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West
Bromwich Albion v Norwich City
The Hawthorns,
West Bromwich. 18th October 2003, 3.00pm. |
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We're back to winning
ways but it was even more unconvincing than it has been up to now.
As the home side, the approach seemed incredibly negative, especially
in the second half. Having said that, Albion controlled the game
without making the most of good opportunities in the first half
and, although Norwich were the better side in the second half and
had the majority of the possession, Hoult still only had one save
to make.
Two changes to the starting line up from the Sheffield United debacle
saw a debut from new boy Robinson, and a surprise recall for Wallwork
in midfield. Unfortunately, Megson saw fit to drop Gregan into defence
in place of Berthe rather than dropping the Fat Controller altogether.
Albion started marginally the better side and created a few chances
early on with a long range shot from Wallwork and a glancing header
from Hulse after good work from Haas on the right. Both wing backs
were getting forward well with Robinson looking particularly impressive
in the early stages of his debut linking up well with Gilchrist
and Koumas.
Harper had a header deflected wide by Haas for the visitors before
Dobie missed the chance of the game. Koumas mesmerised the Norwich
defence before clipping over a right foot cross that Dobie met unchallenged
with his head but put it well wide of the far post. Minutes later,
he missed another good chance when Haas crossed from the right and
once again the (former?) Scottish international's header was wide
of the post.
Koumas was controlling the game in midfield and went on another
run on 25 minutes, but his final shot didn't trouble Green in the
Norwich goal. Minutes later, Hulse should've tested the 'keeper
after he was put through by Dobie, but the former Crewe striker
took too long and allowed MacKay to get a challenge in to block
the shot.
Albion finally got the goal their dominance deserved on thirty-five
minutes when, for once, they passed it through midfield rather than
relying on the long ball. Wallwork had the ball in the centre of
the field and found Koumas unmarked to his left, some thirty yards
from goal. With the Norwich defence watching, KOUMAS took the ball
towards the penalty area and curled a wonderful shot into the far
corner from the edge of the box.
The most bizarre moment of the game came on the stroke of half time
when Iwan Roberts appeared to clip the feet of Bernt Haas well inside
the area. Haas stumbled and fell outside the box, but the referee
waved his arms to signify no penalty. The linesman then raised his
flag for a free kick to the Albion, but didn't signal a penalty
and a free kick was given four yards outside the box. Roberts was
booked for protesting and the kick was moved to the edge of the
box, but how it was not a penalty, I don't know. Only the limesman
and referee can possibly explain that one.
And that was as good as it got as Albion produced a lacklustre second
half performance that was reminiscent of the Sheffield United game.
Admittedly, Norwich were much improved after McVeigh replaced Rivers
at half time, but Albion did themselves no favours with some woeful
passing and an over-defensive outlook that got worse as the game
progressed.
Dobie had another good chance early on, however, when Hulse intercepted
a poor pass from Mulryne and put the (almost) Scotsman through.
But he took it too wide and ended up laying it back to Robinson
who went for debut glory and fired it over rather than clip it to
the far post where two Albion men were unmarked.
The first moment of madness from Albion came courtesy of, you guessed
it, Gregan the Gut. Under pressure, Haas passed the ball back to
the Fat Boy but rather than clear it, he gave Hoult a hospital pass
that was charged down by McVeigh but luckily went away from any
Norwich players.
From then on, it was almost all Norwich as they overran the three-man
Albion midfield and controlled the remainder of the game. Norwich
never really looked like breaking down a stubborn Albion defence,
but when the Baggies did get possession, they seemed unable to hold
onto it for more than about thirty seconds.
Megson finally made a change to the front line bringing Hughes on,
but rather than replacing the disappointing Dobie, he took off Hulse,
who was surely the man more likely to hold the ball up. The Ninja
was more mobile than Hulse, but the quality of passing to him remained
poor and it made little difference initially.
Then his job was made much harder. With the Norwich four-man midfield
outnumbering the Albion three, Megson decided to bring on Sakiri.
But by taking Dobie off, he gave Hughes an almost impossible task
- surely it would've been more sensible to take off one of the back
three to try and push Norwich back a bit. Bizarrely, he put left-footed
Sakiri on the right leaving right-footed Koumas (OK he's got two
good feet) on the left. The Albion team saw it for what it was,
a defensive move, and dropped even further back with Sakiri appearing
to be one of a back six at times!
Hoult made his only save from Fleming with 15 minutes to go after
the ball was knocked back in with, what appeared to me, four Norwich
men off side. It was a stunning save.
There was a flash of the Lee Hughes we know and love just before
the end, when he was released by Sakiri and ran at the defender
turning him inside out before firing just wide.
And the game should've been out of sight when the Norwich 'keeper
came forward for a corner in the last minute. Hoult caught the ball
and released O'Connor. The Irishman ran down the left wing with
the 'keeper struggling to get back, but his effort on goal from
forty yards failed to even reach the goal line.
It was a frustrating second half as Albion dropped deeper and deeper
and, with Volmer on in the last minute for Wallwork, finished with
six defenders on the field. For a home side, that is really not
encouraging. Norwich appeared to have worked out how to stop us
playing in the second half and, as on Tuesday evening, Megson did
not seem to be able to change it. The 3-5-2 formation can work,
and we've seen it work, but we need an option when it doesn't. We
don't appear to have it at the moment, and it is concerning.
RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 NORWICH
CITY 0
Marks
Hoult - 7 - Had little to do, pulling off one outstanding save in
the second half.
Gregan - 6 - Will he ever be dropped; better today but still not
worth a place.
Gaardsoe - 7 - A reassuring solid performance from the Gaard.
Gilchrist - 6 - Mixed performance from Gilly.
Haas - 7 - Another good showing from BH.
Koumas - 8 - Quality goal and a cut above the rest all game.
Wallwork - 6 - Surprising recall, and didn't really do enough.
O'Connor - 7 - Much better performance from James.
Robinson - 7 - Promising debut, enough to keep Clem sidelined.
Dobie - 5 - Another dreadful miss and was generally uninspiring.
Hulse - 6 - Pretty ordinary showing from Hulse.
Hughes - 7 - Looked bright and enthusiastic, may have earned a recall.
Sakiri - 6 - Didn't really have much chance to shine, especially
on the right wing.
Volmer - 6 - Not one long enough to show.
The Manager - 5 - I cannot understand how Gregan started again,
but at least he gave Robinson a start. Substitutions were bizarre:
Hughes on OK, but surely Dobes was the man to go; it was clear we
were getting overrun in midfield, so bringing on Sakiri was understandable,
but to take off a forward just ensured that we would have no outlet
and lose the ball more quickly thereby inviting more pressure; Volmer
in the last minute was hopefully just a time-wasting exercise because
it added nothing.
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West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gregan, Gaardsoe, Gilchrist; Haas, Koumas, Wallwork (Volmer
90+2), O'Connor, Robinson; Dobie (Sakiri 80), Hulse (Hughes 69).
Subs not used: Murphy (GK), Clement.
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Norwich
City (4-5-1):
Green; Edworthy, MacKay, Fleming, Drury; Harper, Holt (Shackell
83), Mulryne, Francis, Rivers (McVeigh 45); Roberts (Crouch 59).
Subs not used: Lewis (GK), Easton. |
Scoring: Koumas (35)
1-0.
Bookings: West Bromwich Albion - O'Connor (foul 28). Norwich City
- Mulryne (foul 26), Roberts (foul 45).
Referee: G Salisbury (Preston).
Attendance: 24,966 |
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