West Bromwich Albion's giddy rise up the table continues. Temporarily at least they are in a Champions League position following a victory rather more convincing than the score might suggest, and while they cannot play Fulham every week – the visitors faded badly after the brightest of starts – the Baggies have already shown they can compete with teams at the top by winning at Arsenal and drawing at Manchester United.

"Results so far have been beyond our expectations, but the way the team is performing we deserve the points we have," Roberto Di Matteo said. "I have absolutely no idea how long we can keep it up, but I still think we can improve. Our plan is to carry on trying to do that, and see where we end up at the end of the season. We could have won by more today, we made plenty of chances and did not allow Fulham too many."

Fulham sprang a surprise even before kick-off by unveiling a perfectly foul away strip, an almost military shade of olive that made some of Liverpool's experiments with the green stuff appear well-judged. Then they surprised their hosts by taking the lead in the ninth minute, when Moussa Dembélé helped set up Zoltan Gera for a shot and the former Hawthorns favourite scored from 20 yards thanks to one deflection off an upright and two off the unlucky Scott Carson.

Actually that does neither party any favours. It was a good shot by Gera and a terrific, full length diving save from Carson. Unfortunately for him his fingertips diverted the ball onto a post and the rebound went in off his back, so technically that counts as an own goal as the ball was rebounding outwards before he sent it back across the line. It's a hard life being a goalkeeper, and life nearly got harder still for West Brom when Diomansy Kamara struck the foot of the same post four minutes later. This time the ball did rebound to safety. Even the Baggies' new-found confidence may not have survived going two goals down at home in the first 15 minutes, heroic recovery at Old Trafford last week or not.

As it was, the home side kept calm and played their way back into the game, drawing level when Chris Brunt's clever diagonal pass allowed Youssouf Mulumbu to slide a shot under Mark Schwarzer. Brunt's pass was originally intended for Marc-Antoine Fortuné but West Brom found themselves with an attacker to spare, and Fortuné sensibly – with a view to offside – allowed the ball to run to an even better-placed colleague.

Jonas Olsson saw a header comfortably cleared off the line by Stephen Kelly before Fortuné gave his side the lead just before the interval. More crisp and incisive passing sent Jerome Thomas to the goalline, and from his pull-back it was a simple matter for Fortuné, near the penalty spot to sidefoot into a largely unguarded goal .

With Thomas enjoying himself against Kelly on the right West Brom were completely in charge in the second half and should have added to their lead. Fortuné failed to take a decent opportunity before being substituted, Paul Scharner brought an excellent save from Schwarzer and Thomas should probably have had a penalty when Kevin Friend rather generously decided Kelly had won the ball in bringing him down. Mark Hughes will not have been happy at the way his side barely managed to mount an attack after the interval, even after introducing Andy Johnson. Only in the closing minutes did Fulham throw caution to the wind and get bodies across the halfway line, even then they did not cause a well-organised Albion defence much trouble.

Hughes was disappointed that refereeing decisions went against him for a second week running. "I thought both their goals were offside, or at least they were in the new grey area that surrounds offside," the Fulham manager said. "I don't see how Fortuné could have been inactive one moment then scoring a goal the next, I just think the new interpretation allows referees the chance to hide when they get things wrong." On the subject of getting things wrong, what about the new kit? Harrods green, apparently. "It's a nice shade," Hughes said. "It may take a while to get used to."

THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

RICHARD JEFFERSON WBAunofficial.com We've had a great run recently, and the most pleasing thing is that we have fully deserved the results. After getting a point at Manchester United we could have taken our foot off the pedal against more ordinary opposition, but we didn't do that. Our work rate is immense. Probably our two stand-out players are Mulumbu and Baird, but we have got good cover in all positions. Graham Dorrans, our best player last season, can't get in the team. We bought very wisely in the summer, and so far this season have completely exceeded expectations. But it's still early days – it's all about survival still for us.

RATINGS Carson 6; Jara 6, Tamas 8, Olsson 6 (Ibáñez 54 7), Shorey 7; Mulumbu 9; Brunt 8, Morrison 8; Scharner 7, Thomas 7 (Tchoyi 87 n/a); Fortuné 6 (Bednar 54 6) Subs not used Myhill, Reid, Dorrans, Cox

JAMIE RUSZCZYNSKI CravenCottageNewsround.wordpress.com For the first 20 minutes we were quite good, we got a goal but then we just faded away. I've heard on the radio that the West Brom goals may have been offside, but they had a lot more chances than us anyway. We badly miss the leadership of Murphy and Etuhu in midfield, but it was good to see Andy Johnson back. Mark Hughes has done well so far, but this was our worst performance under him. A lot of people didn't like our new away strip, but I thought it was OK. I think it's based on Harrods green and gold – must have been designed before Fayed sold the store.

RATINGS Schwarzer 6; Kelly 5, Hangeland 7, Hughes 7, Salcido 6; Gera 7, Dembélé 6, Baird 6 (Riise 73 3), Greening 5, Dempsey 6; Kamara 4 (A Johnson 58 6) Subs not used Stockdale, Pantsil, E Johnson, Dikgacoi, Halliche