West Brom and Fulham failed to boost their survival hopes as they played out a 2-2 draw in which new-signing Mbaye Diagne impressed for the Baggies
In what was being billed as the season's first 'six-pointer' between two teams in relegation trouble, Fulham bossed the first 45 minutes at The Hawthorns but only had a Bobby Decordova-Reid goal to show (10) for their complete domination
Sam Allardyce unleashed Diagne at the break and he triggered a huge upturn in the hosts' performance level with Kyle Bartley drawing the Baggies level (47)
 The on-loan Galatasaray striker then grabbed an assist by setting up Matheus Pereira to put West Brom in front (66)
Fulham did not have a shot in the second half until the 75th minute as their performance flattened out, but substitute Ivan Cavaleiro headed home a vital equaliser for Scott Parker's side
 It means Fulham have drawn seven of their last nine Premier League games
West Brom are now six points from safety and Fulham are four points off Brighton in 17th
Both managers used the word "massive" to describe the match in their pre-match media duties but it was Fulham who played their game rather than the occasion in the early exchanges
Parker's team were slick, brave and tactically astute with the ball, not allowing West Brom any chance to build attacks
 They were ahead inside 10 minutes
 Ademola Lookman found Alexander Mitrovic, who spun into space and threaded a great ball for Decordova-Reid, who slammed home from the angle
The wing-back was causing so many problems and almost made it 2-0 moments later from an identical position but this time struck the post instead of the net with a powerful finish
 Lookman was the next Fulham player to test Sam Johnstone after turning past Semi Ajayi in the box but the goalkeeper was equal to it
Fulham's dominance triggered a first-half change from Allardyce who switched to a back four with Karlan Grant replacing Dara O'Shea
 It failed to change the flow of the game as Fulham dominated the midfield but couldn't find a second goal
Fulham fully deserved their lead - a weak Grant effort the Baggies' only shot in the first half - but Albion levelled out of the blue two minutes after the break
With Diange now proving a focal point in attack, Pereira and Grant combined and Pereira's cross clipped Ola Aina for Bartley to steer in a first-time finish from six yards
Albion had re-emerged refreshed - with intensity as they pressed Fulham back - and Pereira dragged wide from 25 yards
It was a total contrast to the first half and the Baggies went ahead in the 66th minute
Diagne continued to offer much-needed presence up front
And the striker turned supplier when he went free down the right and Pereira reached his low cross before Aina to turn past Alphonse Areola from six yards
Yet the lead only lasted 11 minutes when Harrison Reed bent in a brilliant cross and fellow substitute Cavaleiro's diving header levelled
It was a result that, truthfully, helped neither team
This is perhaps a bit harsh on a cluster of Fulham players who were outstanding for 45 minutes but failed to see the game through
 It was the arrival of the striker from the bench that completely changed the game in West Brom's favour
 He looks very well versed in leading the line on his own, something Allardyce wants from his central striker
 His physicality gave Jerome Anderson much more to think about after the break as his clever hold-up play and movement down the channels laid the platform for the West Brom turnaround
 He'll give Allardyce hope that the great escape might be achievable
 said: "It's ended up with a draw which probably neither of us really wanted
"We should have won it
 When you come in 1-0 down at half-time and Fulham have been the better side we had to change the way we were playing
"We dominated for the first 30 minutes of the second half and got 2-1 up but once again our frailties defensively have let us down
"We cannot expect to score three goals every time to win it
 The biggest disappointment was how we let their goal in with their man (Cavaleiro) arriving at the far post with no-one marking him
"It came after a spirited, honest, fightback from the players to get themselves back in the game
 We had to play simple, quality football
" said: "The game should have been out of sight at half-time
 We were fantastic in the first half and they had to make changes 20 minutes into the game
"We had some big chances and it should have been done
 We didn't do well enough in the first 15 minutes of the second half but the substitutes came on and did very well
"We're disappointed it's not three points but we'll keep moving
"It's a useful point but there were big chances to kill the game off and we're not on the right side of the big moments
 We're playing some good football but you need to put those moments away
 It should have been 3-0 or 4-0 at half-time
"There are 18 games left and there's still a long way to go
 There have been a lot of strange results and this is a team going in the right direction
"It is Sheffield United away next for West Brom on Tuesday at 6pm, while Fulham host Leicester at Craven Cottage on Wednesday at 6pm
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