Make no mistake, this result was huge for West Bromwich Albion, and it was also deserved. And if it were not for the actions of one block-headed player, it could well have been quite comfortable. As it was, it needed a heroic second half performance for a reshuffled defence, a superbly-taken goal from one of them, and some outstanding goalkeeping from our Pole in Goal.

Ironically, the back four that finished the game should have started it in my opinion. Darren Moore has his strengths, but they are in dealing with a big old-fashioned centre forward, but his weaknesses at this level of football were plain to see at the JJB. He his hopelessly inept at dealing with a quick forward with good movement, which is exactly what he faced in Jason Roberts. That was Robson's one mistake, but he did get a number of things right.

First of all, he got the team in a positive frame of mind before the match and they started the game well. The choice of Kevin Campbell up front would not have been mine, but it proved to be the right one as KC produced his best performance in an Albion shirt this season. Secondly, his half-time team talk must have been inspired. The players are sure to have been down as they came in after Big Dave was dismissed, but they came out after the break with renewed vigour and determination and took Wigan on. The goal was just desserts for Albion's efforts early in the second half.

In reality, Robson's starting line-up virtually picked itself. An injury to Geoff Horsfield meant that he had a choice of Campbell and Earnie to partner Ellington, and there was only really going to be one winner given recent events. The Welsh striker did get a spot on the bench, however, as did young Rob Davies who was in the first team sixteen for the first time. Paul Jewell had similar problems in finding enough fit players although he was boosted by Lee McCulloch being available after passing a late fitness test.

It was a fairly even first half, but Albion had the best of the chances with a volley from Steve Watson testing Pollitt, and a poke from Campbell which flicked off the 'keepers head the closest they came. Kuszczak had little to do, but dealt with everything well including a decent effort from Paul Scharner.

What looked like being the fateful moment for Albion came just two minutes before the break. Having being rightly booked for dragging down McCulloch just after the half hour, he made the inexplicable decision to blatantly obstruct Jason Roberts in the Wigan half (!) and got his second yellow. But then came the fight back.

Ellington, who had been roundly booed by the Wigan fans and largely ineffective, became the fall guy as he was replaced with Albrechtsen to rebuild the back four, with Watson slotting into central defence. Campbell was left up front on his own.

It looked like being a long second half for Albion to try and escape with a point, but far from sitting back, the visitors went for it early in the second half. Campbell came close when his header deflected off Pollitt's shoulder before the 'keeper scooped the ball away. On 56 minutes, Albion grabbed the lead. Wallwork put Scharner under pressure and the Austrian went down claiming a free kick, but Atkinson waved "play on" and Ronnie moved forward with the ball. He then played a simple pass through to Albrechtsen who was motoring up the right flank, and the Dane was in behind and calmly slotted the ball under Pollitt's body.

An onslaught from the home side was expected, but although they had the majority of the possession in the second half, the Albion goal could never be said to be under siege. The Latics had a few near misses - McCulloch hit the bar and Kuszczak made a great save from a Kavanagh free kick, but they were largely restricted to shooting from distance and that tactic never came close to troubling the Pole in Goal.

That was thanks largely to a superb effort by the whole team. Campbell worked supremely hard up front holding the ball up, and Greening and Carter both made efforts to get up in support. When Earnshaw replaced him late on, he too worked hard and Carter pushed up for Kuszczak's clearances to offer a target that the diminutive Welshman cannot. The central midfield pair of Wallwork and Inamoto were constantly harrying the Wigan players and out wide, both Carter and Greening were working hard to support their fullbacks in repelling the attacks down the flanks.

The back four were superb. Robinson was the busier of the full backs defensively and, while he made one or two uncharacteristic errors, he put in a decent display. Albrechtsen did his defensive duties well but was also one of Albion's main attacking outlets as he got forward on the right wing time and time again. Indeed, he really should have done better late on when he was in behind the Wigan defence again. He chose to try and grab his second goal but really should looked for either Carter or Earnshaw who were in better positions. Watson looked comfortable at centre back and may have convinced Robson to start him there until Clement returns or, perhaps, Ehiogu arrives, especially given Moore's conduct. But the real star was Curtis Davies who put in a heroic performance. He dealt with Roberts superbly well and was on hand time and time again to repel balls into the box or make crucial interceptions. He is fast becoming the first name on Bryan Robson's teamsheet, I'm sure.

And then there's Tommy Kuszczak. The young Pole was excellent all afternoon and made a world class save in injury time to deny Jason Roberts as equaliser. The ball fell to Roberts just two yards out and somehow Kuszczak managed to get across the goalline and dived arms outstretched in front of the former Albion striker and blocked his attempt. Many will say that Roberts should have scored anyway, but Tommy made himself big, put Roberts off and kept the ball out.

This was a huge victory for Albion and one that will hopefully give them the confidence to be more positive away from home in the remainder of the season. They have managed to pull five points away from the bottom three, but they need to keep picking up points in this crucial period starting with three points at home to Sunderland next week.


Marks

Tomasz Kuszczak - 8 - Solid throughout and to two superb saves.
Curtis Davies - 9 - MOM. Another outstanding defensive performance.
Darren Moore - 2 - A liability. Two very silly challenges.
Paul Robinson - 6 - One or two mistakes and mistimed challenges, but committed as ever.
Ronnie Wallwork - 7 - Another great performance from Ronnie.
Steve Watson - 8 - Excellent performance.
Darren Carter - 7 - Offered little first half, but worked extremely hard after the break. Some good set pieces as well.
Jonathan Greening - 7 - Better from Jonno. Supported Robinson really well.
Junichi Inamoto - 7 - Calm under pressure; good solid performance.
Kevin Campbell - 8 - Excellent performance from big Kev. Did exactly what was required.
Nathan Ellington - 5 - Never really got in the game.

Martin Albrechtsen - 7 - Excellent finish, worked hard at the back and got forward well.
Robert Earnshaw - 6 - Did OK. One moment when he held on for too long, but generally did what was required.

Bryan Robson - 8 - With a point knocked off for picking Moore in the first place, he must be congratulated for engineering that result with limited resources..




Jon Want, 15th January 2006.