Following the postponement of the Black Country derby a week ago, Albion came into the Boxing Day clash on the back of a 2-1 defeat at old foes Villa. We have not won on Boxing Day in the Premier League, so the trip to ever improving Bolton promised to be a tough one.
The Baggies started in usual fashion with a 4-5-1 set up. Carson, Jara, Scharner, Tamas, Cech, Mulumbu, Brunt, Dorrans, Morrison, Tchoyi & Odemwingie. No Thomas as illness ruled the winger out.
PRE MATCH
Four of us boarded the Black Country Albion coach up north with Christmas leftovers accompanying us and the rest of the Albion supporters on the motorway. A slightly warmer Christmas climate than previous weeks saw an air of optimism that we would get at least a point at The Reebok. The possible day’s events were discussed in Baldy Bob’s pub just outside Manchester where we also consumed some ‘on the house’ Lancashire hotpot.
We arrived at the ground in plenty of time, unfortunately the plumbers didn’t as quite a few of the Reebok’s loos were out of action (due to the age old pipe freeze we were told). We were on row Z so realized we could stand up all game which is always nice in my opinion.
FIRST HALF
Albion we’re the better side, created many opportunities and ultimately left us extremely frustrated. A couple of superb Odemwingie chances saw the Baggies head into the break without anything to show for their creativity ability. Not only this, the boys in the stripes were 1-0 down. A now rare Matt Taylor goal from a Lee cutback, where it looked like he had given himself too much to do, put the hosts ahead going into the break.
We Albion fans were right to feel hard done by. The Baggies were artistic at times in their approach and a poor Odemwingie pass was Bolton’s only hope as Albion broke down the right, only for their dreams to be realized when Pistol Pete’s wasteful centre found Jussi Jaaskelainan.
Another great chance saw the front man, turn inside the area and with the goal gaping he shot horribly wide. Bolton had some pressure though and Elmander should have done better when with only the keeper to beat inside the area, he shot well over the bar.
SECOND HALF
Albion fans, rightfully so based on our first half display, thought we could get back into the game in the second period. Despite having plenty of opportunities, we just could not put the ball where it matters most, the back of the net. Brunt was desperately unlucky when his near post header smacked the bar and with the Bolton keeper scrambling the ball was eventually cleared despite the agony from the away support. Peter Odemwingie once again wasted a superb chance to level when he had a one on one chance and cut it wide from inside the area. Johan Elmander then put an unjust game to bed when he slotted home and the second time of asking from a tight angle, slipping the ball under Scott Carson’s body at the near post to settle the match. To make matters invariably worse Chris Brunt’s late clip of a Bolton heel whilst attempting to break up a Bolton advance ensures that he will be ineligible to face Blackburn on Tuesday. I’m sure you are all thinking what I am thinking…we could have done without that.
ON REFLECTION
It was a day of continuing poor records unfortunately. No Albion points on Boxing Day in the Premier League and every time I have been to the Reebok I have never seen us even score a goal – four and counting. A good performance overall, just finishing cost us again.
Here’s hoping we can put it right against Blackburn Rovers!
WBAMATT