 |
West
Bromwich Albion v Southampton
The Hawthorns,
West Bromwich. 22nd February 2005, 7.45pm. |
| 19th February 2005
|
| Back
to Previous Page |
|
 |
 |
| Position |
20th |
19th |
| Form |
L W D D L L |
L W W L D D |
| Last Match |
Tottenham
Hotspur (A) 1-3 |
Brentford (H) 2-2 |
Last Meeting
6th November 2004 |
Southampton 2 (Svensson
28, 87)
West Bromwich Albion 2 (Earnshaw 28, 37) |
Last Baggies win in this fixture
was 1-0 on 14th September 2002
A freak goal from Sean Gregan gave Albion their
third Premiership win in a row taking them into seventh place in
the top flight. |
So we come to the third
of the Big Three, having taken just one point from the first two.
Had we got the six points our football deserved, we would now be
sitting pretty in 17th place, one point ahead of Crystal Palace
with a game in hand.
But that is all history, and defeats for Palace and Norwich last
weekend means that three points on Tuesday evening will move us
to within two points of that sacred 17th spot, and there will still
be everything to play for. A draw would suit Palace and Norwich
and we would stay four points from safety, but not out of touch.
Defeat would lift the Saints up to 17th and leave the Baggies a
scary five points behind them.
I felt that we really needed to win all three of these games, but
other results mean that we are still in touch. But we cannot afford
to lose to Southampton. And if we reproduce the first forty minutes
from the Spurs game, and keep it going for the full ninety, the
three points should be a formality.
The only reason I have hope is that Albion are playing the best
football I have seen them play in the Premiership, creating chances,
scoring goals and largely defending well. If we can only keep that
level of concentration up for the entire game, clean sheets are
possible.
As for Southampton, they have also been guilty of conceding late
goals with the latest Premiership example being in injury time against
Everton a fortnight ago. They will be especially disappointed having
lost a two goal lead against lowly Brentford in the FA Cup, leaving
them with a tricky trip to Griffin Park sandwiched between games
against Spurs and Arsenal. Albion's extra week's break courtesy
of the defeat at White Hart Lane should mean the Albion players
will be fresher for this crucial encounter, although Harry did rest
his son Jamie for the Cup match.
On-loan Wolves striker Henri Camara is sure to get a warm reception
at the Hawthorns, and he is the man on form having scored four goals
in the last three games since he joined on the last day of the transfer
window. Peter Crouch is also in a good spell with five goals in
the last seven games. Kevin Phillips returned from injury against
Brentford with Redknapp opting to go with all three strikers - it
is a ploy I'd be surprised to see at the Hawthorns and I would imagine
it is Phillips who would start on the bench given the recent form
of the other two.
As well as Camara, Redknapp managed to secure the services of Olivier
Bernard from Newcastle, Nigel Quashie from neighbours Portsmouth,
and his son Jamie and Calum Davenport from Spurs during the January
transfer window. The big loss, of course, was James Beattie to Everton,
but with Crouch and Camara scoring freely, it looks like good business
at the moment. And while Southampton's performances are improving,
they haven't really produced the results - their only three points
since November being a 2-0 victory over Liverpool. It's a similar
story to the Baggies, really.
Saints' record away from home is woeful, having picked up just two
points from thirteen trips away from St Mary's, both in London,
at Charlton and Arsenal. Only Norwich have scored fewer goals on
the road in the Premiership this season. Of course, such records
are meaningless in relegation six-pointers such as this one.
Robson is hopeful of having the full squad available for the game.
Hoult has been declared fit and Albrechtsen could well be available
having had ten days to recover from the hamstring injury that left
the Baggies down to ten men at the end of the match at White Hart
Lane. So Richardson will be pushing for a start in midfield, but
with Albion's player of the season, Jonathan Greening, back from
suspension, Richard Chaplow anxious for a first appearance and JK
hopeful of a second successive start, the midfield line-up is by
no means set in stone. Personally, I don't think Koumas did enough
at Spurs to warrant a place and I would put Greening and Richardson
in for him and Scimeca. Riccy would be the obvious choice a right
back should Albrechtsen not make it. Gaardsoe did well in defence
at Spurs, although he could be partly blamed for the third goal.
I did think they looked much more organised, and I think Tommy should
keep Purse on the bench.
Assuming Albrechtsen makes it, my starting line-up would be as follows:
Hoult; Albrechtsen, Gaardsoe, Clement, Robinson; Gera, Wallwork,
Richardson, Greening; Campbell, Earnshaw.
I maintain that Albion need six wins from their remaining twelve
games in order to survive, and this looks like the easiest of their
remaining fixtures....
Come on you Baggies!!
Jon Want, 19th February 2005.
|
| ^ Back to Top
|
|
