The Premier League table shows Albion can still stay up – but the team sent out a different message at Craven Cottage.

Almost 1,000 Baggies fans departed West London with confidence in another ‘Great Escape’ at a new low.

It was hard to blame them, given that belief appears to have drained from their players in a matter of weeks.

There have been some low points for the Albion faithful since Mowbray’s men kicked off their latest Premier League adventure in the splendour of the Emirates Stadium in August.

Not until now have Albion’s players seem resigned to a grizzly fate as they surrendered to a Fulham side who scored just twice but might have racked up six, seven or eight goals with a little better fortune.

Mowbray’s post-match message remained bullish. He still believes, he insisted, and so do his players.

His words might have sounded a little more convincing, had his team not crumbled before his eyes and those of the shell-shocked travelling supporters.

The scoreline might not have mirrored the pre-Christmas shambles at Sunderland but the performance was just as bad -and the body language was a darned sight worse.

Accusing Mowbray’s players of lacking effort, as some supporters did last night, is a shade harsh.

They are an honest bunch of professionals with much to lose, both in pride and earnings, if they end up back in the Championship next season.

But, while commitment might remain, belief looked to be draining away quicker than ever as they were simply outclassed and overrun on the banks of the Thames.

In many ways it was inevitable. Coming up short on so many occasions in seven months is bound to have a debilitating effect on all but the most resolute sportsmen. Resolution is, sadly, just one of the traits the Baggies are lacking.

That and other deficiencies have brought defeat on defeat, error on error. And the effects were laid bare yesterday in the person of players paralysed by their own failings.

Take Borja Valero as ‘exhibit A’. The Spaniard might have lacked the match-winning impact of a record signing, but he did once play clever passes at a high tempo. Not yesterday – he got the ball, and gave it away.

Leon Barnett was always a ‘work in progress’ this season, but back in August he won his headers and made his tackles. Not at Fulham – he was tied in knots by Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora.

Even James Morrison, the undoubted star of the season so far, failed to compete.

Only an amazing series of lucky breaks prevented the visitors being battered before half-time. The home side hit the woodwork on three separate occasions, goalkeeper Scott Carson made some smart saves and Zamora missed a great chance.

But justice was done in the second half.

Only Carson’s brilliance prevented an early Fulham goal as Gianni Zuiverloon tripped Johnson 20 yards from goal, Danny Murphy fired in a free-kick and the flying Carson turned it onto the woodwork.

It broke back into the goalmouth but Abdoulaye Meite was on hand to hook it clear.

Some slapstick defending from the Baggies on the edge of their own box then handed Dickson Etuhu the chance to try his luck, with a long-range volley that was beaten away by Carson.

The keeper had no chance moments later when some slack play by Albion on their right flank allowed the home side to break and Clint Dempsey hit a vicious shot that dipped over Carson.

Thankfully for Albion, the crossbar came to their rescue and Meite tidied up again.

The frame of the goal was proving to be Albion’s best defender and it came to their rescue again 12 minutes before the break when they were outrun again in midfield.

Murphy hit a dipping shot that defeated the helpless Carson but rattled the crossbar and bounced away.

The gods continued to smile on Mowbray’s men. When Barnett headed back towards an empty net, Carson scrambled back to turn the ball around the post and spare his defender’s blushes.

When Zamora beat the Baggies’ hopeless efforts to catch him offside, the striker screwed the ball horribly over.

The second half began similarly to the first, with the Baggies under pressure, and Barnett had to be on hand to clear a Johnson cross off the line.

But after a couple of minutes they finally managed to compile a decent combination of passes, ending with a free-kick for a foul on Robert Koren.

Substitute Chris Brunt saw his set-piece headed over by Marc-Antoine Fortune. Moments later, the same combination almost combined to give the visitors the lead.

Brunt whipped in a brilliant early cross and Fortune got the benefit of a dubious non-offside decision and a ricochet off Paul Konchesky. But he bundled his shot behind.

At the other end there was more ‘pinball’ action in the Albion box, when Zamora cut inside Zuiverloon and the eventual shot deflected towards goal off Abdoulaye Meite, forcing Carson into a smart save.

But on 61 minutes, the visitors’ luck ran out. A right-wing cross glanced off Johnson and Zamora stole in between Barnett and Zuiverloon to score.

Fulham went close again when Brede Hangeland’s header from a corner hit the underside of the bar.

But the home side would not be denied their second for long and Zamora played a key role again, beating Barnett to a through-ball and letting fly with a shot.

It struck Carson full in the face but rebounded to Johnson, who composed himself before placing home a simple shot.

In stoppage time came a chink of light for the Baggies, when substitute Roman Bednar went down under Hangeland’s tired challenge to earn his side a penalty.

But despite striking the spot-kick firmly, the Czech Republic international saw it blocked by the diving Mark Schwarzer.

That save preserved a scoreline that was the least the home side deserved. Albion were grateful for the final whistle that came moments later and allowed them to lick their wounds.

The dismal standard of the teams around them means Albion can still salvage their season. But, on this evidence, it will take one hell of an effort to lift their chins off the floor.

By Steve Madeley