Going into the game Albion fans were in good spirits and hoping to carry on the good run of form we have been on of late. We were all hoping Bednar and Dorrans would be able to play to make the 4-5-1 formation as effective as could be, but not many Baggies were focusing on the team sheet as they were more bothered about Derby vs Forest - a game we really hoped Derby would win. As we took our seats about fifteen minutes before kick-off we heard Derby had scored and who else to score it but Rob Hulse. Then, as the players came out, the announcement was made that Derby had won and the roar went up. If we won we knew we’d be two points behind Forest with a game in hand and we were back in the title race.
First Half
The game started well and it was lively with both teams trying to attack. With Dorrans and Mulumbu finding yards and yards of space we could attack all day long, and with Thomas running at his man and beating him like he wasn’t even there, it was hard to see the Blades getting into the game. Brunt was helping attack and defence providing cover for Cech when it was needed, and Olsson and Tamas looked a class act at the back again.
With sixteen minutes gone on the clock Dorrans found the ball at his feet and in the box. The ball looped up and hit the Sheffield United player’s arm, the referee was well positioned and pointed to the spot. Dorrans stepped up aiming for his eleventh of the season and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way and it was one-nil to the Baggies. Albion then went on a hunt for the second with balls aimed at Bednar to knock down for the midfield, and finally the plan paid off on thirty-one minutes, with Thomas running down the wing and putting Bednar in on goal. He calmly slotted the ball past Mark Bunn and in.
Scott Carson was not troubled in the first half with only a save to make and few kicks down field that were aimed well with Olsson and Tamas making some very good challenges - it was hard to see how we were going to concede! Not many more chances came in the first half with Bednar having some great chances overall; the best coming three minutes from half time when he rounded Mark Bunn but could only find the side netting.
Second Half
The half didn’t take long to get going. Four minutes in Sheffield United on the attack in the box with Mulumbu adjudged to have brought down Quinn, a decision that didn’t look totally correct in many peoples’ books. Henderson stepped up and smashed the ball down the middle past Carson. The Blades were back in the game but Thomas wasn’t having that and ran down his wing with pace eventually found himself in the box after cutting inside on his favoured foot and hit it. It took a deflection off a defender, looped up over and past Bunn’s out stretched hand. Fifty three seconds after the Blades thought they were back in it they had it all to do again!
The game slowed down a little and the Blades were trying to take a little more control over the game. This never really happened and with tempers running high a scrap broke out with the referee only deciding to book Jara and the Sheffield United player. The chances were still coming and yet again a scrap broke out but this time no cards were shown. Thomas, who was tormenting the defence yet again, was given the ball from a cross-field Zuiverloon pass, he ran into the box and squared it about four yards out on a plate for any-one that wanted it but no-one was there. Game over. Albion 3-1 winners.
On Reflection
We seem to have found our best team and, if they can all stay fit, we have a great chance of going up. Dorrans along with Thomas look like top-flight players and their danger could see us being a team to really fear home and away. Forest and Newcastle should be looking over their shoulder worried at what we could do next! I think we are in the best position out of the three with less pressure on us because we have nothing to lose.