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West
Bromwich Albion v Derby County
The Hawthorns,
West Bromwich. 26th December 2003, 3.00pm. |
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If we win promotion
by a single point this season, then we can count ourselves lucky
because this was one point Albion did not deserve. Derby were by
far the better side in the first half and it's easy to see why they
are struggling - they missed a hatful of chances as Albion allowed
them the run of the park. It was a but more even in the second half
although it was probably more down to Derby sinking to Albion's
level rather than Albion improving - it made for a better spectacle,
but it was not one for the purist.
Hughes made his first start for the Baggies since his much publicised
off-field problem with Hulse dropping to the bench, and Gilchrist
somehow earned a recall.
Albion started poorly and got worse. In the first few minutes, Derby
ripped through the Albion ranks for Morris to shoot, the shot deflected
wide by Haas. Moments later, Zavagno crossed to find Tudgay unmarked
some eight yards out, but his header went straight at Hoult.
Megson made an early switch to 4-4-2 pushing Gregan into midfield,
but it had little effect as Derby continued to look the more accomplished
side.
Albion's first worthwhile attempt on goal came on 23 minutes from
Haas after a cross from Hughes, but Grant made a good block.
Derby should have scored on 29 minutes when a neat move on the edge
of the box completely bamboozled the Albion back line leaving Ian
Taylor with an excellent chance, but his lob went wide.
Zavagno and Tudgay combined again a few minutes later, this time
it needed an excellent save from Hoult to keep the game goalless.
In the run up to half time, Derby had two more excellent chances.
Taylor failed to find the target again when he had just Hoult to
beat from 15 yards, and then Hoult made a kamikaze run out of his
box to meet a throughball and missed, but Haas was thankfully on
the spot to clear the ball for a corner.
It was an embarrassing forty-five minutes, both in terms of Albion's
all round play, and Derby's inability to convert a string of excellent
chances.
A new first from Megson saw him switch back to 3-5-2 for the second
half, but Derby were again on top early on. Gilchrist had to be
on hand to intercept a Morris cross with two Derby men waiting to
convert the chance. A short time later, Hoult missed a cross from
Bradbury but thankfully it was Taylor on the end of it, and needless
to say he missed the target.
Hughes and O'Connor were replaced by Hulse and Sakiri on 53 minutes.
Moments later, Hulse was through on goal with just the 'keeper to
beat, but he managed to fall over instead of finishing.
The visitors then had two more good chances as Albion were being
caught on the break. Bradbury shot wide before the Zavagno-Tudgay
combination brought yet another save from Hoult.
The chance of the game for Albion fell to Hulse - a superb cross
from Haas found him unmarked at the far post, but he could only
head wide.
Although Albion looked more dangerous, Derby were still creating
chances and Hoult had to save brilliantly once more from Bradbury
before the visitors finally took a deserved lead.
A poor ball in the Derby midfield fell between Haas and Koumas -
both left it for the other and it was a Derby player who ran though
to regain possession. Gaardsoe made a challenge but the ball fell
to substitute COSTA who fired the ball into the bottom corner from
18 yards.
Gaardsoe took on the Big Dave role and pushed forward in a desperate
attempt to save the game. And it worked as Albion started to play
football at last. A corner from Koumas was nodded back across goal
and GAARDSOE headed the ball into the net for the equaliser.
Moments later, the Dane should have given Albion an unlikely three
points when he met a cross from Haas at the far post, but this time
he could only head wide.
Grateful for a point but very worried about our overall form. We've
played well against Man Utd and Arsenal, in patches against Forest
but no better than average in the other games in the past few weeks.
The Dons must be relishing the chance of a double on Tuesday night,
in front of the TV cameras.
RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 DERBY
COUNTY 1
Marks
Hoult - 6 - Some great saves but some awful howlers.
Gregan - 7 - MOM. Wasn't great, but the best on the day showing
some real fight when needed.
Gaardsoe - 6 - Good goal, but not as steady at the back as he can
be.
Gilchrist - 4 - How did he get a recall, one or two good defensive
moments, but his distribution was diabolical.
Haas - 5 - Got lost on too many occasions.
Koumas - 5 - Did he play?
Johnson - 6 - Ran around a lot, passing was terrible.
O'Connor - 5 - Won tackles, but generally gave the ball away immediately.
Robinson - 6 - Decidedly average; Clem deserves another run.
Hughes - 6 - Maybe unlucky to get subbed, but worked hard with little
end product from little service.
Horsfield - 5 - Has failed to impress so far.
Sakiri - 6 - Positive impact, just about.
Hulse - 5 - Fell over and then missed another sitter.
Dobie - 6 - Did OK.
The Manager - 6 - How Gilchrist got back in the side I don't know;
couldn't have done much more on the day as his players failed to
perform.
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West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gregan, Gaardsoe, Gilchrist; Haas, Koumas, Johnson, O'Connor
(Sakiri 53), Robinson; Hughes (Hulse 53), Horsfield (Dobie 74).
Subs not used: Murphy (GK), Moore.
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Derby
County (4-4-2):
Grant; Jackson, M Johnson, Mawene, Zavagno; Huddlestone, Taylor,
Bolder, Tudgay (Costa 66); Morris, Bradbury. Subs not used: Camp
(GK), Mills, Holes, Boertien.
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Scoring: Costa (86)
0-1, Gaardsoe (90+1) 1-1.
Bookings: None.
Referee: G Cain (Merseyside).
Attendance: 26,412. |
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