Happy 2013 to you all. No bombast about this tie but West Brom, if they go through the gears, are a decent side to watch. They have certainly scuttled my relegation predictions at the beginning of the season after coach Steve Clarke groomed a striking quartet that is the rival of most Premier League teams.

Bad news for Shane Long fans as the Ireland striker will start this match on the bench. Clarke has opted for the strike force of Roman Lukaku and Marc Antoine Fortune. Zoltan Gera is also in the starting line-up against his former employers.

Just the one change in the Fulham side that lost to Swansea as Alex Kacaniklic [my August flirtation in Fantasy Football] comes in for Karim Frei. David Stockdale, against the Swans, was parrying the ball like Nigel Martyn on a bad day but he gets another chance as Mark Schwarzer is still injured.

Here are your starting line-ups:

Fulham: Stockdale; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs; Dejagah, Sidwell, Karagouinis, Kacaniklic; Ruiz; Berbatov.

Subs: Etheridge, Senderos, Baird, Kasami, Richardson, Rodallega, Frei.

WBA: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Tamas, Ridgewell; Brunt, Mulumbu; Fortune, Morrison, Gera; Lukaku.

Subs: Myhill, Rosenberg, Long, Thorne, Jara, Odemwingie, Dawson.

We’ve got a comment from Senan [below] about why Shane Long is not starting. It is a head-scratcher but Long is fully fit and raring to go. Clarke likes to mix up his strike force and Long is the unlucky man today. Here is what Clarke has told Sky Sports:

Over the course of the season we have tried to use the squad as much as possible… a lot of the pitches have been very heavy this season… it is important to get some freshness back in the team.”

Kick-off and Fulham press first.

Chris Brunt must not have made a ‘no cursing at refs’ resolution and Mike Dean calls him back for a gentle scolding. West Brom are trying to close down Fulham’s space in the midfield but Martin Jol’s side are passing crisply in the opening minutes.

Lovely cross whipped in by Karagouinis from the left wing and only Berbatov [shock horror] in the box. Ridgewell heads clear but Sidwell gets possession and initiates another attack.

The home fans are livid with Fortune as he refuses to chase down Riether after the ball is chipped near the corner flag. Lazy start from the former Celtic forward. Lukaku is then offside but just about.

McAuley needs a sliding interception to prevent Ruiz from pulling the trigger. Hughes gets a faint touch on the resulting corner. Sidwell then piledrives a shot that is rising all the way and Foster is not troubled.

Another corner coming up after super touches from Berbatov in the build-up.

Fulham continue to call the shots despite a surge from Brunt. Berbatov is the harshly called for a foul despite cleanly winning the ball. The inswinging free is nodded on by McAuley but it bounces harmlessly wide. 19 minutes gone.

Berbatov treacles a promising Fulham attack after a poor Foster kick-out and a four-on-three is ruined.

Lukaku is close to being put clear through but Stockdale slides out to snuff out the threat. Berbatov is called for another dubious foul but the Fulham keeper gets a hand to the cross. Hangeland then has to be brave to block a Mulumbu drive on goal. Better from WBA as Hangeland’s defensive header leads to another corner. 25 mins on the clock.

West Brom pressing now and Fulham could do with a bit of pace in their attack. Lots of nice touches but no direct threat. Tamas gets his head to a Brunt header but it goes right and wide.

Brunt messes up a back-pass attempt and it sits up beautifully for Berbatov but he sends his shot into orbit.

Hangeland puts his lanky frame in the way to block a Morrison pop on goal. The home side starting to boss the game now. Stockdale, with a mini Jedward tribute with a strong ‘keeper’ shout but he is fouled and it is a free out.

GOAL: Berbatov ’39 mins

The Bulgarian starts off the breakaway move and finds Dejagah on the right wing. He takes a run at Ridgewell then squares for Berbs who sidefoots powerfully through Foster’s flailing dive. Seventh league goal of the season.

Mulumbu is the latest WBA player to get his head on a cross and finding the advertisement boards. Steve Clarke may look to bring on Long and Odemwinge early in the second-half if his team can’t get motoring.

HALF-TIME

Here is the game’s opening goal:

YouTube credit: Thenimitzzz11

The second-half is underway with no changes from either manager. Berbatov’s face gets a ‘hello’ from Fortune’s shoulder and he gets some treatment.

GOAL – 48′ Lukaku

Billy Jones makes Briggs, the left-back, look amateurish as he turns him inside then out before squaring for the unmarked Lukaku to tap in from four yards out.

Lukaku holds off Aaron Hughes as he chases down a ball chipped over the top. He lashes a boot at it but it strikes the outside of the post. Martin Jol will be fuming – his side just needed to hold out for 10 minutes and weather the WBA storm but they couldn’t do it.

Seven goals for the Chelsea loanee so far.

Where to start? Stockdale blocks a Lukaku drive with his thigh, the ball falls to Gera who, from a tight angle, misses the open goal by hitting the post. The rebound comes out to Brunt and his drive is diverted from the top corner by the head of Hughes. So close [x3] for West Brom.

GOAL: ’57 Kacaniklic

Ben Foster is caught in no-man’s land as Kacaniklic takes down a Ruiz through ball, spins McAuley and slots home from the edge of the box. There was no need for Foster to charge out beyond the penalty spot – it was always up to the defenders to clear that ball.

They have fallen behind since this but here is the Lukaku goal:

YouTube credit: GoalsGoalsGoals2013

Odemwinge and Long have dumped the trackie tops and are ready to enter the fray. 64 minutes gone.

Here come the lads now. Super one-touch football involves Long immediately and almost leads to the equaliser for Morrison but the ball is hacked clear.

Long is spearheading the attack with Lukaku on the left and Odemwinge on the right of the front three. Two corners in quick succession for WBA but nothing comes from it. Hangeland with a brave headr=er to give another corner kick away. It is cleared too.

This is the Kacaniklic goal – calm finish by the former Liverpool midfielder:

YouTube credit: MrAllgoalss

Tamas rakes his studs down Berbatove’s shin and concedes a free. Somehow, no yellow card follows. Hugo Rodallega is ready to come on.

15 minutes to play and Lukaku goes close twice. He can’t get enough on a Morrison cross then heads a Long cross just wide.

Ruiz is selfish as he tries to shoot rather than put Berbatov through. Dejagah drives from 25 yards out but it is right and wide.

Lukaku then squares a super ball into the Fulham box but nobody is there to sweep home and Hangeland clears. Long nods on a cross but Fulham clear again. Rodellega sets up Berbatov for a pop but it takes a deflection and will be a corner – Foster gets enough of a flapping touch on it to avert danger.

Five minutes to play and Long overruns the ball out of play under pressure from Hangeland. A win for Fulham would see them climb to 12th – not an amazing leap but a second away win of the season would be a huge boost. Lukaku gets yet another header off target but Hughes must get credit for putting him off. The Chelsea-owned forward appeals for a penalty after Hangeland nips the ball off his toes in the box.

Sky give Berbatov the man-of-the-match as the fourth official signals three minutes of stoppage time.

Screams for a penalty as Jones fires in another cross but it hits of Hughes’ thigh rather than a hand. A minute left to play.

Gamesmanship aa Berbatov is subbed off, and strolls off, with a final free kick to be pumped forward by Foster.  It is so close to an equaliser as Long backheels a squared pass but Stockdale gets down sharply. We have played 90 seconds more than recommended but there goes the final whistle. Fulham get their first away win in three months.

FULL-TIME

West Brom looked dead set for a home win after their equaliser but Ruiz and Kacaniklic combined to rock them back on their heels. Berbatov, Hangeland and Hughes were the main men for Fulham today. Stay with us for more liveblog commentary and Premier League updates.