It can safely be said that the natives are restless. As Mr Robson once again picked Ronnie Wallwork and Andy Johnson in the middle of the park, Albion crashed to a third successive home league defeat, despite a spirited second half comeback, and dropped into a depressingly familiar position in the bottom three. It would be unfair to lay all the blame for Albion's current run at the feet of Messrs. Wallwork and Johnson, but their continued selection is doing Robson's stature with the fans no good at all. As he knows only too well from last season, fans are fickle and his dramatic change from zero to hero is in danger of being reversed.

With Kamara and Horsfield having made apparently dramatic recoveries from their injuries, Robson opted to leave both on the bench along with Tuesday's two-goal hero Nathan Ellington. Campbell and Earnshaw got the nod up front in what proved to be the same starting line-up from the Stadium of Light last weekend.

Part of me can understand why Robson has persisted with Wallwork and Johnson. Wallwork was as solid as a rock for the second half of last season, and with Darren Carter's defensive frailties exposed, he feels that AJ is the man to provide the energy in midfield. However, the current run of results screams out for a change and Wallwork, in particular, has been in dire form of late. However, his second half performance against Charlton was something of an improvement and, dismayed though most Albion fans will be, it may have kept him his place for next week.

In fact, the difference between the first and second half performances was really down to players improving rather than the changes made. "Joe" Kamara certainly added some much needed energy, but Greening, Wallwork and Earnshaw all stepped up the ante after the break. In fact, rather than Chaplow or Inamoto the Invisible, it may well be Greening that takes Johnson's place in the side with Kamara taking the spot on the left flank.

Looking at the goals Albion conceded, the first was purely down to Steve Watson. Exposed for pace, he lunged for the ball in a situation when he had no chance of getting there and conceded the penalty. For me, it makes the case for Albrechtsen that much stronger, although he was obviously suspended for this game. For the second goal, it was a lucky break that put Rommedahl in, and Greening was never going to catch him, but leaving Danny Murphy unmarked in the box was criminal - and who was the man strolling into the picture as Murphy scored? A certain Mr Wallwork, no doubt pointing at somebody else!!

In the end, Albion were unlucky not to get a point, but we just cannot keep giving teams an easy start. Had Albion gone at Charlton from the off, even with the team that was picked, they could and should have caused them problems. It is easy to blame Robson and team selection, and he deserves his share of the blame, but the players out there are good enough and experienced enough to play better. It says a lot that the best player in an Albion shirt was the most inexperienced. Already Curtis Davies is showing an ability to read the game well beyond his years - his senior teammates could learn something from him.

One more positive - no Albion players booked for the first time this season.

Marks

Chris Kirkland - 7 - Two great saves; decent all round display.
Neil Clement - 7 - Another decent game.
Curtis Davies - 7 - MOM. Great that he got on the scoresheet in an accomplished display.
Paul Robinson - 7 - Steady as ever.
Ronnie Wallwork - 5 - Come on Mr Robson, surely you can see he needs to be dropped, for his own sake!
Steve Watson - 5 - Disappointing again.
Jonathan Greening - 6 - Poor first half, good second.
Andy Johnson - 4 - Chased shadows.
Kevin Campbell - 5 - Doesn't do enough.
Robert Earnshaw - 6 - Did OK with little support or service.
Zoltan Gera - 6 - Quiet game from Zoltan.

Nathan Ellington - 6 - Little impact.
Geoff Horsfield - 6 - Continues to have problems with offside.
Diomansy Kamara - 7 - Changed the game and deserves a starting place.

Bryan Robson - 5 - He cannot be blind to the supporters' wishes, but he will remember what happened last season. His perseverance paid off. But something needs to happen soon.


Jon Want, 26th September 2005.