BBC SPORT | Football | Eng Prem | Baggies swamp Fulham

West Brom 1-0 Fulham

West Bromwich Albion picked up their first Premiership points courtesy of a Darren Moore goal against Fulham at The Hawthorns.

The defender headed home Neil Clement's corner at the second attempt early in the second half and the Baggies held on for victory.

West Brom were desperate to kick-start their Premiership campaign after defeats to Manchester United, Leeds and Arsenal.

But Fulham were lacklustre, despite their midweek Intertoto Cup final win over Bologna and West Brom goalkeeper Russell Hoult was rarely called into action.

West Brom began brightly and dictated proceedings in the first quarter.

The Baggies came close to scoring on 11 minutes when Lee Hughes - on his second debut at The Hawthorns following a �2.5m move from Coventry- forced a superb diving save low to his right from Edwin van der Sar.

Key Incidents:

11 mins: West Brom's Lee Hughes forces a superb save from Edwin van der Sar

39 mins: Andy Johnson shoots tamely at van der Sar

48 mins:Darren Moore heads home for West Brom

80 mins: Bob Taylor shoots from halfway line for West Brom

While both sides lacked any real penetration it was West Brom who appeared the most likely to force an opening.

But the passion moved up a notch when Hughes was shown yellow for a foul on Fulham's Sylvain Legwinski on 24 minutes.

Two more cards quickly followed - for Fulham's Luis Boa Morte (dissent) and for West Brom's Darren Moore (for a foul on Steve Marlet).

West Brom had another sniff on goal on 39 minutes when Andy Johnson found himself one-on-one with van der Sar, only to shoot tamely into the keeper's arms.

It was a thoroughly deserved win

Gary Megson

At the interval neither side had anything to show for their increase in commitment, though Fulham's van der Sar ended the half much the busier of the two goalkeepers.

West Brom resumed the second half on the front foot and were soon rewarded by Moore.

He headed home from a left-footed corner taken at the second attempt from the right by Neil Clement.

Lack of desire

West Brom squandered another chance on 57 minutes when the unmarked Jason Roberts blasted high over the bar from Johnson's cross.

Fulham were still bereft of ideas and midweek hat-trick hero Junichi Inamoto was a frustrated figure without any service and was replaced on the hour by Zat Knight.

The side was tired - we did not have any chances until the last 20 minutes

Jean Tigana

Jean Tigana also brought on Louis Saha for Fecundo Sava and Steed Malbranque for captain Andy Melville, which seemed to boost Fulham's participation in proceedings.

West Brom were under the cosh towards the end but nearly scored a second, against the run of play, when Bob Taylor's shot from the half-way line was just tipped over by van der Sar.

But ultimately the Londoners came up just short on commitment and desire and went home pointless.

West Brom: Hoult, Moore, Gilchrist, Wallwork, Balis, Clement, Johnson, Gregan, Marshall (Koumas 52), Roberts (James Chambers 88), Hughes (Taylor 77).
Subs Not Used: Jensen, Dichio.

Booked: Hughes, Moore, Wallwork, Johnson.

Fulham: Van der Sar, Finnan, Brevett, Melville (Malbranque 59), Goma, Inamoto (Knight 60), Boa Morte, Legwinski, Davis, Sava (Saha 60), Marlet.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Hayles.

Booked: Boa Morte, Davis, Finnan.

Attendance: 25,461

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).