Papa Bouba Diop netted a stoppage-time winner at Craven Cottage to leave West Brom rooted to the foot of the Barclays Premiership.

The Senegalese midfielder headed home a Luis Boa Morte corner to break what had been a grim relegation stalemate in the closing seconds.

But Diop's fourth goal of the season was harsh on Bryan Robson's side, who have now gone 15 games without a Premiership win.

West Brom had the measure of Fulham for much of a laboured afternoon and it is clear Robson is trying new ideas to engineer a change of fortune. Yet once more, thanks to Diop, who also claimed a late goal against Manchester United, it was not enough.

As one of three players sent off in a bad-tempered match between the two sides at The Hawthorns in September, this was sweet revenge for Diop.

It was Albion's new signing Kevin Campbell, however, who made the first penetrative pass of the game and Rob Earnshaw, racing between two defenders, should have done better than shooting over the bar.

But Boa Morte, who has just signed a new contract to 2008 to keep him out of the clutches of Newcastle, was soon making his presence felt on the left for Fulham.

Twice early on he fired testing crosses into the Albion goalmouth and at the end of the first half he went within inches of giving his side the lead with a thumping a shot and a glancing header.

For Albion, Earnshaw was allowed far too much room to get to a low cross in the 10th minute and easily turned to shoot before Zat Knight could challenge. Luckily for Fulham it was straight at Edwin van der Sar.

But Fulham showed quality with a sharp exchange between Moritz Volz and Steed Malbranque, the latter going on to fire a fierce shot for Russell Hoult to hold impressively two minutes later.

Volz then almost created a golden chance for Boa Morte but his slide-rule through-ball was just too long.

Fulham then suffered a blow as Malbranque sustained an ankle injury after after a crunching tackle.

He tried to battle on after treatment but was replaced on 20 minutes by Lee Clark, who was making the biggest step yet in his comeback from a calf injury 18 months ago.

West Brom could have snatched a goal when Zat Knight made a mess of a routine cross from Jon Greening and van der Sar had to dive at Earnshaw's feet to save.

And the Dutch keeper, who may follow Boa Morte and sign a new deal soon, excelled again when Ronnie Wallwork let fly from 20 yards.

A third save left ex-Arsenal veteran Campbell frustrated before the break but Albion rode their luck in stoppage time with Boa Morte going close and Collins John denied a penalty after Hoult plunged at his feet.

Both goalkeepers had less to do in the second half with Hoult seeing Boa Morte's shot fly over and van der mainly turning crosses out of his goalmouth.

West Brom lost Andy Johnson in the 69th minute when he was carried off on a stretcher after 69 minutes.

Neither side shunned the physical side, although there was certainly no repeat of the scenes that saw Andy Cole, Diop and Neil Clement were sent off in the sides' meeting in September.

The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until Diop had the final say.

Teams

Fulham Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Rehman, Bocanegra, Malbranque (Clark 22), Pembridge, Diop, Boa Morte, Radzinski, John (McBride 79).

Subs Not Used: Legwinski, Crossley, Rosenior.

Booked: Boa Morte, Bocanegra, Clark.

Goals: Diop 90.

West Brom Hoult, Albrechtsen, Purse, Clement, Robinson, Greening, Johnson (Scimeca 70), Wallwork, Gera, Campbell, Earnshaw.

Subs Not Used: Koumas, Horsfield, Kanu, Kuszczak.

Booked: Greening.

Att: 16,180

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).