FA PREMIERSHIP/Fulham ... 3 West Brom ... 0: It may look increasingly unlikely that Jean Tigana will be in charge of Fulham next season, but the chances are that he will leave the club with their Premiership status intact.
Three goals in five remarkable minutes last night lifted his team 12 points clear of the relegation zone and kept Albion deep in trouble.
A scrappy game looked to be heading for a stalemate until the 73rd minute when Steed Malbranque's cross was headed in by Louis Saha as Phil Gilchrist dithered.
Then, Malbranque, the oustanding performer, tapped a free-kick for Pierre Wome to score from 25 yards before scoring a penalty himself awarded for a push by Neil Clement on Saha.
Albion, for whom Lee Hughes wasted two good chances at 0-0, must pick themselves up to face West Ham on Sunday.
There had been no mistaking the importance of this game to both teams in their attempts to avoid relegation.
If many had expected Albion to struggle, Fulham supporters had gone into the season with hopes of a top-half finish. Instead, they've witnessed a period of struggle, and Fulham could have been behind inside five minutes.
Lee Hughes was sent through, but, on a rare start in place of the suspended Jason Roberts, he shot too close to Maik Taylor.
Fulham began to dominate, though the half ended with both teams going close.
Gary Megson sent his team out a couple of minutes early for the second half to warm up, but they never looked like catching Fulham cold. Not that Tigana's players provided much to heat up their supporters amid untidy fare early.
The travelling fans did shout for a penalty, but it was a sign of Hughes' lack of confidence that he had theatrically thrown himself to the turf under a challenge by the substitute Abdeslam Ouaddou.
When Malbranque had a shot deflected over at the other end, few would have anticipated anything other than a goalless draw.
Guardian Service
FULHAM: Taylor, Finnan, Goma (Ouaddou 45), Melville, Wome, Marlet, Djetou, Inamoto, Malbranque (Stolcers 89), Sava, Saha. Subs Not Used: Goldbaek, Herrera, Leacock. Booked: Djetou. Goals: Saha 72, Wome 74, Malbranque 77 pen.
WEST BROM: Hoult, Adam Chambers, Gregan, Moore, Gilchrist, Clement (Udeze 90), Wallwork, McInnes, Koumas, Dichio (Jordao 80), Hughes (Dobie 71). Subs Not Used: Sigurdsson, Murphy. Booked: Adam Chambers, Gregan.
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
