The result may have been the defeat that was expected, but the defence, and the goalkeeper in particular, can be extremely proud that it was only by a single goal. Moreover, the tough three game spell that seemed likely to force Albion back into the bottom three is over, and Albion remain two points clear of the dreaded drop zone, but with all the teams around us picking up some points over the period, the Villa game is vital.

Robson made four changes to the team that beat Spurs and set out his side to frustrate Liverpool. The front two were swapped for Campbell and Horsfield, with want-away Earnshaw once again omitted from the squad. Steve Watson took position in the middle of three central defenders and Carter and Chaplow were in central midfield alongside Wallwork.

The game started with Liverpool pinning Albion into their own half and was pretty much the same throughout. Albion put men behind the ball and harassed and harried the Liverpool players constantly. They were biting in the tackle and relentless in closing down, forcing the mistakes and breaking up play. The one problem they had was the lack of an outlet. With most men behind the ball, Albion were forced to give the ball back to Liverpool, albeit in their own half, with noone with pace up front to play it to. Horsfield worked extremely hard chasing back, while Campbell stayed largely upfield except on set pieces. Unfortunately, the former Evertonian failed to impose himself at all up front and never really managed to hold the ball up.

So the pattern continued, Liverpool pressed, Albion stood firm breaking up the play but then giving the ball back to the home side to have another go. On the odd occasion that the defence was breached, Tomasz Kuszczak was in inspired form make a string of memorable saves. After his performance at Old Trafford last season, I think he must like the big stage!

Albion made it to half time with their net unruffled, but it was soon after the break that Liverpool finally took the lead. A wonderful cross from Harry Kewell was met by the perfect leap by the giant Peter Crouch and he directed the ball into the corner of the net. Both Davies and Clement challenged the former Villa striker, but the timing of his jump and his height made it an almost impossible task. I guess it was inevitable.

To their credit, Albion regrouped and continued their defensive vigil to frustrate the home side. Kuszczak made a few more good saves and Liverpool went close on the odd occasion with the mercurial Steven Gerrard running the show.

My one criticism of Robson is that he didn't change it early enough. At a goal down, He should perhaps have given Kamara and Ellington 25 minutes to see if they could nick and equaliser. It would've left Albion open to the counter attack, but it might have paid off. As it was, it wasn't until the last ten minutes that they did come on and they never really had the time to impose themselves on the game. The skills on the ball of Kanu and Inamoto might have made a difference had they been available, as Carter, Chaplow and Greening when he came on didn't have the ability to retain possession under pressure as well.

It was a decent defensive performance although the tally of zero shots on target is not one to write home about from an offensive point of view. A one-goal defeat means that Albion's goal difference, which may be important come may, is only mildly affected and the team should go into the game against Villa with some level of confidence maintained.


Marks

Tomasz Kuszczak - 9 - MOM. A string of excellent saves.
Martin Albrechtsen - 7 - Good performance.
Neil Clement - 6 - Did well, but made one or two silly errors.
Curtis Davies - 7 - Another solid performance.
Paul Robinson - 7 - Typical committed display.
Ronnie Wallwork - 6 - Good tackling but too wasteful in possession.
Steve Watson - 8 - Looked at home in the heart of defence.
Darren Carter - 7 - Worked hard, was the best at retaining possession but had little support.
Richard Chaplow - 6 - Looked a little lost at times but tackled well and generally good on the ball.
Kevin Campbell - 5 - Didn't do enough up front; ponderous at times but did well defensively on set pieces.
Geoff Horsfield - 7 - Ran and ran, great chasing back.

Jonathan Greening - 6 - Did OK.
Nathan Ellington - Didn't see enough.
Diomansy Kamara - Ditto.

Bryan Robson - 6 - A strategy that almost worked; should've gone more attacking earlier to try to nick something.




Jon Want, 1st January 2006.