The Baggies forward and Hawthorns summer signing didn’t have a good day at the office against the Cottagers.
A number of West Bromwich Albion fans have taken to Twitter to comment on their side’s 1-1 draw at Fulham in Saturday’s early Championship kickoff and Charlie Austin was one of several players whose performance came under scrutiny.
The Baggies fell behind in the 49th minute after Anthony Knockaert weighed in with a left-footed cross-shot from the edge of the box which caught out the Baggies goalkeeper Sam Johnstone as it dipped in at the far post.
West Brom did not have the best day at the office but they found an equaliser on 80 minutes as a poor attempt from Marcus Bettinelli to get a corner clear saw him palm the ball straight into the path of Semi Ajayi, who headed into the empty net.
Austin laboured for much of the game as he weighed in with a couple of wayward efforts and made a few stray passes as well, although he didn’t have much support from his teammates to work with either, with the Baggies mostly playing on the counter.
Here is what some Albion fans said about the forward on social media:
Just me that’s somewhat alarmed by this version of Charlie Austin?
— WBA Rainbow Stand ® (@TheRainbowStand) 14 September 2019
This is so poor. Charlie Austin has been awful again. Can’t see where a goal is going to come from #wba
— Gemma Colledge (@GemmaColledge) 14 September 2019
Austin doesn’t work in this style at all #wba
— Ben (@SJabBoxing) 14 September 2019
We’ve robbed a point but it was certainly a thriller, Johnstone keeping us in the game throughout the game and thought Furlong and Ferguson both played brilliantly along with Ajayi. Austin still needs a few weeks but Kanu/Zohore will certainly help. Come on you Baggies #wba
— Codie (@TheRealCodie_) 14 September 2019
Would rather see us give Tulloch a chance, Austin and Zohore have no pace in them and can’t seem to do anything. Unless we get a young striker on with something to offer we’re not going up.
— Dyl (@WBA_Dyl) 14 September 2019
#wba today’s game was tough thought that playing Austin was an error, we couldn’t defend from the front. We were careless with the ball. Well done Edwards and Krovinovic and HRK who all helped change momentum. That’s a great point considering how we played.
— Michael Singhíć (@MichaelSingh25) 14 September 2019
Really good game today thought we were slugish for 60 minutes but really impressed with the two centre backs and fergason is getting better and better really impressed with Kyle Edwards of the bench and Johnstone kept us in, also clear to see Austin hasn’t had a pre season #WBA
— Brandon (@MillwardSadler) 14 September 2019
Austin joined The Hawthorns in the summer from Southampton on a two-year contract in a transfer which reportedly cost the Baggies £4million (BBC Sport).
In other news, Reported £25m Leicester target has better stats than Chilwell this season