jonwant.com
jonwant.com Home Page Links to other footy sites Links to other footy sites Links to non-footy related sites. Photo features Contact the webmaster.
West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield United
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. 14th October 2003, 7.45pm.
Back to Reports Menu
This was the first time I had seen the Albion beaten this season, and it was a thoroughly depressing experience. I'm not really sure where that performance came from. The Albion haven't been overly convincing in their drive to the top of the table, but I don't think any of us expected anything quite so inept from a group of players who should be capable of winning this division. Credit must go to Sheffield United and, much as it pains me, to Neil Warnock, but there hasn't been a performance so lacking in passion and determination from an Albion side since the dismal defeat at Vicarage Road last season.

There were no surprises in the starting line-up with Koumas returning from injury to take the place of the suspended Andy Johnson.

AJ, so it turned out, was a big loss for Albion as the midfield failed to get hold of the game. We have, in recent home games, come to expect a barnstorming start from the men in blue and white, but this evening, it did not materialise. I can't believe that GM sent them out and said "Take it easy early on, guys.", but that is exactly what happened. It was clear from the first whistle that United had not for a point.

Indeed, the visitors appeared to be playing an adventurous 4-3-3 formation and their players seemed much more alert, winning the fifty-fifty balls, passing crisply and attacking in numbers with pace. The home side, in comparison, seemed lacking in drive and imagination. The only attacking option for the Baggies seemed to be to kick it long to Hulse or Dobie, who were immediately surrounded by two or three Blades defenders and, with the midfield apparently unable to get forward to offer a lay off pass, they would inevitably lose possession. This was the story of the entire first half, save for a ten minute spell after the first goal.

The first goal came from United's first attack, not that Albion had had one worthy of note before hand. With a neat passing exchange between Ashley Ward and Stuart McCall that scythed through the Albion defence, Michael TONGE was through on goal and placed the ball past Hoult from fifteen yards with a crisp finish.

Albion responded with a Gaardsoe header that was palmed away by an impressive Gerrard in the United goal before Gilchrist had to be alert to prevent Ndlovu getting through on goal from another quick break.

There followed a spell of concerted pressure from the Albion that promised an equaliser that never materialised. Koumas brought another fine save from Gerrard with a shot from twenty-five yards, Hulse spun and shot wide from six yards when he really should have done better and Berthe, of all people, tested Gerrard from all of thirty-five yards with another fine effort. And that was it.

Albion's endeavour seemed to peter out, and United capitalised on some schoolboy defending to extend their lead. It was simple stuff really. Clement was on the halfway line following an attack, as a wing back is supposed to be, so Gilchrist pulled wide to meet a United break. Rather than make all efforts to get back to cover Gilchrist's vacated position, he ambled towards the left-back position that Gilchrist was occupying leaving Nick Montgomery to run unopposed past Gilchrist to latch onto a pass. That caused Gaardsoe to move out to meet Montgomery leaving Ward free in the middle, and Montgomery's cross was clipped home by the unmarked WARD, and the game was all but over.

The situation was dire enough for Megson to make changes at half time. Taking off one of the back three was almost inevitable, but to choose Berthe, the only one of the three who emerged from the first 45 with any credit, was somewhat incredulous. And whereas Hulse had not had his most effective 45 minutes of football, I fail to see how Dichio can be seen to be able to provide a greater threat. With the exception of the Watford game this season, he has been dire every time I have seen him this season, and tonight was no different. In my opinion, his only worth is to come on as a man to hold the ball up when protecting a lead.

Despite the 4-3-3 formation, Albion's only worthwhile effort on goal in the second half came shortly after the re-start when Hughes's header from Clement's cross was tipped over by the excellent Gerrard. That was it really. Albion huffed and puffed but failed to mount any concerted pressure and constantly wasted possession with a diabolical display of passing. The visitors, on the other hand, remained focused and energised and were first to every ball. They continued to probe the evermore susceptible Albion defence with quick, neat, pacey forays on the break.

With twenty-five minutes left, Megson played his final card too late, replacing the lumbering Gregan with Sakiri, but to little effect. Despite the fact that they were defending a two goal lead with men behind the ball, the Blades always looked more likely to score as the Albion midfield failed to provide any invention.

For the first time in a very long time, I left an Albion match before the final whistle - it was only a few seconds before, but to me it was significant.

This game may have had a short spell of pressure from the Baggies that the awful display at Watford last season lacked, but this was a far more depressing performance. For the second time this season, we have failed to perform against our closest rival in the table, and to me, that does not bode well for the remainder of this season. The players performed poorly this evening, but is that because Mr Warnock's troops were better prepared? Megson needs to rally the boys before another stern test on Saturday, and perhaps ask himself a few stern questions.



RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0 SHEFFIELD UNITED 2

Marks

Hoult - 7 - MOM. He made some good saves, but I chose him mainly because he was the only man I couldn't criticise.
Berthe - 7 - Despite being partly culpable for the first goal, he was the best defender in the first half and was very unlucky to be pulled off.
Gaardsoe - 5 - Lacking in the normal poise and solidity we have come to expect.
Gilchrist - 5 - Dreadful in the first half, marginal improvement in the second - bring back Volmer.
Haas - 7 - At least showed some passion, but missed out on MOM thanks to a petulant booking late on.
Koumas - 6 - Had very little impact on the game thanks to some close marking.
Gregan - 3 - Simply appalling; he reminded me of the Marshmallow Man from "Ghostbusters".
O'Connor - 5 - Busy, but his distribution was awful.
Clement - 4 - Dreadful.
Dobie - 6 - Had little support and produced nothing.
Hulse - 6 - No support from midfield, and found the close attention difficult to cope with.

Hughes - 6 - One or two moments, but didn't really produce.
Dichio - 4 - Why?
Sakiri - 6 - Was always going to find it difficult to change a game in twenty minutes, and failed.

The Manager - 5 - Something was badly wrong in the preparation for this game for the side to start with such ineptitude. Hughes for a defender was good, but should have been Gilly not Berthe - was he afraid of leaving Clem without a left-footer? Dichio was never going to work, and didn't. Gregan should've been replaced with Sakiri after twenty minutes not sixty-five! No, sorry, Greegs should not have started - he is overweight and unfit.
West Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Berthe (Hughes 45), Gaardsoe, Gilchrist; Haas, Koumas, Gregan (Sakiri 68), O'Connor, Clement; Dobie, Hulse (Dichio 45). Subs not used: Murphy (GK), Wallwork.
Sheffield United (4-4-2):
Gerrard; Kozluk, Jagielka, Morgan, Whitlow; Brown, McCall, Montgomery, Tonge (Peschisolido 88); Ndlovu, Ward. Subs not used: Allison, Lester, Armstrong, Rankine.
Scoring: Tonge (10) 0-1, Ward (37) 0-2.
Bookings: West Bromwich Albion - Koumas (foul 32), Gaardsoe (foul 50), Haas (dissent 90). Sheffield United - Kozluk (time-wasting 44), Ndlovu (foul 45), Tonge (time-wasting 58), McCall (dissent 90+3).
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
Attendance: 27,195
^ Back to Top