What is it with Albion and bloody TV cameras? I’m sure the BBC have received numerous complaints because I’m sure x-rated content should be screened after the watershed and not on a Sunday afternoon. It all started so well to make matters worse...
Line up
Roman Bednar returned from injury with Youssouf Mulumbu also recalled in midfield as Roberto Di Matteo reverted to 4-5-1 formation which had been so successful since the turn of the year.
Danny Haynes gave a glimpse of things to come in the fifth minute when he picked up the ball in his own half, turned and left Joe Mattock for dead – despite giving the full back a five yard head start! Mattock never recovered.
After both sides had half chances it was Albion who opened the scoring courtesy of their very own superman. Once again Dorrans was at the heart of everything good Albion created. Moments after Brunt had sent in a teasing cross from the left – yes you read that right – which almost resulted in a goal, Zuiverloon found the unmarked Dorrans who smashed the ball across the ‘keeper and in off the post.
The Baggies cruised through the rest of the half with Mulumbu controlling the play from his defensive midfield slot. City’s only resistance came through the dangerous Haynes on the right.
After the break
I’m not sure what Gary Johnson and Roberto Di Matteo said at half time but I know which motivational speech worked after the break. City were rejuvenated. Albion were just shocking.
Gone had the movement and flowing football with Koren and Mulumbu giving the ball away at every opportunity. Frank Nouble, often synonymous in the first half, looked completely out of his depth. Chris Brunt again looked disinterested. Even Graham Dorrans went missing.
It was only time before City equalised. They did ten minutes after the break. Skipper Carey was allowed to run unchallenged by Brunt to the edge of the area with Jonas Olsson blocking his goal-bound effort for a corner. The resulting flag-kick was flicked on by Carey with an unmarked Iwelumo side-footing home from three yards out.
Ten minutes into the second half and the Baggies looked shell shocked. Unfortunately it was to go from bad to worse; four minutes later Albion were behind. Slory, now on for Nouble, lost the ball in City’s half. The winger attempted to win the ball back from Haynes but was unwilling to commit a foul on the half way line. Haynes continued unchallenged as Olsson and Tamas rushed over – anybody know where Mattock was at this point? The winger pulled the ball back behind Tamas and the out of position Zuiverloon with Johnson gratefully slotting home unmarked. A catalogue of errors we would not recover from.
Di Matteo responded by replacing Koren with Cox and Zuiverloon with Wood but Albion were clueless going forward as we lost our shape and slumped to a first defeat on the road since September.
On Reflection
Where did all go wrong for the Baggies? After cruising through the first half Albion were completely overrun after the break. Too many of our players looked mentally and physically tired. We desperately need some new bodies on yesterday’s show. However the new signings haven’t gelled either. Nouble looked lost yesterday. Slory didn’t even look like a footballer!
Still, onwards and upwards...I hope!