EFL Championship 2019/20: Fulham vs West Bromwich Albion – tactical analysis

Two of the former Premier League teams plying their trades in the Championship, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion, faced each other in match week seventh. Fulham had had an average start in their first full season with manager Scott Parker, with ten points picked up from the first six matches. The overhaul summer has brought them some decent additions and their fans expected them to pick up their form when they welcomed West Brom.

For Slaven Bilić’s side, they were the only unbeaten side after Swansea and Charlton lost their ties just a few moments earlier. But their record of three draws had raised some questions among the fanbase about their consistency in those matches. And they have continued that streak by adding to their tally of draws and unbeaten matches with a late salvage goal from centre-back Semi Ajayi.

This tactical analysis will provide an analysis of the draw between Fulham and West Brom. Meanwhile, using statistics, we will point out the standout tactical points of both teams and what aspects of their tactics they could improve.

Lineups

The former Tottenham player lined his side up in a 4-3-3 formation. Harry Arter was Fulham’s only significant absence after he received a red card against Cardiff City. He was replaced by another Cardiff loanee in Bobby Decordova-Reid (or Bobby Reid as you might have known him from his time at Bristol City). Provided the width for Fulham was Reid’s teammate at the Ashton Gate, Joe Bryan, youngster Steven Sessegnon as wing-backs and the winger duo of Anthony Knockaert and Ivan Cavaleiro.

Bilić chose the 4-2-3-1 formation for their trip to Craven Cottage, London. Their pacey attacking line that consisted of new signings such as Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira and target man Charlie Austin continued to be his first choice. Former Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs remained doubtful before the match and he was replaced by youngster Nathan Ferguson. Ahmed Hegazi was also another absence for West Brom as the Egyptian defender was still recovering from the ankle operation that he suffered from the African Cup of Nations.

Fulhams style of play

On the ball, the home side created a four-man build-up to circulate the ball inside the middle third and started to progress it up the pitch. This required the involvement of two central defenders in Alfie Mawson and Tim Ream. Both were comfortable with the ball and the latter could even dribble with it at his feet. They were the first player to receive the ball from goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from the new goal-kick strategy and then moved it into the middle third.

There, they linked up with two flying wing-backs on both sides of the pitch and created a passing block on the edge of the halfway line. Sessegnon and Bryan all tended to make overlapping runs into the opposite half and joined the attack. Still, on a few occasions, they remained in their respective positions to offer passing options and picked up the ball to send it towards the attackers.

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