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Stoke
City v West Bromwich Albion
Britannia Stadium,
Stoke-on-Trent. 4th May 2004, 7.45pm. |
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Few people will remember this game in years to come. in fact many
will choose to forget it, including the players. But at the time
of writing, I find it very difficult to understand how a team that
has shown remarkable staying power all season can suddenly collapse
as they did at the Britannia. OK, I accept that promotion was the
stated aim and that has been achieved, but when will the Albion
next be that close to a trophy?
Three changes to the side that lost at Reading saw Koumas return
from suspension in place of O'Connor, Dobie replace Horsfield and
Haas replace Chambers. Gregan moved into midfield to give Albion
an attacking 4-4-2 formation that at least promised an attempt to
win the match.
And, to be honest, Albion played some decent stuff in the first
half, and probably looked the more dangerous team although real
chances were few and far between. Moore saw his goal-bound header
from a Koumas corner scrambled away and then Koumas himself shot
inches wide from 20 yards.
The home side had a couple of half chances before Hughes threatened
Cutler's goal with a fierce shot that flew just wide. But just before
half time, after carelessly losing the ball, the Ninja chased back
before bringing Commons down with a classic forward's tackle.
The free-kick itself was deflected for a corner by Lloyd Dyer, but
when the corner came in, the ball fell for Russell whose shot deflected
off Gaardsoe, completely wrong-footing Hoult, and finding the back
of the net.
Stoke certainly didn't deserve their lead and Albion came out with
a renewed purpose for the second half. Hughes just failed to get
on the end of a Gregan knock down from a Koumas corner before the
equaliser came just five minutes after the break.
Another Koumas corner was met by DOBIE whose well-timed run enabled
him to flick a near post header beyond Cutler into the net.
Suddenly, the former Carlisle man seemed to have rediscovered some
confidence as Albion pushed for the next goal. He picked up the
ball on the right and ran at the Stoke defence cutting into the
penalty area and as he looked to have found the perfect finish,
Cutler somehow got his feet to the ball to deflect the ball wide.
It looked like it was only a matter of time before Albion took the
lead as they were playing some great football. But then, Darren
Moore tried to take on the Stoke strikers when he was the last man
and failed, and it was all Gregan could do to concede a free kick.
It was thirty yards out and there seemed little danger as most of
the Albion fans watched the "Belly" being escorted from the ground
by stewards. The shot from COMMONS looked to be comfortable from
Hoult but somehow he spilled the wet ball into the net.
Clement tested Cutler with a fierce shot a few minutes later but
that was the last positive play from the Albion as they simply fell
apart.
Mistake followed mistake as they completely lost their way and they
were fortunate not to go behind when Russell broke away to fire
just wide.
As against Reading, Megson took the bizarre step of replacing Hughes,
once again the most effective attacking option, with Sakiri. Once
again the move failed.
You couldn't blame Megson or the Macedonian for the third goal,
however, which came just a minute after the change. Halls beat the
offside trap (if that's what it was) and broke down the right. Albion's
defence managed to get back in strength but for some reason, when
Halls squared the ball to the only Stoke player in support, COMMONS
was completely unmarked and scuffed the ball into the corner.
There was no attacking threat from the Baggies as neither Dobie
nor Sakiri could keep hold of the ball for long and the midfield
continued to relinquish possession far too easily.
Four minutes from time, another Stoke break saw Commons float a
cross to the far post and Gaardsoe stood and watched as NOEL-WILLIAMS
headed the ball past Hoult for the fourth goal.
Two minutes later, a frustrated Jason Koumas seemed to aim a kick
at Russell and was shown a red card by Keith Hills which could see
him miss the first four games of the Premiership season - well done
JK.
You can argue that if Albion had needed to win at Reading and Stoke
for promotion, they would have done. But had we won those games,
the title would be in our hands. AJ has been a big out for both
games, but we coped without him earlier in the season. While I could
forgive Reading, this was a disgraceful collapse. Megson has said
that his "retained list" was decided before the last three games
- after the last two, one or two may be playing for a contract against
Forest.
RESULT - STOKE CITY 4 WEST BROMWICH
ALBION 1
Marks
Hoult - 5 - Dreadful mistake.
Gaardsoe - 6 - OK for the most part, but caught out more than once.
Moore - 6 - Poor mistake which led to the second goal, guilty of
poor defending late on.
Gregan - 7 - MOM. Purely for making the fewest mistakes!
Haas - 5 - OK going forward, but nowhere in defence most of the
time.
Koumas - 6 - Some quality moments, but some dreadful ones and didn't
look interested at times.
Kinsella - 7 - Did well, shame he got injured as he may have held
the team together.
Dyer - 6 - Same as on Saturday, did well at times but his naivety
is plain to see.
Robinson - 6 - Defended OK but lacked invention going forward.
Hughes - 7 - Looked the most likely to create something, silly foul
which led to the first goal - shouldn't have gone off.
Dobie - 6 - Had an excellent ten minutes just after half time, but
largely weak and feeble.
Sakiri - 4 - May as well not have bothered turning up.
Clement - 5 - Dreadful close control always put himself under pressure,
decision making was poor.
The Manager - 6 - Can't blame him for the players not being up for
it as they played some good stuff in the first half and at the start
of the second. But why take Hughes off? He was the biggest threat
and our attacking ability simply disintegrated after he left.
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Stoke
City (4-4-2):
Cutler; Wilkinson, Hill (Williams 62), Owen; Halls, Russell, Svard
(Neal 58), Henry, Clarke; Commons, Noel-Williams. Subs not used:
Palmer, Gunnarsson, Denny. |
West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gaardsoe, Moore, Gregan; Haas, Koumas, Kinsella (Clement
14),Hughes (Sakiri 72), Dobie. Subs not used: Murphy (GK), J Chambers,
O'Connor.
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Scoring: Russell (45)
1-0, Dobie (50) 1-1, Commons (63) 2-1, Commons (73) 3-1, Noel-Williams
(86) 4-1.
Bookings: Stoke City - Clarke (foul 47).West Bromwich Albion - Hughes
(foul 42).
Sending Off - Koumas (violent conduct 88).
Referee: K Hill (Hertfordshire).
Attendance: 18,352.
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