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Norwich
City v West Bromwich Albion
Carrow Road, Norwich.
5th February 2005, 3.00pm. |
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Match
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| Result |
Norwich City |
3 - 2 |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Scorers |
Craig Fleming (45)
Gary Doherty (62)
Damien Francis (85) |
Robert Earnshaw (41)
Kieran Richardson (49) |
| Attendance |
24,292 |
| Teams |
4-3-3
1 - Robert Green (GK)
16 - Simon Charlton
27 - Gary Doherty
17 - Marc Edworthy
5 - Craig Fleming
20 - Damien Francis
8 - Gary Holt
4 - Graham Stuart
36 - Dean Ashton
6 - Darren Huckerby
14 - Leon McKenzie |
4-4-2
(GK) Russell Hoult - 1
Neil Clement - 19
Darren Purse - 6
Paul Robinson - 3
Riccardo Scimeca - 2
Ronnie Wallwork - 24
Jonathan Greening - 8
Kieran Richardson - 15
Kevin Campbell - 21
Robert Earnshaw - 34
Zoltan Gera - 11 |
| Substitutes |
12 - Paul Gallacher (GK)
11 - Jim Brennan
9 - Mattias Jonson
15 - Youssef Safri
18 - Paul McVeigh |
(GK) Tomasz Kuszczak
- 29
Thomas Gaardsoe - 4
Richard Chaplow - 12
Geoff Horsfield - 9
Nwankwo Kanu - 25 |
| Substitutions |
J Brennan for S Charlton
(45)
P McVeigh for G Stuart (68) |
G Horsfield for J Greening
(89) |
| Yellow Cards |
None |
Riccardo Scimeca (45)
Paul Robinson (62)
Jonathan Greening (84) |
| Red Cards |
None |
None |
| Referee |
C Foy (Merseyside) |
It really is very hard
work supporting the Baggies these days. After dominating a game,
playing some lovely football, scoring twice, Albion still managed
to let in three goals, two of them very soft, and thereby lose the
biggest game of the season so far. It's another example of the fact
that you don't always get what you deserve, a fact that it particularly
true in the Premiership. It is different to two years ago when we
weren't scoring when on top - of late we have been, but we just
seem unable to hold onto a lead. I thought the Man City game may
have been a turning point, but it seems not to be the case. The
fact remains that Albion have led in eight Premiership games this
season, and won only two.
Robson was forced into a change to the starting line-up with Albrechtsen
ruled out through injury. Scimeca moved to right back with Richardson
getting his first start in midfield. Up front, Earnshaw was back
in the starting line-up in place of Geoff Horsfield. New signing
Richard Chaplow was given a place on the bench.
From the first minute, Albion looked the better side. Campbell and
Earnshaw were combining well, Gera and Greening were working the
flanks with success and Richardson settled in well alongside Wallwork.
Norwich had a few half chances early on, but the visitors started
to take control of the game after a quarter of an hour and were
soon creating chances.
Earnshaw had already had a couple of opportunities when a rare break
forward on 22 minutes by Darren Purse saw him exchange a one-two
with Campbell before firing the ball across the six yard line. Earnshaw
could only manage to get the faintest of touches with the goal gaping,
and the ball flew wide.
Norwich responded with a couple of chances when Ashton headed wide
and Scimeca deflected a Huckerby cross into the side netting.
But Albion continued to control most of the possession, and the
Norwich defence was looking increasingly shaky. Gera made an interception
about ten yards outside the box and fed Earnshaw on the left. The
diminutive Welshman cut inside making space for himself before hitting
a curling shot that beat Green but rebounded off the crossbar. Gera
challenged for the rebound and did well to feed Greening while sitting
on the floor after it looked like he'd been fouled. Greening took
the ball on and fired a fierce shot that also beat Green, but also
found the woodwork, hitting the post and coming back into play.
With Albion on top, it was important they make a breakthrough. Five
minutes later, they did. Campbell chased down a long ball forcing
a mistake from Green - his weak clearance went straight to Greening.
A neat ball from the former Boro' man fed Earnshaw. Campbell was
in an off-side position but now inactive, and Earnie ran on and
fired the ball through Green's legs to give Albion a deserved lead.
With only four minutes to go to half time, that was the first target
for the Baggies. Scimeca conceded a foul with a wild challenge that
also got him a yellow card. Albion managed to defend the free kick
but only at the expense of a corner. The flag kick found Fleming
who headed the ball goalwards, Hoult tried to punch the ball clear
above Francis, but he was put off by the Canaries midfielder and
missed the ball. The hosts had themselves and undeserved equaliser
on the stroke of half time.
Many think that the worst time to concede is just before half time;
personally, I believe that at least gives the manager time to motivate
his side for the second half. If you concede just after half time,
the manager has no opportunity to do that and anything that was
said at the break goes straight out the window.
So you can imagine my glee when Albion managed to re-take the lead
within a couple of minutes of the re-start. Campbell played Earnshaw
through with a neat ball and, despite Richardson being free in the
middle, Earnie opted to shoot. Green got something on it, but it
went straight to the on-loan midfielder who managed to hit his first
attempt against the bar before forcing the rebound home with his
left knee.
The first target of holding a lead for more than five minutes, something
which Albion had failed to do on the previous two occasions, was
achieved. They perhaps should've extended their lead when Greening
found himself in the box with Earnie unmarked in the middle. But
Jonno hesitated a little too long and was forced to go alone without
success.
Hoult saved easily from Ashton from a rare Norwich break, before
play returned to the other end. Robinson was breaking through into
the box when he was brought down, and Earnshaw curled the resulting
free kick goalwards, but Green managed to save.
Albion had just successfully defended a free kick when the ball
broke to Huckerby. He curled a beautiful ball in for Doherty to
head home for another undeserved equaliser. On seeing the replay,
it seems that three Norwich players would've been off side had Purse
not dropped a yard deeper that the rest of the Albion defence.
Minutes later, Albion should've been back in front. Gera played
a great ball through for Campbell that Doherty missed, but the former
Everton striker failed to beat Green when he really should have
scored.
Greening forced another save from Green, and Clement went close
with a free kick as Albion remained on top, in terms of play if
not scoreline. Greening picked up a yellow card with six minutes
to go which will see him miss the game at Tottenham next week.
With five minutes to go, the unthinkable happened. Albion managed
to partially clear their lines from a corner, but the ball eventually
fell invitingly for Damien Francis who hit a fierce volley that
somehow found its way between two defenders and just inside the
post. Albion had one chance to pull the game back when Richardson
had a chance when the ball came out from a corner, but the youngster
pulled his shot well wide.
It was yet another cruel blow for the Baggies - somehow they have
managed to throw away winning positions in the most important two
games of the season so far, coming out with a solitary point. It
is particularly frustrating as they are playing their best football
of the season at the moment - Robson's failure to sign a defender
during the transfer window may prove crucial. There needs to be
some organisation at the back, as it seems that as well as they
defend normally, a few of lapses of concentration have cost them
dear. Is it not the time to see the return of Darren Moore?
It's not quite the final nail in Albion's coffin, but they still
need to find at least six wins from somewhere - I can see them being
in winning positions, but the problem will be holding on. At least
it doesn't appear to be exclusively Albion's problem - Southampton
conceded in injury time this afternoon against Everton which means
that they have moved just one point further ahead of us.
There are plenty of points available, but Albion need to change
something at the back to get that mentality to hold onto a lead.
Marks
Russell Hoult - 6 - Had a good game other that the one aberration
before half time.
Neil Clement - 8 - MOM. An excellent display from Clem; he needs
a better partner at the moment.
Darren Purse - 5 - He is not doing a captain's job at the moment;
he should be sorting them out at the back, but is succeeding only
in making everybody nervous.
Paul Robinson - 6 - Has played better, but did OK
Riccardo Scimeca - 5 - Did OK, but made several mistakes and lacked
confidence going forward; Albrechtsen was much missed.
Ronnie Wallwork - 7 - Solid display from Ronnie.
Jonathan Greening - 7 - Another good display.
Kieran Richardson - 6 - Gave the ball away a few too many times,
but also showed some very good play.
Kevin Campbell - 7 - Missed one good chance, but continues to show
his intelligence and experience.
Robert Earnshaw - 7 - Should've had more than one, but a decent
display.
Zoltan Gera - 8 - Another excellent game from Zoltan; at the centre
of most good things.
Geoff Horsfield - Not on long enough.
Bryan Robson - 6 - Should've changed things soon after the second
equaliser as a draw was not enough - Kanu would've been the man
for me. Another goal may have finished Norwich. He needs to change
it at the back because we're conceding too many soft goals.
Jon Want, 6th February 2005.
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