Parker’s blueprint is undermined by rocky foundations

CRAVEN COTTAGE may be being rebuilt but it was Fulham’ s defensive foundations that wobbled as Marcus Bettinelli’s error cost them the win against West Brom.

The Riverside Stand will take two years to reconstruct while manager Scott Parker had a summer of his own renovation work. On the back of this, there’s plenty still to be done, after Anthony Knockaert’s lucky effort was cancelled out by Semi Ajayi’s header.

This means Fulham have now gone three league games without a win. Their problem is obvious, after just 17 shots had led to just one goal on Saturday. They lack the clinical touch needed to turn possession into points.

Parker was not happy: ‘The first half we were dominant, we had some glorious opportunities. I think if we had gone in 2-0 at half-time I don’t think anyone would have been begrudging that.

‘ After the goal we played into West Brom’s hands a bit and went away from how I want to play. We turned the game into a bit of a basketball match, going from back to front very early.’

The Baggies named an unaltered side while Fulham were forced into one change after Harry Arter’s suspension, with Bobby De CordovaReid taking his place.

Fulham dominated the first half. Within 10 minutes Ivan Cavaleiro had a shot blocked, while Cairney hit the bar. Sam Johnstone was also equal to a curling Knockaert effort.

Knockaert then spurned a glorious chance just before half-time but made amends after re-emerging for the second period, sending a cross-cum-shot over Johnstone’s head and into the net. Then Fulham di pped, as West Brom grew. Darnell Furlong sent t he ball crashing into the side netting while Bettinelli had to be brave to cut out a Kyle Edwards cross.

By the 79th minute, when Ajayi lept highest after Bettinelli was caught under his bar, sending a parry into the defender’s path, Bilic’s side had deserved a goal.

‘We’ve had to come here, we got a point, we deserved a point and there’s a feeling from their crowd that they were more happy with the final whistle,’ Bilic said.

‘We were the ones who finished stronger. It’s good for us.’ Parker agreed with Bilic’s assessment, saying that Fulham ‘have to have the bravery to keep playing even when West Brom are in the ascendancy. If they don’t do that, it’s 1-1 and to be honest at the end, they could have won it.’

Home will clearly not be rebuilt in a day, and Parker will need to redraw his own blueprint after this frustrating draw.