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West
Bromwich Albion v Everton
The Hawthorns,
West Bromwich. 12th April 2003, 3.00pm. |
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It may have been yet
another Premiership defeat for the Baggies, but we witnessed two
events that are surely almost miracles. Firstly, Albion were awarded
their first penalty of the season, and secondly, Albion scored.
I honestly believed that the Baggies would go the whole season without
a spot kick, and I was seriously considering the possibility that
we may not score again this year. But joy of joys, I was proved
wrong, only for normally solid-as-a-rock Russell Hoult to prove,
on the day, to be as solid as one of those polystyrene rocks you
get on the set of a bad disaster movie, and consequently turned
the game into a disaster for the Baggies.
With Roberts at his father's bedside following a car crash, Lee
Hughes returned to the starting line-up, although it's arguable
that JR may not have made the first eleven anyway. With Moore and
Gilchrist out for the season, Siggy was the only "defender" in the
back three with Wallwork and Gregan alongside him. AJ returned to
the midfield.
Once again Albion started brightly at home, and almost took the
lead when Dichio headed a superb Hughes cross against the bar after
just six minutes, with Sigurdsson (?) putting the rebound over.
Albion were playing some of their best football for weeks in the
first half and both McInnes and Koumas had good chances in the first
quarter of an hour, with Everton restricted to a couple of half
chances.
Then on 18 minutes, miracle of miracles, Steve Bennett awarded Albion
penalty - the man deserves a medal for that although his all round
refereeing performance was poor. A long ball towards Dichio was
tracked by Stubbs, and it bounced up awkwardly to strike the Toffees
defender on the arm - harsh, perhaps, but given the ones we've not
got this season, you have to say it was fair. Hughes was keen to
open his Premiership account, but as official penalty-taker (for
those of us that could remember), it was BALIS who sent Wright the
wrong way to give Albion a 100% Premiership penalty record, and
score Albion's first spot kick since that moderately more important
one at Valley Parade last May.
It was no more than Albion deserved, but the absence of our best
two defenders showed itself once more just five minutes later. A
corner from Welsh international Pembridge, was met by HOULT and
Weir without an Albion defender in sight, but it was the Albion
stopper's fist that sent the ball into the net, although the goal
was credited to Weir.
Minutes later, Everton had the ball in the net once more, when Campbell
headed home from a cross from the excellent Yobo, but the goal was
ruled out for off-side. At the other end, Hughes was causing all
sorts of problems. Firstly he had a good shot saved by Wright, before
he twisted and turned to set up AJ with an open goal, but, somewhat
unsurprisingly, the barn door's best friend contrived to put it
wide.
Hoult saved well from Rooney before Hughes weaved his magic once
more in the Everton box, this time setting up Wallwork, but the
former Red failed to connect.
The polystyrene rocks started falling on the stroke of half time
when Hoult reached for a cross beyond the far post, palmed it up
so it fell neatly for Rooney, who passed for CAMPBELL to fire into
an empty net. It was Everton's second shot on target in a half that
Albion had dominated. Sounds familiar...
The second half was a much tighter affair but Albion had the best
of the chances early on. Hughes found the target from a tight angle,
but Wright saved well, and the best Albion chance of the half fell
to Dichio, but his volley was inches wide.
Everton offered more after the break, but other than a couple of
half chances for Rooney, there was little end product. Ferguson
and Dobie may as well have stayed on the bench for all they contributed
to the game.
As the game went on, Everton dropped deeper and Albion ran out of
ideas. The game drifted into a non-event.
After a first half in which Albion played very well, created chances
but gave goals away, the second half was disappointing. The result
will matter little in the scheme of things for the Baggies, but
I asked for a goal after last week and got one. Is it too much to
ask for three points at the Stadium of Light next week, or should
I be content with one?
RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 EVERTON
2
Marks
Hoult - 4 - Two almighty cock-ups.
Balis - 6 - Got in good positions, but final ball was lacking.
Clement - 6 - Average.
Gregan - 7 - A solid performance from the skipper.
Wallwork - 8 - One of his best games in defence, coped with the
Everton threat well
Sigurdsson - 7 - Marshalled the wonder-kid very well, but obviously
still can't pass.
Johnson - 6 - Missed the best chance, otherwise did well.
Koumas - 8 - Excellent first half, faded a little after the break.
McInnes - 5 - Has played worse.
Hughes - 8 - MOM. His best game of the season, worked hard, some
great runs and excellent work in the box.
Dichio - 5 - Unusually ineffective performance from Deech.
Dobie - 5 - Little impact.
Udeze - 5 - Ditto.
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West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gregan, Wallwork, Sigurdsson; Balis, Koumas, Johnson, McInnes
(Dobie 78), Clement (Udeze 82); Hughes, Dichio. Subs not used: Murphy
(GK), J Chambers, Lyttle.
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Everton
(4-4-2):
Wright; Yobo, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth; Watson (Ferguson 81), Carsley,
Gravesen (Gemmill 66), Pembridge (Naysmith 75); Campbell, Rooney.
Subs not used: Gerrard (GK), Li Tie. |
Scoring: Balis (pen,
18) 1-0, Hoult (o.g. 23) 1-1, Campbell (45) 1-2.
Bookings: West Bromwich Albion - Sigurdsson (foul 38), McInnes (foul
45). Everton - Rooney (dissent 53), Gravesen (foul 63).
Referee: S Bennett (Orpington)
Attendance: 27,039 |
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