An injury time equaliser is always a tonic and this one was no different. Despite Mick McCarthy's views after the game, it was an equaliser that Albion thoroughly deserved. They were the better side for long periods in the game and, had they managed to grab a goal earlier in the game, I feel they would have gone on to win it. But, given the lateness of Albion's goal, you have to be content with a point.

Robson made five changes from the team that lost against Wigan, bringing in Davies, Johnson, Gera, Campbell and Earnshaw for Gaardsoe, Carter, Albrechtsen, Horsfield and Ellington. Only Horsfield was enforced through injury with Carter and Gaardsoe in particular suffering from poor performances of late.

Davies was always the brave decision given his lack of experience, but despite a few moments when his composure let him down in the early stages, I thought it was a promising debut. He made some good tackles and timely interceptions and he read the game pretty well. The big plus was that he didn't give away any silly free kicks, which was an improvement that spread throughout the team with only Paul Robinson guilty on the odd occasion.

In midfield, Gera was much more like the player we know he is, although he was still a little wasteful in possession. His stop-start campaign will hopefully get going now and, if Lothar Matthaus can be persuaded to use him more sparingly when the next round of internationals comes along in October, he will hopeful get an extended run in the team. He's having a minor op on his hand this week which means he'll miss the cup tie against Bradford, but he should be back up and running by Saturday.

The centre of midfield looked a lot more balanced with Johnson in with Wallwork. It's not my first choice, and neither played particularly well, but it was a huge improvement on the last two games.

Up front, with Horsfield ruled out, Campbell and Earnshaw was the best choice, and the two worked pretty well together. In the first fifteen, Campbell looked like the laboured ineffective player we have seen of late, but as the game went on, he seemed to develop a better understanding with Earnie and he put in a decent performance. As for the little Welshman, he was a bit hit and miss but never stopped working and produced one or two lovely touches.

Indeed, in the first half in particular, Campbell and Earnshaw linked up well as Albion dominated possession after the first fifteen minutes. The were some excellent passages of neat interplay although the final ball was never quite there. Albion had good situations without really threatening Kelvin Davis too menacingly.

Sunderland's goal was a prime example of how not to defend. Campbell and Clement were marking three players between them and, when Campbell failed to follow Breen, Clement was a second slow to realise and didn't quite get the challenge in. It was a poor goal to concede. Whether a new man at the back meant that the understanding wasn't quite there, I'm not sure, but someone needs to take charge and make sure people know who they are marking.

After the goal, Albion picked up and had the home side under pressure for much of the remainder of the half. Albion were a little less dominant after the break, but that was partly due to them leaving more gaps at the back as they pushed for the equaliser. However, as the game drew to a close, it was the hosts who began to get more and more nervous. Kamara was a good man to bring on for Albion as he is direct and quick - he may not have really hurt them, but he got them panicking. Ellington also had them worried and produced an excellent save from Davis with a vicious drive from 20 yards.

As panic set in in injury time, Hoyte had to clear off the line and, from the resulting corner superbly delivered by Kamara, Gera rose to head in the equaliser. It was dreadful defending from the home side, but frankly, who cares?

Marks

Chris Kirkland - 7 - One outstanding save in the second half; otherwise had little to do.
Neil Clement - 7 - MOM. In a game without an outstanding performance, Clem edges the award thanks to a consistent solid display.
Curtis Davies - 6 - Promising debut; looks like a good buy and will improve game by game.
Paul Robinson - 7 - Typical solid display, although a little rash in the tackle on occasion.
Ronnie Wallwork - 6 - Unspectacular; one typical moment when he berated Kamara for not getting to his wildly inaccurate crossfield ball!
Steve Watson - 5 - Another less than impressive display; Albrechtsen offers more at right back in my opinion.
Jonathan Greening - 6 - A but in and out; some great crosses but one or two dreadful corners.
Andy Johnson - 6 - Loads of energy, but he still panics in possession too often.
Kevin Campbell - 6 - Better, but he should win more in the air.
Robert Earnshaw - 7 - Lively, enthusiastic and occasionally brilliant. Needs a run in the side.
Zoltan Gera - 7 - Great goal, decent performance; on the way back.

Diomansy Kamara - 7 - Impressive on the ball although the end product was mixed. Great corner for the goal.
Nathan Ellington - 6 - Not on for long, but offered promising signs.

Bryan Robson - 7 - Robbo's best day for a while. Picked a decent team, Davies was a brave and good choice and just about paid off. Substitutions were just about right, although maybe Chappers in the middle might have added something more.



Jon Want, 19th September 2005.