The defeat was expected, although the manner of it was somewhat disappointing, but it was a bad day for the Baggies already before the match kicked off. A point for Blues against Chelsea and a win for Portsmouth at "home specialists" Fulham left Albion on the brink of dropping into the bottom three. The knowledge that it would take a seven goal defeat to bring that about on Saturday evening was scant comfort.

As it was, two very poor goals from an Albion point of view saw the visitors take a two goal lead, and another heavy defeat by Liverpool looked eminently possible. The goals themselves were down to two players - Djibril Cisse and Paul Robinson. Benitez's decision to play, in effect, and 4-2-4 formation with Kewell acting is a fourth striker at times put the Albion defence under huge pressure. To be fair, Watson and Davies coped reasonably well with Crouch and Fowler in the centre, but Robinson had no answer to Cisse.

The first goal was a misjudgement. He tried to intercept a ball by Alonso in the sixth minute, but missed it - Cisse managed to control the ball after it hit his back, with a slight hint of handball, before advancing on goal and squaring to Fowler at the back post, with perhaps a hint of offside. On another day, the decisions may have gone Albion's way, but it is really a case of desperate straw-clutching to suggest that they were hard done-by. It was, pure and simple, a poor error by Robinson.

Albion huffed and puffed, with Ellington working really hard up front, and Wallwork once again effective in midfield, but there was little to cheer the home fans. Kamara, back from injury, showed one or two good moments of skill but failed to provide the killer ball - perhaps the best chance fell to Robinson, but he was forced onto his weaker right foot and shot tamely at Reina from the edge of the box.

Ultimately, it was another wonderful ball by Alonso that exposed Robinson again seven minutes before the break. He failed to track Cisse's run as he got free behind Davies and calmly took the ball around Kuszczak to give the visitors a two-goal lead.

Robson took the rare step of making a change at half time bringing Zoltan Gera on for Kamara. It was, perhaps, a choice between "going for it" which would've involved replacing Johnson, perhaps, or the more conservative choice of replacing one attacking player for another. With goal difference in Albion's favour at the moment in the relegation battle, the decision to be conservative is understandable. Whatever the background, it was great to see the mighty Magyar back playing at the Hawthorns.

And he nearly changed the game. Within minutes of the restart he had the home fans on their feet with an attempt from the corner of the box that flew a yard wide of the far post, but it didn't herald the onslaught that Albion fans were hoping for. Rafa Benitez was kind in his after match comments by suggesting that Albion put them under pressure, which prevented them from grabbing the third goal that could have opened the floodgates, but it seemed to me that Liverpool were content with a two-goal cushion.

Albion were certainly better after the break, but there was no real pressure on the Liverpool goal. Gera did sting Reina's hands with a volley from 15 yards, but Liverpool rarely looked like conceding and seemed able to threaten the Albion goal at will.

Campbell came on for Kanu and did OK, his most dangerous moment when he got in behind the defence, but could only flick the ball to Greening rather than at goal, only for the former 'Boro man to fire over the bar.

At the other end, some great work by Kewell on the left presented substitute Morientes with an easy chance, but he somehow put the ball wide from close range and the game finished 2-0.

The game itself was an anticlimax after the efforts of Monday night in north London, but the real damage to Albion's cause was done before the game kicked off. Pompey's third win in succession makes them favourites to stay up - they have five games of the seven remaining at Fratton Park while Albion have just two of their six at home. Next Sundays trip to Villa Park is now a must win encounter - with Blues playing twice and Pompey once before Sunday, Albion could be second bottom before kick-off. Then again, if results do go Albion's way this week, it could be the boost they need.

Of the remaining six games, only Arsenal at Highbury looks like a no-hoper. It does seem, however, that we will need points from the other five. An effort as monumental as the one that saw us stay up last season is required once again. Gera's return to fitness, if sustained, could make a huge impact.

Marks

Tomasz Kuszczak - 6 - Was perhaps a little too far out for the second goal, but didn't seem affected by last week's mistake.
Martin Albrechtsen - 6 - Decent performance, but not worthy of the sponsor's man of the match.
Curtis Davies - 7 - A solid game from Curtis. Dealt with the Liverpool strikers well.
Paul Robinson - 3 - Oh dear. Simply failed to deal with Cisse and was at fault for both goals; a very bad day at the office.
Ronnie Wallwork - 7 - MOM. Another great performance from Ronnie.
Steve Watson - 7 - Did well; hope his injury is not serious
Jonathan Greening - 5 - Failed to get anywhere close to his recent form.
Andy Johnson - 6 - Did OK; nothing wrong but not as influential as on Monday.
Nathan Ellington - 7 - Worked very hard, always looking for the ball, never really got a chance.
Diomansy Kamara - 6 - Some good moments, but lacked any real cutting edge.
Nwankwo Kanu - 6 - Surprised to see him taken off, but never looked like breaking through.

Zoltan Gera - 6 - Great to see him back. Looked fit but a little rusty. Two great efforts on goal, but a few mistakes thrown in as well.
Neil Clement - 6 - Did OK, but never under any real pressure.
Kevin Campbell - 6 - Won a few balls in the air, put himself about a bit more than Kanu, but not really much of a threat.

Bryan Robson - 6 - Surprise to see Inamoto not in the sixteen, and maybe could offered a little more than AJ. Bringing Gera on at half time was a good move that could've easily paid off. Can't really blame him for Robinson's two lapses.


Jon Want, 2nd April 2006.