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West Bromwich Albion v Ipswich Town
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. 13th September 2003, 3.00pm.
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It was an improved performance from the Baggies, beating Ipswich comfortably without really firing on all cylinders. It is nice to finally beat the Tractor Boys for the first time for 19 years following on from a first win in Derby for 84 years - will this season continue to break records? Hulse grabbed a brace but could've had five and certainly should've got his first hat-trick, whereas Haas played the wing-back role to perfection charging down the wing and he is developing a marvellous understanding with Koumas, who found him time and again with some wonderful long passes. God help the first division when we do start playing as well as we can.

For the first time this season, Megson named an unchanged starting line-up preferring to rest Sakiri after his international exploits, leaving him on the bench alongside Alassane N'Dour, in the squad for the first time. Gaardsoe's popularity with the fans of his former club was aptly demonstrated with a fantastic round of applause as his name was announced.

Ipswich were quicker out of the blocks forcing an early corner which was easily dealt with. Albion's first attempt on target was a long range effort from Sean Gregan which was comfortably held by Ipswich stopper Kelvin Davis.

Albion began to exert pressure without really creating clear chances although Lee Hughes did go close with a shot from twenty yards. But it was a day of set-piece goals, and it was fitting that the first went to an Ipswich old boy.

Haas won a corner after one of his many marauding runs down the right hand side, and the flag kick was flighted into the box and met by the head of GAARDSOE ten yards from goal, and beat the 'keeper with ease. Despite him putting their team a goal behind, when Gaardsoe's name was announced as the scorer, a few of the Ipswich fans applauded him once more.

It was all Albion for the next fifteen minutes, but they added to their tally only once. Albion were awarded a free-kick about 25 yards out on the left hand side. Koumas curled the free-kick towards the bottom right-hand corner of the net, but Davis got a hand to it. But he could only parry it to the two Albion forwards waiting for scraps, and it was HULSE who managed to nudge the ball over the line with the inside of his knee.

It was nearly three from another set piece on 26 minutes. Another Koumas corner was nodded on by Haas towards Gaardsoe who was on the floor after colliding with an Ipswich defender. But somehow he managed to get a foot to the ball sending it crashing against the bar from fifteen yards.

A minute later, Ipswich were awarded a free kick 25 yards out after a foul by Sigurdsson, but Alan Mahon, Ipswich's best player all afternoon, could only fire over the net. It did, however, spark a mini revival from the Suffolk team. Gaardsoe and Sigurdsson both made crucial interventions as Counago came to life and began to look threatening.

But Albion finished the half the stronger team and Hoult finished the first half without having a shot to save.

Shortly after the break, the game should've been over when Hulse had a great chance to get his second goal. After Hughes had typically chased down the 'keeper, Davis' kick was returned to Hulse who flicked it goalwards. Hughes was in an offside position but raised his arms to say he was not active and Hulse ran onto the ball ahead of the Ipswich defence with the linesman's flag untroubled. But as Hulse tried to round the 'keeper, Davis got a hand to the ball forcing Hulse wide and the chance was gone as the defence got back.

Albion continued to threaten with Haas, in particular, giving the Ipswich left back a torrid time, but the final pass was never quite there and the only shot on goal was from Koumas, and that was straight at Davis.

But on 57 minutes, another set piece brought the third Albion goal. Clement forced a corner on one of his few forays into the opposition penalty area, and the Koumas centre was headed home by HULSE.

It looked to be the decisive goal but Ipswich reduced the arrears almost immediately, again from a set piece. An excellent corner kick from Magilton was headed past Hoult by NAYLOR, meaning the Albion stopper would have to wait another few days at least for his fifth clean sheet of the season.

Immediately following the Ipswich goal, two internationals changed places with Sakiri replacing Koumas. The Ipswich fans tried to boo the Macedonian captain following his spat with David Beckham, but the Albion fans drowned them out with sustained applause which returned with his every touch of the ball until the visiting supporters got bored with the idea.

The goal did spark the visitors into life, but the Albion rearguard remained firm with the only real scare coming when Hoult misjudged a cross which hit the post in a similar way to when Big Dave put through his own net against Birmingham last season. But this time, the Albion defence was able to clear.

Albion, however, continued to create chances, and Hughes almost added to the tally with a smart turn and shot which missed the far post by a whisker. Hulse really should have had his hat-trick shortly after Dobie replaced Hughes, when he had a free header eight yards out from a Gregan cross. Unfortunately, he could only head it tamely into the arms of Kelvin Davis.

Moments later, Haas almost capped his man-of-the-match performance with a goal when he tried to be Davis from an acute angle, but the Ipswich 'keeper was equal to it.

Santos and Johnson both came off the bench leading to fears that their long-running feud may re-ignite, but despite the boos ringing out from the Albion faithful, Santos kept out of trouble and AJ kept well clear.

The fourth goal, when it came, was made in Suffolk. A cross from Clement aimed at Dobie looked to offer little danger and DIALLO headed it back to his 'keeper, or so he thought. Davis had come out to claim the cross himself and the ball trickled agonisingly, for him at least, into the net.

So, Albion are firmly established at the top of the table with fifteen points from a possible eighteen, but on Tuesday evening, they face another stern test as they visit Wigan Athletic who sit one place and two points behind them in the table - an early top of the table clash. At least we don't have to face Mr Roberts, they bought Mr Horsfield instead.



RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 4 IPSWICH TOWN 1

Marks

Hoult - 8 - A good solid performance from Hoult.
Sigurdsson - 7 - Typical Siggy-performance; strong and solid but still not passing well.
Gaardsoe - 8 - A goal against his old team and a solid defensive performance.
Volmer - 7 - Another good performance from Joost.
Haas - 9 - MOM. All round excellent performance, can teach Clem a thing or two.
Koumas - 8 - Excellent, in the first half especially, making three of the goals.
Gregan - 5 - Looked lost and slow. Poor performance from the skipper.
O'Connor - 8 - Continues to produce the goods.
Clement - 7 - Pretty good from Clem, but frustratingly doesn't get down the line enough.
Hughes - 7 - Another bright performance from Hughesie.
Hulse - 9 - Looked sharp and bright all game; missed out on MOM 'cos he should've had a hat-trick at least.

Sakiri - 7 - Looked bright and sharp; well supported by the home fans.
Johnson - 6 - Not much of a showing from AJ, but he steered clear from Santos.
Dobie - 6 - Didn't do much.

The Manager - 8 - Can't fault the starting line up - I would've taken Gregan off rather than O'Connor, but at least he didn't use the Santos situation to keep AJ on the bench.
West Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Sigurdsson, Gaardsoe, Volmer; Haas, Koumas (Sakiri 64), Gregan, O'Connor (Johnson 80), Clement; Hughes (Dobie 70), Hulse. Subs not used: Murphy (GK), N'Dour.
Ipswich Town (4-4-2):
Davis; Wilnis, Naylor, Diallo, Richards; Wright, Bart-Williams, Magilton, Mahon (Bowditch 78); Counago (D Bent 45), Armstrong (Santos 74). Subs not used: Price (GK), Westlake.
Scoring: Gaardsoe (11) 1-0, Hulse (16) 2-0, Hulse (57) 3-0, Naylor (63) 3-1, Diallo (o.g. 86) 4-1.
Bookings: West Bromwich Albion - Volmer (foul 28), Hulse (dissent 34), Clement (foul 78). Ipswich Town - Bart-Williams (foul 82).
Referee: C Foy (St Helen's)
Attendance: 24,954
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