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West
Bromwich Albion v Manchester City
The Hawthorns,
West Bromwich. 2nd November 2002, 3.00pm. |
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In terms of the quality
of football, this was probably the worst game I've seen this season.
Both sides gave possession away far too easily, both sides made
basic errors at the back, but only the visitors showed a bit of
quality up front. Having said that, both City's goals would have
been prevented by a half-competent defence.
The conditions were not good, and neither were the prospects for
an Albion attacking performance when the line-up was announced.
Gregan continued at the back; Dobie continued up front despite his
lack-lustre performance at Chelsea being in contrast to Hughes'
lively display when he came on. Koumas once again was on the bench
with Adam Chambers returning from injury to line up along side McInnes
and Johnson.
A lively Albion start saw a Clement shot fly wide and McInnes and
Chambers have shots blocked. It didn't last long as City started
to knock the ball around well and Moore had to block well to prevent
Anelka scoring. The visitors then won a succession of corners, but
with no real result. The game soon drifted into a midfield scrap
and it was Andy Johnson who first tested a 'keeper with a shot from
18 yards straight at Carlo Nash.
Albion simply had no creativity in the middle of the park and their
ball retention was poor. McInnes got himself booked after Clement
had played him a hospital ball. City had their first shot on target
when Anelka waltzed through a disorganised defence before Hoult
saved well.
Roberts won a free-kick twenty yards out but Balis chipped it weakly
into Nash's grateful hands. The only time Albion broke through the
City defence saw McInnes put Dobie through, but the Scottish international's
cross was easily cut out by Nash.
It seemed obvious in the stands that changes were needed at half-time,
but none were made. Another free kick won by Roberts just after
the break was again hit straight at Nash, this time by Clement.
And then City took the lead.
On 51 minutes, City broke quickly passing the ball through an Albion
defence that was all over the place. Berkovic found Sun Jihai on
the edge if the six yard box, and he squared to an unmarked ANELKA
who finished easily.
Albion tried to push forward but the quality of the final ball,
and sometimes a slice of luck, was always lacking. City should have
made it two when Distin's free header went straight to Hoult.
Finally, on 61 minutes, Hughes replaced Dobie. A minute later, Roberts
won yet another free kick about thirty yards out. As Elleray walked
away after pushing back the City wall, Berkovic inexplicably ran
to the ball apparently trying to pass instructions to a team mate.
Elleray immediately booked him, and the free kick was moved forward
to the edge of the box. This time CLEMENT made no mistake firing
low and hard past Nash for his first non-penalty goal in 2002.
Koumas was finally brought on for Chambers on 67 minutes and immediately
look to offer more options. Albion looked the more attacking team,
but City were a constant menace on the break. Anelka miscontrolled
one through ball when he had only Hoult to beat, but on 71 minutes,
a carbon copy of City's first goal was played out. The Albion defence
was once again in disarray, and it was GOATER who finished it off.
Albion tried to break City down but the final ball was never good
enough. Koumas looked lively but couldn't quite fashion a way to
break down the stubborn City rearguard. At the other end, two awful
errors by Gregan let Goater in twice, but City's handsome forward
managed to miss the target on both occasions.
The conditions obviously had an effect on this game and City's slick
passing on the break obviously suited them, but the defending by
Albion for both goals was woeful. Up front, Hughes looked more lively
than Dobie and he needs full games to get his sharpness back. But
I still couldn't see Albion scoring - the free kick was a gift from
Berkovic and it was the only way we were going to score.
RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 MANCHESTER
CITY 2
Marks
Hoult - 6 - Reasonable performance, a dodgy kick or two, though.
Balis - 5 - Our outlet from last season cannot seem to do it this
year..
Clement - 5 - Going backwards again, crossing was woeful. He may
have scored, but he was awful otherwise.
Gilchrist - 5 - Bertie won't be calling unless he improves from
this display.
Moore - 6 - Best of the defenders, but cannot escape criticism for
the goals.
Gregan - 4 - What happened in the second half? This guy is a midfielder,
play him there!.
McInnes - 5 - Poor distribution, was never up to the pace.
Johnson - 7 - MOM. Best of a bad bunch, the only midfielder likely
to make a chance.
Chambers - 6 - Steady performance on his return.
Dobie - 4 - Cannot believe he started, offered nothing.
Roberts - 6 - Well-marshalled by Dunne. Quiet game.
Hughes - 6 - Worked hard. Needs games.
Koumas - 6 - Looked lively,, should have started in a game we needed
to win.
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West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gregan, Moore, Gilchrist; Balis, A Chambers (Koumas 67),
McInnes, Johnson, Clement; Roberts, Dobie (Hughes 61). Subs not
used: Murphy (GK), Wallwork, Sigurdsson.
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Manchester
City (3-5-2):
Nash; Dunne, Howey, Distin; Sun, Berkovic, Foe, Tiatto (Horlock
86), Jensen; Anelka, Goater. Subs not used: Flowers (GK), Wright-Phillips,
Benarbia, Huckerby. |
Scoring: Anelka (51)
0-1, Clement (62) 1-1, Goater (71) 1-2.
Bookings: West Bromwich Albion - McInnes (foul 20), Gregan (foul
59). Manchester City - Berkovic (encroaching 61), Dunne (foul 88).
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)
Attendance: 27,044 |
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