WEST BROM 1, FULHAM 0

THESE are nosebleed times for Tony Mowbray’s Baggies after Roman Bednar fired them to a best-ever start to a Premier League season.

By some geographical quirk, The Hawthorns is the highest football ground in the country, standing at 551 feet above sea level.

And at the moment, Albion are reaching other dizzy heights thanks to Bednar’s winner.

They are seventh in the table having recorded back-to-back wins in the top flight for the first time since 2005. West Brom’s last five games have brought them 10 points and they are flying high.

Albion are playing some decent football as well. Their reputation as a team that plays brightly and inventively has not deserted them, even against illustrious opposition.

That is because in Mowbray they have a man in charge who refuses to talk about survival as a priority. He is looking ever upwards and not over his shoulder at the teams behind him.

Even with Old Trafford as Albion’s next port of call, there is not a hint of fear or negativity in his mind.

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Mowbray said: “Our long-term aspirations are not just to stay in this division. They never have been.

“I don’t set goals like that. I have said since the start of the season it’s not just about survival.

“We will try and entertain our fans and win football matches.

“We will try to win games and see where we finish. In our last two games, we have competed against Fulham and Middlesbrough — just as we did against Arsenal on day one and against Everton and Aston Villa. Now we have to be ready to go to Old Trafford and try to make life difficult for Manchester United. That’s a great opportunity for us.

“That’s why we worked so hard last season to get into this league.”

Bright-eyed, optimistic and ambitious. There was not a single expletive to be heard from a very impressive, young manager whose refreshing outlook is mirrored by his team.

But for all his brave words, Albion fans will be thankful to stay in the Premier League and build for the following season. So will Fulham.

Both teams had made reasonable early progress along the escape tunnel away from the congested area around the relegation zone.

But three straight league defeats have left the Londoners looking for a lifeline. They could not find one at The Hawthorns despite some neat build-up play.

Fulham and Albion have made it clear they will try to play their way to safety. But while both sides can be pleasing on the eye, they do not always have a cutting edge to all their fancy embroidery.

It was Albion who found the attacking zest to wear the visitors down after the interval.

They went close when Ryan Donk headed Jonathan Greening’s header against the post in the 48th minute and the Dutch defender was also there to add some beef to the Baggies attack when they took the lead 13 minutes later.

Fulham had just escaped when Danny Murphy headed James Morrison’s effort off the line but their relief was not to last.

Donk’s attempt to force Greening’s corner goalwards was blocked and Bednar pounced on the rebound.

Czech striker Bednar had missed a first-half chance when he only had Mark Schwarzer to beat but the goal elevated his confidence.

A stunning shot against the top of the bar denied Bednar a second. By the finish, a tiring Fulham defence was struggling to contain his running power.

Fulham’s search for an equaliser was hardly convincing. The tireless Murphy skimmed a deflected shot just wide of the target.

Clint Dempsey was wayward with a headed chance from a Jimmy Bullard cross but the bulk of the activity was around Schwarzer’s goal.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson had a rather blinkered view of events, insisting that his team’s failure to finish off their opponents had proved expensive.

He said: “I really do think if we had taken one of the chances that came our way, we would have got what we deserved.

“I can’t be unhappy with the way we played today — just with the result. I don’t have any reason to be critical of the performance.”

Hodgson bristled when asked if he was worried about his failure to win a point away so far this season.

But, again, there was no need for anyone to reach for the swear box.

The Fulham manager said: “That’s only three games. You have to give me a little more leeway than that.

“If it gets to 15 games, then it would be fair to ask me that question.”

But this was always likely to be Albion’s day. Mowbray’s optimism might be hopelessly misplaced but they approached the game on the front foot and remained there.

Baggies fans left whispering thoughts of European qualification.

Heads in clouds, maybe, but they deserve to feel on top of the world.

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