When Newcastle United are in town you can guarantee two things: bare chested supporters whatever the weather and goals aplenty. And whilst the travelling Toon Army provided the man-boobs, Albion’s aces provided three strikes to warm the bones of The Hawthorns faithful.
With the game moved back to a 1:30pm kick off by Sky it meant we had an early start travelling to The Hawthorns from the south coast, but we were in optimistic mood on the way to the game with the Baggies having a chance of rising to seventh with a victory today. That is if we could keep Andy Carroll quiet!
First Half
Albion started the game impressively, keeping possession comfortably and giving Newcastle barely a sniff in front of goal. However, for all Albion’s slick passing and quick movement, clear-cut chances were at a premium. Jerome Thomas appeared our most creative outlet, and it was clear that he had the beating of the Newcastle right-back Danny Simpson. After 21 minutes the Baggies were gifted a good chance by the aging Sol Campbell whose sluggish clearance cannoned off Somen Tchoyi into the path of the advancing Peter Odemwingie. However, the energetic Nigerian fired just wide from a difficult angle.
In the 32nd minute Albion’s patient passing game paid off, when Somen Tchoyi received the ball at the edge of a crowded Newcastle penalty area. Tchoyi was ice-cool as he jinked past two Newcastle defenders and then curled a shot from just in front of the penalty spot beyond Toon ‘keeper Tim Krul to give the Baggies a deserved lead.
Five minutes later Tchoyi came close to grabbing a second when he wrong footed Sol Campbell with ease and then had a powerful shot saved at the front post.
A great first half from Di Matteo’s boys ended one-nil.
Second Half
The West Brom team were kept waiting on the pitch before the kick off of the second half, and I wondered if Newcastle’s players would ever emerge from the dressing room after enduring a torrid first half.
When they finally did, the buoyant Baggies were once again on the attack and chasing a second goal, with Newcastle defender Steven Taylor nearly heading into his own net after a teasing cross from Jerome Thomas.
Paul Scharner looked impressive at centre-back throughout. He did very well to wipe out Andy Carroll’s aerial threat, and I think he seems like a far better defender than he is a midfielder.
For all Albion’s possession, we still seemed prone to putting ourselves under pressure by giving the ball away too easily, with Gonzalo Jara the culprit on more than one occasion. This led to a fiery confrontation between Scharner and Jara with Scharner visibly furious at the Chilean’s lack of composure. The warning signs were there and Newcastle tried to gain a foothold in the game with Scott Carson denying Steven Taylor’s header from ten yards with a great save.
The game now seemed more open as Newcastle searched for an equaliser. The Albion player’s superior pace was starting to tell, with Somen Tchoyi and Peter Odemwingie a constant menace to a Newcastle defence. On 71 minutes Odemwingie picked up the loose ball after Danny Guthrie stumbled on the half way line, he then ran at the Newcastle defence, and showed them a clean pair of heels before slotting a cool finish into the bottom corner of the net.
Peter Odemwingie was not finished there though and after a through ball from Marek Cech he raced between two lethargic Newcastle defenders with lightning pace and then rounded ‘keeper Tim Krul before firing home a powerful finish from a tight angle to make it 3-0 to the Albion. ‘Saint Peter’ was once again the toast of the Brummie Road and celebrated in style in front of the jubilant Baggies fans behind the goal.
Albion were now playing keep-ball again, but after they lost possession in their own half Newcastle grabbed a consolation goal when Peter Lovenkrads poked one in after Andy Carroll’s header had been saved by Scott Cason.
On reflection
It was a shame to concede a late goal because the defence deserved a clean-sheet, but it couldn’t take the shine of a superb all round performance by the boys. Newcastle finished eleven points above us in the Championship last season, so great credit has to go to Roberto Di Matteo for building a Baggies side that played them off the park today.
Well done lads, fantastic stuff! BRING ON THE VILLA!!!
By David Balderstone