I didn't travel to Bolton so here is a guest match comment from ALEX TILSLEY.

On reflection, I don't think the game was that bad......there has been a lot of over reaction on the message boards. We fully deserved at least a point and if it wasn't for the referee, we would have got that.

The team - I didn't agree with 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 but many people were calling for it during the week. Big Dave did ok, but his distribution was very poor. Albrechtsen also seemed a bit wasted on the wing on his own, he seems to do better when he is supporting a wide midfield player.

Greening was very poor, Watson had his best game for us. People were rightly calling for Ronnie to be dropped and for Carter to play.....but Carter couldn't control a thing. Horsfield was terrible

Kamara played well, his pace is a great asset. The penalty was blatant. I don't understand why it was retaken in the 1st place as the ball went in, if it had rebounded to the Horse or the three Bolton players in the box then make him retake it. There were four Bolton players in the area during the second kick......no consistency.

Before and after the penalty Bolton had a few good chances, but they were denied with two very good saves from Kirkland. Bolton didn't really threaten in the second half. The free kick was one of the worst decisions i've ever seen. It was all over after that.

I still don't know what our best side is - that is probably the main problem.

Losing to Bolton isn't a disgrace. From some comments from our fans though it's as if they want Robson to fail andwill use any opportunity to get on his back. I'm not happy, but I feel I have to support our manager to stand up to these people.

Losing to a team that finished sixth last season is no disaster and you also have to consider that they haven't conceeded in their last four home games. There is way too much expectation from some sections of the Albion fans.

Marks

Chris Kirkland - 8 - MOM. Some excellent saves, but should have organised the wall better for first goal.
Martin Albrechtsen - 6 - wasted as a wing back.
Neil Clement - 6 - something isn't right with Clem at the moment, starting to look like a left back playing at centre half again.
Curtis Davies - 7 - adjusting well to the Prem well, composed on the ball.
Darren Moore - 6 - did well in the air, but often made the team panic by giving the ball away needlessly.
Paul Robinson - 7 - committed as ever but didn't offer much going forward.
Steve Watson - 7 - best I've seen him play, imposed himself in midfield.
Darren Carter - 5 - oh dear, after last week's heroics he was very poor; control was terrible.
Jonathan Greening - 5 - probably his worst ever game for the club, just couldn't get into the game.
Geoff Horsfield - 4 - the least you'd expect from Geoff was to put himself about, he didnt even do that.
Diomansy Kamara - 7 - dangerous but needs an end product.

Nwankwo Kanu - 7 - did more than Horsefield but winning headers & keeping control of the ball.
Robert Earnshaw - 6 - feel sorry for him, didn't even get a touch of the ball.


Alex Tilsley, 25th October 2005.