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Manchester
City v West Bromwich Albion
City of Manchester
Stadium, Manchester. 28th December 2004, 3.00pm. |
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Match
Preview |
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| Result |
Manchester City |
1 - 1 |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Scorers |
Nicolas Anelka (32) |
Richard Dunne (og 85) |
| Attendance |
47,177 |
| Teams |
4-4-2
1 - David James (GK)
5 - Sylvain Distin
22 - Richard Dunne
18 - Danny Mills
24 - Joey Barton
26 - Paul Bosvelt
41 - Stephen Jordan
10 - Antoine Sibierski
29 - Shaun Wright-Phillips
39 - Nicolas Anelka
8 - Robbie Fowler |
4-5-1
(GK) Russell Hoult - 1
Neil Clement - 19
Thomas Gaardsoe - 4
Darren Purse - 6
Paul Robinson - 3
Riccardo Scimeca - 2
Ronnie Wallwork - 24
Jonathan Greening - 8
Andy Johnson - 10
Zoltan Gera - 11
Geoff Horsfield - 9 |
| Substitutes |
21 - Ronald Waterreus (GK)
44 - Willo Flood
16 - Nedum Onuoha
42 - Bradley Wright-Phillips
11 - Jonathan Macken |
(GK) Tomasz Kuszczak
- 29
Martin Albrechtsen - 14
Jason Koumas - 7
Robert Earnshaw - 34
Rob Hulse - 17 |
| Substitutions |
N Onuoha for S Jordan (45)
|
M Albrechtsen for R
Scimeca (64)
R Hulse for Z Gera (76)
R Earnshaw for J Greening (82) |
| Yellow Cards |
None |
None |
| Red Cards |
None |
Thomas Gaardsoe (17) |
| Referee |
A D'Urso (Billericay) |
This report is based
on the extended highlights on Sky's Football First as I was unable
to attend the game.
The optimist in me would like to look at this as a season-changing
result, but then again, I viewed the win at Maine Road two seasons
ago in a similar vein. The similarities are startling - in both
games, Albion were reduced to ten men, rode their luck on more than
one occasion and put in a tremendous backs-to-the-wall performance.
Other than the difference between a draw and a win, this year Albion
were down to ten men on seventeen minutes rather than eighty-one
minutes, and then we had a lead to defend, today we had to come
back.
Yes, Albion were fortunate and there are still plenty of reasons
to worry, but if anything, this result will give the players a little
bit of confidence. After conceding nine goals in two games, this
game proves that they can defend, and that, on occasion, they may
get the odd break.
There was much head-scratching once again with Robson's team selection.
With Moore and Kanu unavailable due to injury, and Contra serving
his suspension for the sending off against Liverpool, Robson opted
to bring Gera back into the side, brought Robinson in at left back
with Clement moving into a five man midfield and gave Ronnie Wallwork
his first Albion start since the 0-0 draw at Wimbledon almost a
year ago. To be honest, I'm surprised Wallwork hasn't started a
game before given that Robson took him on loan to Bradford. Horsfield
was chosen as the lone man up front with Koumas and Earnshaw dropping
to the bench.
Albion set out their stall to defend and City had all the possession
early on. But some solid defending restricted the hosts to the odd
long range shot. But all the good work early on was thrown away
on the 17th minute. A lively Robbie Fowler turned away from Gaardsoe
a few yards outside the box in an attempt to get onto a clever ball
from Shaun Wright-Phillips. Gaardsoe was beaten but rather than
allowing Fowler a clear shot at Hoult, the once great Dane pulled
the former England striker back and was rightly shown a red card
for a professional foul. Tommy has given a few silly free kicks
away this season as he has a tendency to use his arms when a player
gets away from him - it's something he needs to cut out of his game.
Anelka put the free kick over the bar, but Albion were now well
up against it with more than an hour to play with a man down. Clement
dropped into the back four and, for a quarter of an hour, Albion
stood firm with the only real attempt being a twenty yard effort
from Anelka that Hoult was equal to. But on 32 minutes, Johnson
was harshly judged to have handled on the edge of the box, and Anelka
curled an exquisite free kick over the wall into the top corner
to give City the lead. Had Gera jumped in the wall, it would've
probably gone over.
As we all held our breath expecting the flood gates to open, Albion
rolled up their sleeves and did a damned good impression of King
Canute, even without King Kanu. Hoult made another good save from
SIbierski and Distin also went close, but Albion were largely untroubled
with Darren Purse turning in the sort of performance we saw early
on in the season.
So surely a half time roasting from King Kev would see the home
side produce the goalfest their fans expected? Apparently not. City
prodded and probed, playing the odd bit of decent football to open
up the Albion defence, but there always seemed to be an Albion defender
or Russell Hoult to get in the way. On the one occasion that wasn't
the case, Wright-Phillips helpfully blocked a goalbound shot from
Anelka.
At one point, Albion were down to nine men as Scimeca had to go
off to receive treatment, eventually being replaced by Martin Albrechtsen.
As the game wore on and the home fans grew ever frustrated, the
Albion fans began to sense that there may be something to get from
the game, and started calling for Robert Earnshaw. Robson had similar
feelings, but opted to bring on Rob Hulse, much to the away fans'
displeasure. It resulted in chants for Robson to be dismissed, which
I personally find incredulous. I have not agreed with many of Robson's
selections and tactics, and have said as much on this website, but
to call for his head after just half a dozen matches is utterly
ridiculous, in my opinion.
With two strikers on the field, albeit with neither of them straying
too far from the midfield, Albion started to hold onto the ball
for longer than 10 or 20 seconds. Robson responded to further chants
for Earnie by bringing the Welshman on, although he still managed
to upset the Baggies fans by withdrawing Jonathan Greening.
But the substitution worked. With pace up front at last, Robinson
felt confident enough to play a long ball over the top. With Earnshaw
hovering, James came out but as Richard Dunne attempted to control
the ball, it came off his shin and flew past James. Earnshaw's attempts
to get a touch on the ball may have been in vain, but the ball found
its own way into the net to give the Baggies an unlikely equaliser.
Hoult was called on to make another fine save from Fowler to keep
hold of the point, but Albion saw out the remaining five minutes
to win their first point since 20th November.
It's a start, and no more, and maybe provides no more than false
hope. But the players will be on a high, even though they know they
were lucky. They will go to Bolton on Saturday, knowing that they
too are on a bad run, with a desire to start an unbeaten run. The
point keeps us just about in touch, and there are still 18 games
to go....
Marks
Russell Hoult - 8 - Excellent performance; you could see the confidence
returning as the game went on.
Neil Clement - 6 - Got lucky more than once but did OK.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 5 - Did OK up to the sending off; needs to learn.
Darren Purse - 8 - MOM. Towering performance that Big Dave could
be proud of.
Paul Robinson - 5 - Looked a bit of a weak link on occasion.
Riccardo Scimeca - 5 - Got caught a few too many times, but got
stuck in well.
Ronnie Wallwork - 6 - Did OK without really sparkling.
Jonathan Greening - 7 - Decent display from Jonno.
Andy Johnson - 5 - Remains a weak link in the middle of the park.
Zoltan Gera - 6 - Decent showing in a game that didn't suit him.
Geoff Horsfield - 7 - Worked really hard at a pretty thankless.
Martin Albrechtsen - 7 - Looked comfortable.
Rob Hulse - 5 - Didn't add a great deal
Robert Earnshaw - 6 - His presence created the goal
Bryan Robson - 6 - Got the tactics just about right given the circumstances,
although Earnie should've been on before Hulse.
Jon Want, 28th December 2004.
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