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West
Bromwich Albion v Reading
The Hawthorns,
West Bromwich. 22nd November 2003, 5.35pm. |
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A second successive
goalless draw at home, but in contrast to the game against Sunderland,
Albion were much the better side against Reading and it was an evening
of frustration, although with all our rivals also dropping points,
it was comforting that only a heavy defeat could have seen us relinquish
our position at the top of the table.
The surprise selection decision was the recall of Danny Dichio to
the starting line-up following his successful loan period at Stoke,
and I was surprised that both Koumas and Johnson made the starting
eleven following their exploits for Wales over the previous seven
days. Hulse partnered Deech up front with Hughes preferred to Dobie
on the bench. Having been recalled to the bench for the trip to
Upton Park, James Chambers was also in the sixteen.
Albion started brightly and attacked the visitors from the first
whistle. It was clear that Reading had, like so many other teams
this season, just come for the point stringing five across the middle
with Forster ploughing the lonely furrow up front.
Straight away, Dichio and Hulse looked a decent partnership. With
Hulse no longer the main target for long balls, he had the opportunity
to make some intelligent runs to try and get on the end of the flicks
from Deech's head. And it was Dichio with the first effort on target
getting on the end of a Koumas free kick to head just over. It was
his partner's turn minutes later, as Hulse beat the 'keeper to the
a Koumas cross, but the header was just wide.
Reading showed very little attacking intent, and Albion controlled
possession probing for a breakthrough with Koumas providing most
of the invention. He skipped pas the disappointing Scott Murray
on 20 minutes before firing straight at Hahnemann.
With Koumas mainly playing on the right, and receiving very close
attention from the Reading midfield, most attacks were attempted
up the left hand side. Robinson was having a difficult evening and
with Johnson often hanging too deep, it was Hulse that was offering
himself by coming short, normally to receive from the evermore adventurous
Gilchrist who pushed over the halfway line on several occasions.
It was very frustrating to watch as there were big gaps between
the Reading defence and midfield, but AJ and O'Connor seemed reluctant
to occupy them.
Hulse had a shot deflected over the bar on the half hour, and from
the resultant Koumas corner, Johnson got to the ball with the goal
at his mercy, but he failed to connect properly with his head and
the ball bounced up over the bar. He did connect properly with his
boot a few minutes later, but his twenty yard drive struck Dichio
and went wide.
Reading's first effort came on 34 minutes, a shot from Murty that
flew wide. It was followed swiftly by their second, another long
range shot, this time from Sidwell, but again Hoult was untroubled.
It was soon back at the other end as Hulse forced another save out
of Hahnemann with a low shot. Soon after, Dichio was injured in
a late challenge from Sidwell and was unable to continue. He was
replaced by Hughes in first half stoppage time.
Albion were back on the attack at the beginning of the second half
and five minutes into it, Hughes showed his excellent crossing ability
with a superb ball to the far post, but unfortunately it was the
shortest man on the field who got on the end of it, and O'Connor
was a few inches too short to make the best of it and it went harmlessly
out for a goal kick.
Clement replaced Robinson on 55 minutes, and it seemed that Reading
were caught unawares by his attacking ambition as he started flying
down the left wing. He fed Koumas on 57 minutes, and his excellent
cross fell for Haas, but the Swiss international could only screw
the ball wide. It was Clement again who combined well with Hughes,
and the Ninja drove the ball across the face of the goal but noone
could connect.
Minutes later, Clement received the ball from Gilchrist, advanced
into the Reading half and put a great cross over which reached Haas
at the far post. It was the best chance of the game, but once again
he couldn't convert and he blazed the ball wide of the goal.
Albion were well on top and playing some excellent football and
it seemed only a matter of time before the took the lead. Next to
shoot was Clement himself after a lay off from the excellent Rob
Hulse, but the former Chelsea man's effort was well wide.
The game then deteriorated as Reading brought the giant Bas Savage
on for Murray, a move which seemed to cancel out the positive effect
that Clement had made. Reading had a couple of half chances themselves,
none of which troubled Hoult, and Megson made his last throw of
the dice bringing Sakiri on for O'Connor.
Unfortunately, it didn't work. The last fifteen minutes were extremely
frustrating as Reading dropped deeper and deeper to secure the point.
Hulse had a couple of late opportunities, but the visitors held
on.
It was a feeling of disappointment at the end, but the few boos
I heard from the home fans were certainly not warranted. Reading
were very well organised and not at all adventurous, but Albion
played some good football to create enough chances to win the game,
but none of the clear ones fell to strikers, and they were all squandered.
Frustrating, but by no means disastrous as Albion remain a point
clear at the top with a game in hand.
RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0 READING
0
Marks
Hoult - 7 - Had nothing to do, kicking was good.
Gregan - 7 - Solid unspectacular performance.
Gaardsoe - 8 - Always comfortable and unhurried. Good performance.
Gilchrist - 7 - Good solid showing.
Haas - 7 - Did well but missed two excellent chances.
Koumas - 7 - Some excellent moments, but faded badly in the last
twenty.
Johnson - 7 - Worked hard, but often sat too deep.
O'Connor - 5 - Another unconvincing performance.
Robinson - 5 - Lacked ideas going forward, wasted possession too
often.
Dichio - 8 - A surprisingly good display from Deech, unlucky to
get injured.
Hulse - 8 - MOM. His movement was excellent, his touch superb and
did very well despite not having the best service.
Hughes - 8 - Worked tirelessly, moved well and used the ball well.
Clement - 8 - Made an instant impact with some marauding runs and
good use of the ball.
Sakiri - 6 - Never really got into the game.
The Manager - 8 - Brave but correct decision to start Deech, second
half substitutions were, on the whole, well timed and Clement, in
particular, unsettled the solid Reading rearguard.
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West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gregan, Gaardsoe, Gilchrist; Haas, Koumas, Johnson, O'Connor
(Sakiri 73), Robinson (Clement 55); Dichio (Hughes 45+1), Hulse.
Subs not used: Murphy (GK), J Chambers.
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Reading
(4-5-1):
Hahnemann; Newman, Murty, Ingimarsson, Shorey; A Hughes, Harper,
Sidwell, Salako, Murray (Savage 68); Forster. Subs not used: Young
(GK), Mackie, Tyson, Watson. |
Bookings: None.
Referee: R Pearson (Peterlee).
Attendance: 22, 839. |
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