Wright and Robinson on target for Albion at Aggborough
SENIOR trio Callum McManaman, Sebastien Pocognoli and Cristian Gamboa all featured as Albion came from behind to beat Fulham at Aggborough in the Premier League 2.
McManaman completed the whole game, Pocognoli played for 77 minutes before being swapped for Robbie McCourt, while Costa Rica international Gamboa was replaced at half-time by Zak Elbouzedi.
Stephen Humphreys’ deflected strike put Fulham ahead but second-half goals from Andre Wright (penalty) and Tyrell Robinson earned the Baggies their first victory of the season.
McManaman created the game’s first opportunity inside the opening five minutes when he dinked down the right and crossed for Wright who saw his acrobatic volley land just wide of the far post.
Fulham responded well and should have taken the lead when Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson found himself free in the six yard box however the winger was thwarted by a fantastic reaction stop from Jack Rose.
The away side had further opportunities to take the lead early in the first-half but Joshua Smile failed to break the deadlock on two separate occasions with strikes from distance.
The hosts were next to threaten and McManaman was involved again, collecting a short free-kick from Pocognoli, before cutting inside and shooting inches wide of the far post from a tight angle.
Fulham then took the lead in fortuitous circumstances with nine minutes of the half left.
Humphreys collected a pass from Joshua Walker on the edge of the penalty area and saw his effort take a wicked deflection and sail into the top corner with Rose helpless.
James Shan’s side made a quick start to the second period and found themselves on level terms in the 54th minute.
Wright confidently dispatched a penalty after Rekeem Harper had been brought down in the area by Fulham ‘keeper Magnus Norman.
The Baggies completed the turnaround on 65 minutes when Tyrell Robinson nodded the ball into the far corner after connecting with Brad Sweeney’s teasing cross from the right.
Just moments later Rose made a magnificent one-handed stop to push Humphreys fierce 25 yard drive over his own crossbar as the visitors looked for an instant reply.
Rose was then beaten by a Smile free-kick from 25 yards but thankfully his crossbar came to the rescue as Albion hung on to claim all three points.
ALBION: Rose, Gamboa (Elbouzedi HT), Fitzwater, O’Shea, Pocognoli (McCourt 77), Sweeney, Nabi, Harper (Barbir 86), McManaman, Robinson, Wright.
Unused subs: Ross, Smith.