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West
Bromwich Albion v Southampton
The Hawthorns,
West Bromwich. 14th September 2002, 3.00pm. |
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For the first time
this season, Albion were favourites to win this game but, at the
end of the day, they were lucky to do so. It wasn't convincing and
it certainly wasn't pretty, but it was another three points and
we're sitting proudly in seventh place, our highest league position
for eighteen years, above Manchester United and Newcastle United,
who are both playing in the "Champions" League.
Megson obviously hadn't read my website in the week as he started
with the same eleven as on Wednesday night with Gregan in defence
and Wallwork in midfield. Hughes kept his place along side Roberts
in attack. Southampton fielded a couple of ex-dingles in Paul Jones
and Chris Marsden, but only Marsden seemed to get the usual treatment
from the fans.
The first half was tight but Southampton played the better football.
Albion seemed to struggle to get going. Delap had the first real
opportunity on 13 minutes when he fired wide from a Wayne Bridge
cross. Bridge seemed to have the beating of Igor Balis. Six minutes
later, Albion had their first attempt when a shot from Wallwork
was deflected and fell easily for Paul Jones.
On 19 minutes, the Baggies should have been behind. Delap, who was
having a fine game in the middle of the park, played a lovely ball
to put Pahars clean through, but he could only fire his shot well
wide of Hoult's left hand post. A few minutes later, Lee Hughes,
playing better than at West Ham but still well below par, shot straight
at Jones after a good ball through from Koumas. Then, on 26 minutes,
he was booked for retaliation. Maybe frustration at his own performance
got the better of him, but at this rate he'll be suspended before
he scores his first goal!!
Albion were starting to find their feet. A trademark turn by Roberts
got him away from Lundekvam on the edge of the box, only for the
Norwegian Saint to pull him back. After being booked, Lundekvam
then received the full force of Balis' free kick in his face and
collapsed in a heap.
Clement, probably having his best game of the season, broke down
the left on 40 minutes and put a lovely ball across the six yard
box. Hughes may have thrown himself at it a couple of years ago,
but he just failed to connect with an outstretched leg. Just before
the break, Roberts and Balis exchanged passes to put the Slovakian
through on goal, but his finish was one of a player who has only
scored once in two years.
Right on half time, Hoult and Gregan both left a high ball from
Delap for each other, only to see Beattie nip in between them to
loop a goal-bound header over the Baggies 'keeper. But a quick-thinking
Gilchrist was on hand to cooly clear the ball off the line.
At half time, Megson did something I've only ever seen once before,
and made a substitution. Someone had obviously pointed out my comments
after the West Ham game, and he brought Sigurdsson on for Wallwork
and moved Gregan into midfield. The disappointing Hughes was also
replaced by Dobie.
As a consequence, Albion looked much more lively. Gregan got a hang
of things in midfield, and Dobie was much brighter up front.
But it was Southampton who created the first clear opportunity of
the second half, and again it fell to maid Marian Pahars. I'm sure
his namesake from Sherwood Forest would have done better than his
tame shot straight at Hoult when in an almost identical position
to his chance in the first half.
Megson made another change just after the hour in attempt to make
the Saints rue their missed chances. Surprisingly, Dichio replaced
Koumas as Albion witched to 3-4-3. And it seemed to make a difference
as Dichio started winning some of the forward balls that had been
going straight back to Southampton in the first half.
On 73 minutes, Gregan and Roberts combined well to free Balis on
the right wing, but his low cross evaded Dobie and was gathered
well by Jones. Dobie had a penalty appeal waved away by Clive Wilkes
a few minutes later before Dichio headed straight at Jones from
12 yards.
Albion were not on top, and they got their reward on 79 minutes.
From the edge of the box, Roberts laid the ball back to GREGAN.
From 35-yards he looked up and didn't see much on, so he decided
to shoot. It wasn't the best struck I've ever seen but it had spin
and bounced awkwardly right in front of Jones, and the Saints 'keeper
could only wave at it as it went over his prone body and into the
net.
Williams received his second yellow for holding back Roberts with
five minutes to go, but the ten men piled on the pressure late on.
Their only reward, however, was a shot from Telfer that was well
held by Hoult.
Against Leeds, Albion played much better and lost. Against Southampton,
we were fortunate; but just as the adage about taking your chances
applies to the Albion, it applies to the opposition as well. The
defence looked solid, but the midfield was guilty of wasting too
much possession, particularly in the first half. The strange compulsion
to play the long ball to Hughes and Roberts was very frustrating
for the fans, as I'm sure it was for Hughesey, who hasn't yet found
his form. It's a win, but we must learn from this - Southampton
held the ball for long periods and were well in control at times;
and they are one of the sides we must look to finish above. We must
learn to keep the ball, play it around and wait for the right moment
to play the killer pass. Let's bask in the glory of seventh place,
but there is definitely no room for complacency.
RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 SOUTHAMPTON
0
Marks
Hoult - 7 - Again made some good saves, one moment of madness.
Balis - 6 - Good going forward but exposed by Bridge at times.
Clement - 7 - Best performance of the season, but still room for
improvement.
Gilchrist - 7 - Steady, great goalline clearance.
Moore - 7 - Solid as ever.
Gregan - 8 - MOM. Good in defence, better in midfield and if you
don't shoot you don't score!
Wallwork - 6 - Had his moments, but he doesn't have Gregan's strength
to take his place in midfield.
Johnson - 7 - Worked hard as ever, excellent runs, one or two good
balls.
Koumas - 6 - A couple of runs and passes, but still not up to the
Premiership pace.
Hughes - 5 - Another below par performance, but didn't really get
the service.
Roberts - 7 - Not the brilliant performance we have come to expect,
but played well.
Dobie - 7 - Looked brighter than Hughes, but got better service.
Sigurdsson - 6 - Steady defensively, poor distribution as always.
Dichio - 7 - Made a difference when he came, looked as though he
wanted to make a claim.
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West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gregan, Moore, Gilchrist; Balis, Koumas (Dichio 62), Wallwork
(Sigurdsson 45), Johnson, Clement; Roberts , Hughes (Dobie 45).
Subs not used: Jensen (GK), J Chambers.
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Southampton
(4-4-2):
Jones; Dodd (Ormerod 83), Lundekvam, Williams, Bridge; Telfer, Delap,
Oakley (A Svensson 76), Marsden (El-Khalej 88); Beattie, Pahars.
Subs not used: Niemi (GK), Fernandes. |
Scoring: Gregan (79)
1-0.
Bookings: West Bromwich Albion - Hughes (unsporting behaviour 26),
Moore (foul 89). Southampton - Lundekvam (foul 36), Williams (foul
47).
Sending Off: Southampton - Williams (foul - second yellow card 85)
Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester)
Attendance: 26,383 |
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