Express & Star

West Brom Player Ratings v Fulham

Following a draw at Fulham, West Brom are now the only unbeaten team in the Championship.

Published
Semi Ajayi

Here, we rate how the players performed following the 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.

SAM JOHNSTONE

The 26-year-old made one outstanding stop to push a Tom Cairney strike onto the bar after the midfielder was slipped in on goal. Johnstone also made a smart double save to first deny Anthony Knockaert and then Bobby Reid. The keeper could do nothing about Knockaert’s goal. But there were one or two times he put Albion in trouble with his kicking. 7

DARNELL FURLONG

Up against Ivan Cavaleiro, Furlong put a marker on the Wolves loanee early on but struggled to contain him at times in the first-half. After the break though, the Portuguese winger was kept much quieter. Lively when going forward, Furlong almost won it late on with a glancing header from a corner. 7

SEMI AJAYI

Hailed by Slaven Bilic after the game, the Nigerian international has made an excellent start to his Albion career and continued that here with a man-of-the-match display. Not only was he on hand to score the equaliser, Ajayi – along with Kyle Bartley – ensured Alexsander Mitrovic was restricted to very little. 8

KYLE BARTLEY

A colossal performance form the centre-back who was not only dominant in the air, he also was in the right place positionally to make a number of important blocks. Shackling the threat of Mitrovic was key – with Ajayi and Bartley getting the job done. 8

NATHAN FERGSUON

Having come through the youth ranks as a centre-back, Ferguson has now shone at right-back and left-back this season. Anthony Knockaert drifted past him once early on, but after that it was Ferguson who won the duel. Perhaps got a touch lucky with a penalty appeal Fulham made against him, but in real time it didn't look a spot-kick. 7

JAKE LIVERMORE

Out numbered in the middle of the park, Livermore and Romaine Sawyers struggled to know when to press and when to hold their positions in the opening 20 minutes. They improved with some instructions from Bilic but this performance was way below the standards he’s set this season. Despite being captain, was taken off just before the hour mark. 5

ROMAINE SAWYERS

It became clear early on Albion had to do something to stop Tom Cairney’s late runs into the box. And it was Sawyers who helped reduce the threat by staying closer to the ex-Blackburn man. Barely touched the ball in the first-half, but as Albion got better, so did Sawyers. 5

MATT PHILLIPS

Scotland were made to do double sessions in midweek, something which infuriated Rangers manager Steven Gerrard. It’s impossible to know if that and travelling caught up with him, but Phillips was uncharacteristically quiet here and offered very little before being subbed. 5

MATHEUS PEREIRA

Far from just a flair player, Pereira was quiet overall but was asked by Bilic to keep Harrison Reed in check and stuck to the task. He would have wanted to offer more going forward, but won and then delivered the corner from which Semi Ajayi scored. 6

GRADY DIANGANA

Was Albion’s main attacking threat in the first-half and set-up Darnell Furlong with a clever reverse pass. He showed his quick feet at times. But when Kyle Edwards came on, he enjoyed much more joy against Steven Sessegnon on the left flank. 6

CHARLIE AUSTIN

Austin fired over after acrobatically meeting a cross from Darnell Furlong. He also sent a header from a Matt Phillips free-kick straight into the arms of Marcus Bettinelli. But they were only half-chances – with the striker finding himself isolated too often. 5

SUBS

KYLE EDWARDS (for Phillips 59)

Had Steven Sessegnon on toast from the moment he took to the field. Albion looked so much more dangerous with Edwards on the left, with the winger sending in a number of dangerous crosses. A real eye-catching display following a spell where Diangana, Pereira and Phillips have been making the headlines. 7

FILIP KROVINOVIC (for Livermore 59)

Kept his discipline well and was neat and tidy on the ball. 6

HAL ROBSON-KANU (for Diangana 69)

A revelation in the number 10 role, the Welsman's introduction really helped Albion changed the momentum of the game. 7

Not used: Bond, O'shea, Brunt, Zohore.