[Albion](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/) have made a habit of getting good starts to their Premier League seasons.
You have to go back to their debut campaign in 2017-18, with one point and no goals from the first three games, to find the last time they had to wait for any success.
They had won their opening fixture for four years in a row before Saturday and five times in six seasons.
When they did not win their first game, in 2018-19 and 2020-21, they won their second.
Fabian Hurzeler was willing to look upon this as a good start in terms of several aspects of their performance.
But it was not so in terms of result as the Seagulls dropped two points right at the death.
They had chances to add to Matt O’Riley's 55th-minute penalty.
But Rodrigo Muniz drilled in an equaliser from a corner seconds from full-time.
_(Image: Simon Dack)_
Hurzeler was more disappointed by what led to that flag kick than the set-piece itself as the ball flicked off Lewis Dunk and fell to Muniz.
Albion did not see this one out but should have killed it off.
Hurzeler looked less disappointed than might have been expected as he spoke after the game and said there were parts of the afternoon which pleased him.
Asked to pinpoint them by The Argus, he said: "We defended 96 minutes, I think there was not one chance for Fulham to win the game.
“In the second half we created a lot of chances. Of course, we could have been more ruthless and scored a second goal but, overall, I'm very pleased with how together we were. It felt very compact, it felt very intense.
“We were in good shape and that's what I'm looking at, and therefore we should focus on these positive things.”
Further asked whether, when the chances did not go in, he had a feeling it would be costly, he replied: “No, I felt very confident that we would win this game.”
While the first day of the season is a new beginning, this all felt quite familiar.
Fulham have not changed personnel during the summer and Albion had just one debutant.
The loss of a lead was certainly a throwback.
Even the referee was the same as for this fixture last season.
Joao Pedro converted the penalty awarded by Sam Barrott last term but it is too easy and too early to say, as the TalkSPORT team were quite early on Saturday, that Albion will miss their Brazilian.
Remember they took 13 points from the five games he missed at the end of last season.
It is also too early to evaluate their attacking resources as we wait to see Stefanos Tzimas and Charalampos Kostoulas plus what impact Tommy Watson can make on the wing.
Georginio Rutter again led the attack but his best work came when he dropped into his more favoured deeper role.
Receiving Max De Cuyper's lay-off of a fizzed pass by Lewis Dunk, Rutter ran at the defence and, thanks to Sander Berge’s foul, forced the penalty which O’Riley converted.
Remember this was Rutter's first league game since the draw at Manchester City five months ago so it is good to see him back.
Yankuba Minteh, Dunk, Diego Gomez and Brajan Gruda all went close to adding insurance before Fulham returned the compliment of the last-gasp goal they conceded here in March.
It can still be a good start for Albion in terms of results if they spoil Everton's big day at their new home.
'False start' was probably more accurate here.