This match was a microcosm of Albion's season. They played very well in patches, defended dreadfully on occasion and ultimately didn't have what it took in the important areas.

The white flag protest, to indicate that the fans believe the club have surrendered to relegation without a fight, was much like the overall occasion, muted. The 24,400 crowd was higher than I expected, buoyed by a sizeable West Ham following, but it took the home fans until midway through the second half to make any real noise, and that was to create their own entertainment when there was little being offered on the pitch. A prolonged rendition of "Proud to be a Baggie" followed by a Mexican Wave at least managed to create some sort of an atmosphere as the Albion players toiled unsuccessfully to provide something more tangible for the fans to get excited about.

After failing to play two strikers in games Albion needed to win, Robson finally decided to do so in what that didn't matter. The starting eleven was not far off what most Albion fans would pick with Ellington and Kanu leading the attack, Gera and Greening on the flanks and Wallwork, back from suspension, partnering Quashie in the middle of the park.

At times, it looked as though Albion might provide some much needed end-of-season cheer, with Greening and Kanu producing some good stuff in the first half. Unfortunately, Ellington's finishing was woeful from some good positions and Kanu got in on the act as well with a wild shot early on after the Hammers' defence had gifted him the ball. After a quiet first half, Gera started to look more like the player we know he is after the break with some excellent long range passes, good skills and determined tackling.

But all of their good play was undermined by the general inability to find the net, and ultimately by some inept defending that presented Reo-Coker with the first half winner for the visitors. After Watson was caught napping by Bobby Zamora, the defence was always in trouble, but the panicky way in which they tried to clear the danger was indicative of a unit low on confidence.

There were a couple of strong penalty appeals that could have made a difference to the evening, but with only two awards in the Premiership this season, I was never too hopeful.

It was surprising that for the first time this season, Robson opted to use none of his substitutes at all - he has used at least two in every other game this season. With Clement due to go under the knife, there was a rare appearance for Williams Martinez on the bench, while two squad ever-presents of recent weeks, Kevin Campbell and Diomansay Kamara, were missing altogether. Perhaps Robson was worried about the reaction that players coming on or off might get, but the crowd was hardly the hostile mob baying for blood that some expected.



Marks

Tomasz Kuszczak - 6 - Kicking was good but one or two dubious moments on crosses.
Martin Albrechtsen - 6 - Did OK, got forward now and again.
Curtis Davies - 6 - Some moments of quality but some not so good.
Paul Robinson - 7 - The one Albion player who always looks committed to the cause; decent performance.
Ronnie Wallwork - 7 - Typical Ronnie performance; neat and tidy.
Steve Watson - 4 - Never looked comfortable; poor mistake for the goal.
Jonathan Greening - 8 - MOM. Best display for a while - some excellent crosses that were not converted.
Nigel Quashie - 6 - Industrious but not inspirational.
Nathan Ellington - 5 - Decent touch, reasonable movement, woeful finishing.
Zoltan Gera - 7 - Good performance, particularly in the second half. Something like the player we know he is.
Nwankwo Kanu - 6 - Some excellent quality, intelligent passing, woeful finishing.

Bryan Robson - 6 - The right starting line-up, for once, but should've given others a run out.


Jon Want, 2nd May 2006.