Back in 2016, Fulham played Albion and were the better side from start to finish.

Slavisa Jokanovic's team turned their sharp-moving attack and general superiority into goals and deservedly won 3-0.

Albion were left with a few things to think about but were not overly worried.

It was, after all, only a pre-season friendly, played at Aldershot before a couple of thousand diehards.

Glenn Murray later said that game served as a warning in the months to come.

When the real thing came around, Fulham were again the better side – for 45 minutes and then for about 70.

But Albion had a few more answers, twice coming from being 1-0 down to win both games 2-1 on the way to promotion.

That was how it was for few years in the Championship. No matter how well or badly Albion played, they beat Fulham.

Five times in a row, starting with a 2-0 in the rain to drag them out of the Championship relegation zone to a 5-0 romp or a very late Tomer Hemed winner with his first penalty for the club.

In the Premier League, it has been different. Six matches and no Albion wins (the teams never met in the old first division).

The Seagulls played Fulham off the park for 45 minutes on one occasion at the Cottage, led 2-0 and lost 4-2.

They had a goal ruled out by VAR at the same venue and drew 0-0 before empty stands as the capital was returned to Covid tier three in the days before the game.

At home, they were dazzled by the newly-arrived Jean Michael Seri (who looked a Prem star in the making and is now at Hull City) before Glenn Murray salvaged a point.

Murray scored four times against Fulham that season but was not on the winning side.

But the one Roberto De Zerbi recalls was the one in which he was involved – at the Amex last season.

Albion had 65% of possession, 21 goal attempts (against five by Fulham) and two goals disallowed.

Yet Fulham won 1-0 to go three points above their hosts in the race for what looked like being the last European spot.

For someone who “turns the page” within minutes after a win, De Zerbi does not seem to mind retaining vivid mental images of his worst days for future reference.

Like the Carabao Cup defeat at Charlton.

Like the FA Cup semi-final heartbreak against Manchester United.

Like the game against Fulham eight months ago which was decided by De Zerbi’s former player, Manor Solomon.

Speaking on Friday, De Zerbi said: “I can’t forget the defeat of last season, 1-0 at the end of the game.

“Solomon gave me a bad day. I spent a very bad day because we played very well and we lost three points.

“But the game can change in one minute.”

Fulham have lost Albion nemesis Aleksandar Mitrovic but De Zerbi says they have threats.

He added: “They are a very good team, very good coach.

“I respect the Fulham coach a lot but we are focussed on ourselves and what we have to do to win the game and to play well.

“We have to follow the quality of performance.

“I think we were not playing well in the last three or four games but (on Thursday) I enjoyed watching the game.

“The next focus is to play in our style, with our quality, to show the quality of our players. (On Thursday) I think we did it.”

Albion have scored in all 16 league and cup matches since that 1-0 defeat by Fulham, with 42 goals in total.