but have not won since December 10. It's also worth noting that they have never won at The Hawthorns.
Another interesting statistic is that no away side has been victorious in this fixture in 12 Premier League matches.
West Brom have an impressive home record this season, winning seven of their 10 matches at The Hawthorns. That, coupled with the fact that Fulham have won just once away from home all season, shows the size of the task awaiting Martin Jol's boys here today.
The hosts have struggled for form of late, but two wins in their last three has helped steady the ship.
We have some team news just in...
FULHAM: Stockdale; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs; Dejagah, Sidwell, Karagounis, Kacaniklic; Ruiz; Berbatov
Martin Jol makes one change to the side that lost 2-1 at home to Swansea City last time out. Alexander Kacaniklic comes into the midfield in place of Kerim Frei.
WEST BROM: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Tamas, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Brunt; Fortune, Morrison, Gera; Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku is named in Steve Clarke's starting lineup, with Shane Long dropping out. Zoltan Gera and Marc Antoine-Fortune also take their place.
It looks like we could be in for an entertaining game full of goals today, as 16 of Fulham's 20 Premier League games have produced three goals or more.
Click here for full team news from The Hawthorns.
This fixture finished 0-0 last season, but Fulham won the return match 3-0 at Craven Cottage. It was Dimitar Berbatov's debut in a Fulham shirt, and he celebrated by scoring twice in a 3-0 win. Steve Sidwell scored the other goal that afternoon.
Mike Dean takes charge of today's match. He did so last in 2004 and sent off three players during a heated 1-1 draw. Neil Clement, Papa Bouba Diop and Andy Cole were the men given their marching orders.
Of course, Dean was the subject of an ear bashing from Sir Alex Ferguson on Boxing Day after allowing Jonny Evans's own goal to stand.
Right, I'll have a go at predicting the outcome of this match. All signs point to a home victory, right? Well in that case I'm going for 3-2 to Fulham. Just you watch...
The points will be a timely boost for Martin Jol's men, who has been dragged into the relegation scrap. They're just four points off the drop zone having won just one of their last 12 games.
In terms of forward players, there are few more skilled than Bryan Ruiz and Dimitar Berbatov. They're not the hardest workers, but they can be beautiful to watch when in top form. If they can click today, then the West Brom defence could be in for a tough afternoon.
Kieran Richardson is on the bench for Fulham today. Baggies fans will have fond memories of him playing in their colours, as he helped the club to pull off a miraculous escape from relegation. To this day, West Brom are the only club to have avoided relegation after being bottom of the pile at Christmas.
The two teams are making their way onto the pitch and we're now just minutes from kickoff at The Hawthorns.
Fulham - in orange - get this match underway...
Bright sunshine bathes Fulham's half and, with the ball being yellow at this time of year, it could prove tricky for David Stockdale between the sticks. He best put his cap on...
The visitors have settled down better. They're moving the ball around nicely so far.
Ruiz tries to twist his way past two West Brom defenders inside the area but the way is blocked.
There's no urgency at all from West Brom. A late night, perhaps?
McAuley goes long searching for Lukaku, but the Belgian begins his run too early and is flagged offside.
Morrison's poor touch allows the ball to go out for a goal kick when he should have kept it in. It's been a bit of a lethargic start by the Baggies.
Fortune is stopped by a brilliantly timed tackle by Briggs and Fulham break down field. Briggs is the man who's now steaming down the left, but his cross is put behind for a corner.
The corner is whipped in dangerously but Hughes can't quite get his head on it. It's another corner, though.
Sidwell has a dip from around 25 yards but it never looked likely to trouble Foster, and it sails high over his bar. There was some nice work by Dejagah down that right to create that shooting opportunity.
West Brom need to get a grip here. They look like the away team.
Fulham have had 66% of the ball. Still no clear-cut chances as yet. Hughes's missed header is as close as we've come to a goal so far.
Brunt delivers the ball into the box from a free kick, but McAuley's header is off target.
The home fans are showing signs of frustration, clearly not happy with the way their team has started. Lots of groans. Fulham are still on top.
Lukaku and Gera try a one-two but Stockdale is quickly off his line to gather the loose ball.
Brunt delivers another swinging ball from a free kick and Stockdale just about gets his fist to it.
Mulumbu bursts forward looking to make something happen and wins a corner from Hangeland.
West Brom seem to have woken from their slumbers now. They have another corner, which Brunt stands over.
Stockdale misses it but so does every other West Brom shirt. It looks like the sun is causing a few problems there. The ball actually looked like it struck Aaron Hughes on the arm on its way through.
Stockdale clutched at absolutely nothing as the ball floated past him from that corner. A bit shaky, to say the least.
Lukaku catches Hughes dallying on the ball and makes a run forward unchallenged, but his shot is blocked by Sidwell as he's about to pull the trigger.
McAuley gets his head to the resulting corner, but once again he fails to direct it on target.
CHANCE! That's the first real opportunity, and it fell to Dimitar Berbatov. It was Brunt's fluffed clearance that allowed the Bulgarian a shot at goal from just outside the area, but he slashed at it. You expect better from the Berb.
Kacaniklic tries to weave his way through the West Brom backline, but finds no joy.
The ball breaks to Morrison just outside the area but Hangeland gets his body in the way of the shot. Corner.
The ball is sent towards McAuley and Fortune, who both climb above Stockdale... but the referee blows up for a foul on the keeper.
GOAL! West Brom 0-1 Fulham (Berbatov)
Great goal on the counter attack! Berbatov released Dejagah down the right, and he turned Ridgewell inside out before laying the ball back for Berbatov, who fired across Foster and into the corner of the net. Fulham take the lead!
There will be one minute of added time at the end of the first half.
Jones gets a ball into the area but it's too high for Lukaku.
Half time: West Brom 0-1 Fulham
The West Brom players are subjected to boos as they leave the pitch at half time. They trail, and deservedly so. It took a while for Fulham to get the goal, but it was that man Dimitar Berbatov who came up trumps.
Steve Clarke's men took a while to get into the game, yes. But booing seems a bit rich considering they are currently seventh in the league. And they're by no means out of this game. Just the one goal in it...
Click here to read Sports Mole's Half-Time Report from The Hawthorns.
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Back to the game, and the players have made their way out for the second half.
Will Steve Clarke's teamtalk have made any difference? Time to see. West Brom kickoff the second half.
Berbatov has taken a blow to the head and is on the floor receiving treatment.
GOAL! West Brom 1-1 Fulham (Lukaku)
Marc-Antoine Fortune did brilliantly to hold off two Fulham players before finding Billy Jones on the right. He outfoxed Briggs before squaring for Lukaku, who had a simple tap in. The West Brom fans aren't booing now!
There are suspicions of offside regarding Lukaku's goal. It was marginal, but he did look slightly off. He was given the benefit of the doubt though.
OFF THE POST! West Brom really have woken up now! Lukaku latched onto a long punt down field and managed to get his body between man and ball before striking the post with a right-footed shot!
OFF THE POST! West Brom are certainly the team in the ascendancy now! Stockdale first denies Lukaku, before Gera struck the post from the rebound. The ball broke to Brunt, who struck the ball fiercely and on target... but it was deflected over for a corner.
GOAL! West Brom 1-2 Fulham (Kacaniklic)
Brilliant finish by the Swede! It was a good ball over the top from Ruiz that found him, and he took one touch before sliding the ball beneath Foster. Fulham are back in front... and against the run of play!
Fulham have now been involved in 21 games this season that have brought three goals or more. They're leading this one, and have regained a degree of control since retaking the lead.
There's activity on the West Brom bench, as Peter Odemwingie looks ready to come on.
Mulumbu brings down Karagounis and the Greek is clutching his shoulder. More groans sound around The Hawthorns. The match has settled into a similar pattern as the first half now...
Double West Brom substitution: Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie come on for Zoltan Gera and Marc-Antoine Fortune.
Brilliant interception by Hughes as Morrison burst into the box.
Fulham spring on the counter attack but this time Dejagah can't conjure anything. He had no support though, to be fair to him.
Berbatov is fuming with Sidwell after being caught offside. He was looking to get in behind the West Brom defence and stalled his run for as long as he could. Sidwell delayed the pass just a split-second too long, although replays show that he may have just been onside.
Brunt flings another free kick into the box but it's a comfortable take by Stockdale. West Brom look dominant in the air, have failed to effectively exploit Fulham so far.
There's a little coming together between Berbatov and Tamas. The Bulgarian was unhapy with the force of Tamas's challenge and gave him a little shove.
Odemwingie nearly does well in bringing the ball down inside the area, but he can't quite squeeze a shot off. There's a bit more movement up front now with Long and Odemwingie on the field.
CLOSE! A nice move by West Brom! Morrison found space on the right and nearly played in Lukaku, but the Belgian couldn't make contact with the cross. Ridgewell returned the ball to Lukaku in the air, but his header was off target.
Kacaniklic tries to wriggle past Jones but the defender does well to shepherd the ball to Foster. It's a dangerous period for West Brom. They are pushing for an equaliser, but that inevitably is going to leave them a bit open at the back. Stating the obvious, maybe, but the next goal is going to be huge in this contest.
Fulham substitution: Hugo Rodallega has come on for Giorgos Karagounis.
Ruiz goes down inside the area to muted appeals! The referee is having none of it. The Costa Rican isn't complaining.
Odemwingie puts in a great cross but nobody is there to take advantage.
Lukaku and Morrison link up nicely, but the Belgian's delivery from the byline is blocked at the near post.
Briggs sends a long ball down the right for Rodallega to chase. The Colombian rolled the ball back for Berbatov, but his first touch was uncharacteristically poor and his resulting shot was deflected wide for a corner.
To their credit, Fulham are still looking for that killer third goal. There's no attempt to sit back and defend what they have.
Long goes on one of his surging runs down the right. He has the beating of Hangeland, but lets the ball run out of play for a goal kick.
The Irishman gets another chance to deliver the ball into the box but the ball is headed behind for a corner.
Lukaku climbs highest to meet the corner, but heads wide.
Kacaniklic shows some dazzling footwork inside the box but his shot is straight at Foster.
Fulham win a free kick just outside their area. That's allowed them to recollect themselves. Not long now...
There's going to be three minutes of added-on time at the end of this match.
Jones twists and turns inside the area and so nearly finds a way through! Fulham scramble the ball clear!
It was Aaron Hughes who got his knee to Jones's cross then. It was great play by the West Brom full-back. Unlucky.
Fulham substitution: Dimitar Berbatov leaves the field to be replaced by Philippe Senderos. The Bulgarian's taking his time leaving the pitch.
CLOSE! A long ball into the area nearly falls to Morrison! He was inches away from making contact, but Stockdale jumped on the ball before he could!
Full time: West Brom 1-2 Fulham
The Cottagers hold on for victory! The first any away team has managed in this fixture in the history of the Premier League!
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
