Lots Moore in store as Baggies bag a winner

West Bromwich Albion 1 Fulham

The national newspaper columnist – Daz adverts, Millwall fan, ring any bells? – who suggested yesterday morning that West Bromwich Albion could go through the whole season without winning a game has some apologising to do. Like many other observers he has seriously underestimated how much wholehearted endeavour can achieve, even at what is supposed to be an exalted level of the game. Not that there was anything exalted about Fulham, whose performance, as their first defeat coincided with Albion's first victory, was simply wretched.

"The difference between the First Division and the Premiership in football terms is nothing short of astounding," West Bromwich's likeable manager, Gary Megson, said. He may be right but on days like these, it suddenly looks bridgeable.

In a week, everyone's relegation favourites have managed to strengthen every area of the team after a bit of brinkmanship with Nationwide League clubs in urgent need of funds. Coventry and Lee Hughes came to their financial senses and the striker returned to his roots in time for yesterday's game, linking up splendidly with the impressively powerful Jason Roberts. In midfield, the gifted Welsh international midfielder Jason Koumas has been signed from Tranmere.

The Ipswich centre-back Hermann Hreidarsson was the final target but decided to stay put, which was a blow – defence being the area which, on the basis of the first three games, was the most deficient. But moving Sean Gregan, from Preston, back there from midfield worked perfectly well, at least against opposition as feeble as yesterday's.

Daunting as their opening three fixtures had been, Albion had done enough to demonstrate that it would not be an entirely pointless campaign. At Old Trafford, they defended solidly and submitted, to a single Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goal, only after having their captain Derek McInnes sent off; last Saturday Leeds were on the rack and being painfully stretched for 40 minutes; and even at Highbury in midweek going 3-0 down early on led to a spirited second half rather than total capitulation.

The direct – almost rudimentary – style made for an interesting contrast to their opponents' more measured approach and proved much more successful throughout, Fulham showing little stomach for a physical battle. The ball was humped forward without ceremony or apology for Hughes and Roberts, both of whom were more than capable of holding it up for the other. Lee Marshall hit a fierce drive over the bar after Hughes set him up within two minutes and soon afterwards Hughes almost managed to turn past Andy Melville.

The Fulham defender then caused outrage by appearing to hold Roberts as he burst towards the penalty area, and although the referee, Rob Styles, kept his pencil in his pocket, it would come out eight times in all during the afternoon – four bookings to each side, though Jean Tigana felt his team received no protection.

West Bromwich even constructed the most elegant move, almost bringing Hughes a goal on his return. Marshall put Igor Balis away down the right and the Slovakian's cross was met by Hughes with a low drive that Edwin van der Sar, at full stretch, only just got a hand to. Fulham were incapable of putting together anything remotely as dangerous and finished the afternoon without a shot on target.

Junichi Inamoto, drawing a large Japanese contingent after his midweek hat-trick in the InterToto Cup final victory, was unable to influence proceedings apart from launching one dangerous run early in the second half, and Facundo Sava, surprisingly selected to start the game, looked lost. Both were taken off soon after Albion deservedly scored in the 49th minute. Neil Clement took an inswinging corner from the right and although Van der Sar blocked Darren Moore's first header, the big centre-half powered in another that the goalkeeper could only help into the net at his near post.

The roar was rapturous and there should have been another a few minutes later, Andy Johnson shooting wildly over the bar after Roberts wriggled along the byline and set him up. Tigana's sense of desperation showed with a triple substitution, and although Steed Malbranque, on for Inamoto, gave Fulham a slightly livelier look, Steve Marlet, sent into a promising position by his countryman, summed up their attacking ineffectiveness by shooting weakly and wide. The perfect end to the afternoon would have been for Bob Taylor's shot from the halfway line to have eluded the retreating Van der Sar, who just managed to touch it over the bar.

Megson, by that stage, was just happy for the ball to be at the right end of the pitch.

West Bromwich Albion 1 Fulham 0
Moore 48

Half-time 0-0 Attendance: 25,461