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West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. 21st April 2003, 3.00pm.
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Albion failed to record back-to-back wins for the first time in 2003, but it was a spirited performance against Spurs and an entertaining game. The difference between the sides was occasional defensive frailty and, though it pains me to say it, the undoubted quality that Robbie Keane has in abundance. If you add to that an excellent performance from Teddy Sheringham, Spurs probably just about deserved the points on their second half performance, but it does beg the question as to why they are not higher up the table.

Two changes to Saturday's team saw Roberts replace the injured Hughes and Clement unlucky to be relegated to the bench, replaced by Udeze.

Albion started well and went on to put in an excellent first half performance...right up until the last minute, that is. There were little goalmouth incident early on, but Roberts carried on from his encouraging performance at Sunderland and got to the byline as early on 21 minutes, although Gardner managed to intercept the pull back.

Spurs responded with a fine overhead lick from Keane which Hoult did well to keep out. But the Albion then took control. Johnson almost found a way through on 23 minutes but he was pulled down by Gardner, who was booked. A minute later, a clearance from the Spurs area was collected by Sigurdsson. He played the ball down the line to Roberts who was tackled but the fall fell kindly to Koumas. The Welsh international played an excellent first time cross, and after fine work to hold off Ledley King, DICHIO rose high to head the ball past a static Keller.

Johnson shot straight at Keller a few minutes later as Albion began to dominate. Just after the half hour, more good work from Roberts saw him put in a cross that was met by the head of Johnson, he knocked into the path of McInnes. The former Rangers man has obviously got an eye for goal after his brace on Wearside, and he struck a fine shot from 18 yards that was superbly saved by Keller.

Referee Phil Dowd felt the wrath of the home fans when his disallowed a Roberts goal. He broker from Ledley King on the halfway line and finished well, but he'd had a tug at King's shirt before receiving the ball that was spotted by Dowd. To make it worse, a minute later he failed to award Roberts a free kick when he was pulled down by King just inside the Albion half.

Spurs started to threaten again late on in the half. Johnson did well to intercept when Bunjevcevic looked certain to score from an Etherington corner. It was a short reprieve, however, as the Albion defence fell asleep in stoppage time. After a one-two with the excellent Sheringham on the edge of the box, KEANE lost his marker and poked the ball under the onrushing Hoult.

The second half was a much tighter affair, although Albion again started well. Roberts exchanged a one-two with Balis but could only manage a weak left foot shot that was easily gathered by Keller. On 52 minutes, it was Albion's defence under pressure as Sheringham played a wonderful ball inside Balis to find Etherington. His pull back was met by substitute Gus Poyet, but theUruguayann shot wide.

Koumas ran at the defence and was brought down on the edge of the area. Koumas got up to take the kick quickly and Roberts got on the end of it only for Keller to deflect his shot over the bar.

On 58 minutes, Clement replaced a disappointing Udeze and 3 minutes later he justified that substitution. Albion were awarded a free kick 35 yards out after Richards fouled Dichio. The ex-Dingle was unhappy with the decision and got himself booked for dissent. The kick was moved forward 10 yards forcing Spurs to hurriedly form a wall, but it was a shoddy job as CLEMENT stepped up and smashed a piledriver through the wall and past Keller into the net.

Once again, Albion failed to hold a lead for more than a few minutes. Johnson dallied on the edge of the box, lost the ball and conceded a free kick. Keane knocked the ball out to Bunjevcevic who struck the post with a fierce shot. It rebounded kindly to SHERINGHAM who finished from four yards.

There was much endeavour in the remainder of the game but little goalmouth incident. Roberts broke from King, fairly this time, but the Spurs man got back to make an excellent last ditch challenge just inside the area. At the other end, Hoult had to save well from a Stephen Carr shot at the near post.

With five minutes left, the lack of pace in the Albion defence was exposed as an excellent ball from King found KEANE running clear. He took it into the left hand side of the area and beat Hoult with a firm shot into the opposite corner.

It was disappointing to lose so late again, especially having conceded late in the first half, a half dominated by the Albion. But Spurs fought back well in the second half and their extra quality told. And it's always galling to have an ex-Dingle score against you...twice. Make that three for the season.

RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3

Marks

Hoult - 8 - Another good showing with some great saves.
Balis - 6 - Did well getting forward, but caught for pace against Etherington.
Udeze - 5 - Did little.
Gregan - 8 - MOM. An excellent performance.
Wallwork - 7 - Another good defensive performance.
Sigurdsson - 7 - Good again, has been excellent in the last few weeks.
Johnson - 5 - Poor showing from AJ.
Koumas - 8 - Another good showing.
McInnes - 7 - Obviously his confidence is up with another good game.
Roberts - 8 - Another good performance, getting back to his best but not there yet.
Dichio - 6 - Great goal, but found it tough against their big back three.

Clement - 7 - Great goal, pretty good showing over all.
Dobie - 6 - Did OK, didn't hide.
West Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gregan, Wallwork, Sigurdsson; Balis, Koumas, Johnson, McInnes, Udeze (Clement 58); Roberts, Dichio (Dobie 69). Subs not used: Murphy (GK), J Chambers, Lyttle.
Tottenham Hotspur (3-5-2):
Keller; Gardner, Richards (Perry 83), King; Carr, Davies, Toda (Poyet 45), Bunjevcevic, Etherington; Keane, Sheringham. Subs not used: Sullivan (GK), Iversen, Acimovic.
Scoring: Dichio (24) 1-0, Keane (45+1) 1-1, Clement (61) 2-1, Sheringham (63) 2-2, Keane (85) 2-3.
Bookings: West Bromwich Albion - Sigurdsson (dissent 39), Roberts (foul 44). Tottenham Hotspur - Gardner (foul 22), Richards (dissent 60).
Referee: P Dowd (Stoke)
Attendance: 26,899
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