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West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. 30th October 2004, 3.00pm.
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Match
Preview
Result West Bromwich Albion 1 - 4 Chelsea
Scorers Zoltan Gera (56) William Gallas (45)
Eidur Gudjohnsen (51)
Damien Duff (59)
Frank Lampard (81)
Attendance 27,399
Teams 4-4-2

1 - Russell Hoult (GK)
19 - Neil Clement
4 - Thomas Gaardsoe
5 - Darren Moore
3 - Paul Robinson
2 - Riccardo Scimeca
8 - Jonathan Greening
10 - Andy Johnson
34 - Robert Earnshaw
11 - Zoltan Gera
25 - Nwankwo Kanu 		4-4-2

(GK) Petr Cech - 1
Wayne Bridge - 18
William Gallas - 13
Renato Paulo Ferreira - 20
John Terry - 26
Joe Cole - 10
Damien Duff - 11
Frank Lampard - 8
Claude Makelele - 4
Alexei Smertin - 5
Eidur Gudjohnsen - 22
Substitutes 29 - Tomasz Kuszczak (GK)
22 - Bernt Haas
18 - Lloyd Dyer
7 - Jason Koumas
12 - Scott Dobie 		(GK) Carlo Cudicini - 23
Alberto Ricardo Carvalho - 6
Cardoso Tiago - 30
Mateja Kezman - 9
Arjen Robben - 16
Substitutions S Dobie for R Earnshaw (56)
J Koumas for N Clement (64)
L Dyer for J Greening (80) 		A Robben for J Cole (45)
A Ricardo Carvalho for W Bridge (45)
C Tiago for F Lampard (83)
Yellow Cards Paul Robinson (54) None
Red Cards None None
Referee B Knight (Orpington)
As an Albion fan, it seems strange to say that I enjoyed watching a match that we lost 4-1, but the fact is that I did. As a footballing spectacle, it was fantastic entertainment, with Arjen Robben's dive the only real blot on that particular copy book. Let's face, although we want to see Albion win, it was never particularly likely against a Chelsea side full of high quality international talent, and I prepared myself for a defeat and sat down hoping for a good game with some quality football - and that's exactly what I got.

With what is likely to be his only game in charge, Frank Burrows opted for a very Megson-like line-up although he thankfully switched back to the 4-4-2 formation that has served us better this term. Clement returned from suspension to take his place in midfield at the expense of Bernt Haas, and Jonathan Greening was rightfully given his place back in place of Martin Albrechtsen. Scimeca dropped back to right back.

Despite the expectation of defeat, Albion made me sit up and take notice in the first half as, dare I say it, they looked the better side. They were knocking the ball around well, with Gera and Kanu particularly impressive, and were successfully repelling most of what Chelsea could conjure up before Russell Hoult was in danger.

It was the sort of performance that had brought the victory against Bolton, with the drive and, let's not deny it, quality that seemed to have disappeared in the last two matches. It did make you wonder why the players could not have produced this in those two vital games. Chelsea, on the other hand, looked laboured with Joe Cole in particular becoming increasingly frustrated.

Kanu and Earnshaw both went close in an extended period of pressure from the home side although, bar one flap at an Andy Johnson cross, Petr Cech remained untroubled.

Towards the end of the first period, Chelsea started to get in the game and both Duff and Terry squandered decent chances with headers. And then, in injury time, Albion failed to deal with a clever corner which saw Terry lose his marker and head the ball back into the danger area for the unmarked Gallas to stab home. It was cruel on the Baggies, but it demonstrates what can happen if you switch off for a second at this level.

Nonetheless, the half time talk was full of optimism in that Albion looked capable of getting something from the game. But Jose Mourinho had other ideas, and he made two changes at half time replacing the disappointing Cole and Bridge with Arjen Robben and Carvalho.

And Robben looked dangerous from the first minute of the second half as Chelsea came out of the blocks like a train. Gallas tested Hoult with a fierce long range shot before Robben curled a shot just wide of the upright. It was all Chelsea and it was no surprise when a neat move down Albion's right resulted in Damien Duff whipping in a wicked cross along the six yard line which Gudjohnsen, ghosting in between Robinson and Gaardsoe, headed past Hoult to give the visitors a two goal lead.

But Albion didn't lay down and die, and they fought back. Five minutes later, a neat flick from Earnshaw put Kanu through on goal and, with Terry trying to pull him down, he fired in a shot that Cech parried. It fell perfectly for Gera who drove it back beyond the Czech Cech into the corner of the net.

Suddenly, Albion were back on top. They probed and prodded the Chelsea defence, playing some neat passing football. Then, Johnson misread Gera's intentions with a lay off on the edge of the box and Lampard stepped in to spark off a break. He who fled up the left wing, and then played a sublime ball to Duff who beat Hoult with a low shot into the corner. Defensively, Albion were nowhere.

The third goal failed to knock the stuffing out of the Baggies, and Gera and Kanu both forced Cech into saves. It remained an end-to-end encounter but it was always Chelsea that looked the more likely to score. They opened up and played some superb football which was a delight to watch, despite the scoreline. The players that were on show put on a spectacle, and that is why we want to see Premiership football week in, week out.

With nine minutes left, the Albion defence committed the cardinal sin of giving Frank Lampard space on the edge of the box, and he fired in a great shot that beat Hoult and flew into the net to give the scoreline a little gloss that was a little unfair on the Baggies.

Perhaps the funniest thing of the day was the Chelsea fans singing that they were top of the league when the hard-to-believe news that Southampton were winning at Highbury - they must have felt a bit silly when Arsenal equalised.

All in all, Albion put in a good performance that the result didn't reflect, we saw a good football match with excellent entertainment, and the result was as expected. Fulham and Palace's victories didn't help the Baggies' plight, although the Palace result does bring the Blues into the mire. Next week's game at Southampton looks ever more important given the remaining fixtures in November - Middlesbrough, Arsenal and Manchester United!!



Marks

Russell Hoult - 6 - Decent display from Russell although his kicking appears to be suffering once more.
Neil Clement - 5 - He did OK, but he looks a bit lost in this sort of company.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 5 - Question marks must be asked for the first and second goals; otherwise did OK.
Darren Moore - 7 - Another solid display from Big Dave; will Darren Purse get back in the side next week?
Paul Robinson - 6 - Reasonable performance, but I still prefer Albrechtsen.
Riccardo Scimeca - 6 - Did OK, but he's played better. Mind you, he's had easier opponents than Duff!
Jonathan Greening - 7 - Another good display from Mr Consistent.
Andy Johnson - 4 - He must be dreading the new manager; with luck, he'll never play again.
Robert Earnshaw - 6 - One or two moments, but he's still struggling to find his form.
Zoltan Gera - 8 - MOM. Tight call for MOM, but his goal swings it - excellent display.
Nwankwo Kanu - 8 - Fantastic stuff from the big Nigerian; the captaincy obviously suits him.

Koumas - 6 - Looked good on occasion, but still not the player we know he can be.
Dobie - 4 - Offered next nothing.
Dyer - 5 - Did OK.

Frank Burrows - 6 - Can't really expect too much from Frank. Would've preferred to see Hulse and Sakiri on the bench than Dobie and Dyer, but he played it safe with Megson's choices. Managed to get the players motivated, anyway.


Jon Want, 31st October 2004.
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