In the build-up to fixture release day, we're taking a look at each of the teams who are new to the Sky Bet Championship this season. Welcome back, Fulham.
Nickname: The Cottagers
Stadium: Craven Cottage (25,700)
Manager: Scott Parker
Recent history
Having reached the Premier League for the first time in 2001, Fulham enjoyed a 13-season stay in the top flight until they suffered relegation in 2014.
They spent four seasons in the second tier until a return via the Play-Offs under the guidance of Slavisa Jokanovic. However, he left the club in November and they appointed Claudio Ranieri, who struggled to improve their situation and duly departed in February.
The London outfit finished the season with Scott Parker in charge, who will look to return Fulham to the Premier League this term.
Current squad
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored 11 goals in 39 games for the Cottagers and amounted a higher number of minutes on the pitch than any of his team-mates.
Centre-back Denis Odoi and highly-rated winger Ryan Sessegnon were the other Fulham players to play the most minutes, as well as loanees Callum Chambers and goalkeeper Sergio Rico.
Stefan Johansen, who spent the second half of last season on loan at The Hawthorns, is still under contract for the Cottagers and could feature next term.
Teenager Harvey Elliott became the youngest-ever Premier League player at 16 years and 30 days when he was introduced off the bench during the penultimate game of the season.
Previous meetings
The two sides last met in the 2013/14 campaign, sharing 1-1 draws in both of their Premier League meetings. Substitute Matej Vydra bagged an 86th-minute equaliser at The Hawthorns with the assistance of goal-line technology, with Gareth McAuley having grabbed an even latter leveller in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
In 2010 at The Hawthorns, Albion made a first-half comeback to beat the Cottagers 2-1. A Scott Carson own goal had given the visitors the advantage within the first 10 minutes, but Youssouf Mulumbu and Marc-Antoine Fortune both fired for the Baggies to secure the points.
A lively League Cup game at Craven Cottage in 2005 saw Albion come out on top after extra-time in a tie that yielded five goals. Albion led twice; first through Robert Earnshaw in the third minute before Luis Boa Morte levelled the scores after the hour mark.
Nwankwo Kanu bagged for the Baggies with two minutes to play, but Heidar Helguson netted in the final minute to equalise once more, before Junichi Inamoto sealed an extra-time winner for Albion.
Head to head
| Albion | Draws | Fulham | |
| League | 31 | 17 | 24 |
| League Cup | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| FA Cup | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 36 | 19 | 27 |
