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Hangeland sees few surprises in Baggies Fulham defender Brede Hangeland knows what to expect when Roy Hodgson's West Brom visit Craven Cottage.

The 30-year-old Norway international moved to west London from Copenhagen in January 2008 to link up with the Cottagers, who were then under the tutorship of Hodgson.

During his time at the helm, he helped transform Fulham from a side battling relegation to one fighting to be in the Premier League top 10 as well as the 2010 Europa League final.

Hodgson eventually left for Liverpool and now West Brom, who Hangeland and his team-mates face them in the Barclays Premier League.

"We know exactly what to expect from West Brom," he told the club's official website, www.fulhamfc.com. "It will be much the same as we played a couple of years ago and we all know how difficult that will be to break down.

"They will be a strong unit and well organised so we're in for a tough game but obviously we would like to keep our home form going and win the game." On Hodgson's return to Craven Cottage, he added: "He definitely deserves a warm welcome whenever he returns to Craven Cottage.

"I think all the players who were part of that era and certainly the fans will appreciate that [time he had at the club]." West Brom winger Jerome Thomas and defender Gonzalo Jara-Reyes are major injury doubts.

The duo suffered ankle and abductor muscle injures respectively during the home FA Cup defeat to Norwich at the weekend, while midfielder Paul Scharner is still struggling to overcome an Achilles problem which has troubled him in recent weeks.

Albion skipper Chris Brunt (fractured ankle) and fellow midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) remain long-term absentees.

Hodgson will be returning to Fulham for the first time since he left the Cottagers in the summer of 2010 to take charge of Liverpool.

He said: "I had a wonderful two and a half years there. It will be an emotional return but we will have to be at our very best to get something out of the game.

"Fulham have had quite a bit of cup success but the main thing about them is people now regard them as a mid to top half of the table team in the Premier League.

Fulham vs West Brom

Last modified 22:27 01/02/12

All-square on Roy's return Fulham began life after Bobby Zamora with a whimper as West Brom secured a point in a 1-1 draw on Roy Hodgson's first return to Craven Cottage.

The 31-year-old striker left for west London rivals QPR on Tuesday, leaving the home side bereft of attacking ideas.

Makeshift striker Clint Dempsey looked like he would prove Fulham's saviour once again as he tucked home midway through the second period.

However, the Cottagers lacked a cutting edge and West Brom made them pay with eight minutes remaining.

Substitute Somen Tchoyi fired home in front of the visiting support to ensure Hodgson took home a point home after a tough battle with his former club.

Heading into the match, Martin Jol ran with a line-up missing a recognised striker as new signing Pavel Pogrebnyak was not registered in time to feature and Andrew Johnson was left out on the 18-man squad.

Reported Fulham target Peter Odemwingie was recalled to the West Brom starting line-up and was the only change made to the side that faced Stoke in the league 11 days ago.

It was a strong-looking line-up named by Hodgson as he went in search of victory at his old stomping ground.

The match marked the former Fulham manager's first return to Craven Cottage after a highly successful spell that saw the west Londoners reach the 2010 Europa League final.

Hodgson received a standing ovation from the home support as the he made his way to the dugout, although there was no room for sentiment on the field.

Fulham started brightly and, after Steve Sidwell struck wide inside two minutes, Dempsey jinked into the box but could not quite get a shot away.

James Morrison forced David Stockdale into action in a rare Baggies attack and play soon returned to the other end, where Fulham thought they had taken an 11th-minute lead.

An exquisite through ball from Danny Murphy put Dempsey clear to net with relative ease, although the goal was chalked off for offside.

Odemwingie curled wide as the Baggies threatened to counter attack, although it was the hosts that were bossing possession.

While Fulham were looking in control, they lacked conviction and seemed devoid of ideas.

The Cottagers almost went behind when the visitors broke and Stockdale had to scramble across goal to stop a Marc-Antoine Fortune effort trickling in.

Jol deployed Ruiz just off Dempsey in place of Zamora, although they lacked the England international's presence in attack.

Ruiz beat Ben Foster to a looping Murphy ball but headed well wide, before Dempsey tested the West Brom goalkeeper as half-time approached.

Simon Cox saw a shot saved moments into the second period as the Baggies began brightly, penning Fulham back in their own half.

Fortune forced Stockdale to save down low during a 10 minute period of dominance, before Ruiz broke into the box at the other end only to toe-poke straight at Foster.

The effort was soon followed by a John Arne Riise piledriver as play began to swing in Fulham's favour.

The hosts were pressing and hoping to find a gap in West Brom's defence, which they managed to in the 69th minute.

Graham Dorrans' rash clearance gave Fulham possession and Ruiz played a neat pass to Dempsey, who directed the ball past Foster inside the box.

Fulham continued to press after breaking the deadlock but were caught out by West Brom in the 82nd minute.

Tchoyi, having come off the substitute's bench five minutes earlier, latched onto a Morrison pass to fire past Stockdale.

Jol's men continued to press after conceding and Dempsey headed over from a whipped-in Murphy corner as the clock wound down.

Fulham continued to bombard the visitors' back line deep into stoppage time, although were unable to find a winner and were met by boos at full time.