Ola Aina’s stunner gives Fulham lift-off as West Brom’s search for first win goes on

As wild as the start of the Premier League has been, the feeling after the weekend was that it was starting to sort itself out. But, pre-season predictions had both these sides pegged as relegation candidates and nothing in their six winless matches leading into this showdown suggested there were any corrections to be made at the foot of the table.

Similarly, the truisms of battling relegations are as they were. Beating the teams around you is a must. And as Fulham satisfied that criteria on Monday night with a comfortable 2-0 victory, their first win of the season, West Bromwich Albion still wait for theirs having spurned one of the six fixtures they need to make count without any real fight.

The match was settled in a first-half, specifically the first 30 minutes. Bobby de Cordova-Reid and Ola Aina were the scorers, both with engaging displays beyond their goals, which were the standout highlights of a gritty affair.

The last time West Brom had a start to the season this bad, with three points and four defeats in seven, was in 2004/05 when survival came through a near-miracle under Bryan Robson. Thus, casting them aside just yet feels a tad premature. But we should not be talking about divine intervention already. Slaven Bilic continued to cut a forlorn figure, not just at odds with his superiors but also those he put faith in getting something from Craven Cottage. They came away with just one shot on target, and were left 18th in the table as Fulham climbed above them.

Fulham have been a statistical conundrum this season, though not one particularly tough to decipher. They have dominated possession in four of their six matches but have been unable to do anything worthwhile with it, hence the single point. But their use of the ball on Monday night was more purposeful and incisive. The goals were the best examples of this.

Both were off the back of wonderfully elaborate moves, the kind Scott Parker’s side have theoretically been capable of but never managed to put together on the pitch. The opener came about through slick moves on the ground leading to Antonee Robinson’s cross from the left. Aleksandar Mitrovic met it well at the far post allowing Cordova-Reid to head firmly in on 26 minutes.

The second, just 212 seconds later, was sleeker and, arguably, one of the best from this round of games. Fulham swayed the ball from left to right with a lick of swagger, over to right-back Aina, who passed to Cordova-Reid down the line and decided to see what else lay ahead of him.

Though he did not get a direct return pass, his curiosity meant he was in the perfect position for a lay-off from Mitrovic. The former Chelsea full-back gathered his feet before striking pure and true into the far corner. All this in a first-half with just 45 per cent possession, which was also their share across the whole encounter.

It will be at the back where Parker will be most heartened. The numbers tell of the disarray in Fulham’s backline: not just the 14 goals conceded but the 10 defenders and two goalkeepers used barely two months into this campaign. There has been a lack of coherence of system and personnel.

But there were promising signs from the centre-back pairing of debutant Joachim Andersen, on loan from Lyon,  and another recent-signing Tosin Adarabioyo making his third appearance. No doubt buoyed by the greater proficiency from the white shirts in front of them, and the limited threat posed by those in yellow and red,

There could, and perhaps should, have been a third for Fulham with 10 minutes to go, when Tom Cairney’s dink over goalkeeper Sam Johnstone was kept out by Conor Townsend and then by Semi Ajayi when Decordova-Reid smashed a left-footed effort straight at the defender from eight yards.

Nevertheless, the hosts wrapped up the points the hard way, hassling West Brom at every turn, starting with Mitrovic from the front who began celebrating throw-ins won deep in opposition territory. From moments like that it was clear the “nil” matter more than the “two”.

We will find out how much of this is sustainable, with Fulham coming up against West Ham, Everton and Manchester City in their next three fixtures. Parker may know what this league is about as a player, but this was only his fourth win in 17 attempts as a manager and the one he can certainly learn most from given the other three came when Fulham were all-but doomed in their 2018/19 relegation.  

That, though, is a consideration for the near future. For now, a manager who looks like he carries all his team's woes on his shoulders can sleep a little easier. Having got Fulham’s worst Premier League start out of the way in the opening six, this was the first match of what the club hope will be a longer run to guarantee their future in it.