Before kick-off, like many Albion fans I’m sure, I was a little pessimistic as the Sky TV cameras finally focused onto the action instead of talking to that Scottish dwarf Billy Davies. After the debacle against Forest last week I was pleased to see Di Matteo ring the changes. Both full-backs were dropped in favour of Cech and Jara with Mulumbu and Koren coming into the midfield with Roman Bednar the lone striker.
Kick-Off
Despite any nerves which may have been in place it was Albion who started the game brighter than the hosts. The Baggies’ five-man midfield was working to perfection with Koren and Dorrans providing the creativity, Mulumbu picking up the pieces and Brunt and Thomas offering Albion width – something we desperately lack at home for some reason!
However it was Newcastle who threatened first when Nolan fed in Ameobi who slid the ball across Albion’s box only inches away from Lovenkrands’ foot. The opening stages saw a number of personal battles begin with Ameobi fouling Tamas twice from behind yet somehow escaping a booking for an automatic caution. Referee Paul Taylor was being too influenced by the home fans for my liking and surprisingly showed Tamas a yellow-card for a block on Ameobi after committing his first foul of the game.
Despite Newcastle’s early chance it was the Baggies who dominated the first 15 minutes. The Toon were pegged back in their half as Albion created triangles to play between. Brunt and Thomas looked threatening on the flanks with Dorrans and Koren expertly supporting Bednar when the chance arose. It was Koren and Dorrans who linked up for Albion’s next chance when Jara fed the Slovenian captain who pulled the ball back from the byline to Dorrans who saw his goal-bound effort deflected over by Taylor. Once again however Referee Taylor dismayed the visiting players by awarding a goal-kick!
The Baggies were looking threatening and deservedly took the lead in the 14th minute. After Newcastle had failed to clear a Chris Brunt corner the ball found its way out to Graham Dorrans on the left. The Scottish international initially waited for his opportunity to cross before whipping in a delightful centre which Jonas Olsson did fantastic to deftly flick on with his left boot into the far corner. Albion 1-0 up and looking a different side to one which surrendered against Forest.
After the opener the Baggies were still conceding too many free-kicks around our box with Referee Taylor more than willing to meet the shouts of the home fans when a black and white jersey fell to the floor. This time Mulumbu adjudged to have pulled down Ameobi 25-yards out. Guthrie placed the ball down; while Carson arranged his wall to cover his left-hand post. Mulumbu may not have been guilty in the build-up to the free-kick being awarded but he was when he ducked under the free-kick as the ball sailed past a stranded Carson to level the scores. Although the kick was aimed at Carson’s side I don’t think he could’ve saved it IMO. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and accept a quality goal.
Albion regrouped and were close to scoring a free-kick of their own. After Mulumbu had wriggled his way past Nolan and was brought down by Smith following a challenge with his studs showing, Brunt whipped the ball around the wall but missed the target by six inches.
Following Amoebi’s weak header at Carson from a rare United attack, Albion almost snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time when Dorrans dispossessed Enrique on the halfway line. The midfielder slid Thomas in who dropped his shoulder once, cut back inside on the left then jinked again before side-footing an effort towards the corner of the goal. With Taylor now dizzy, the defender stuck out a leg which deflected the ball towards the opposite corner. Harper adjusted his feet excellently a managed to finger-tip the ball around the post.
Second Half
After an impressive 45 minutes the Baggies regained the lead inside 35 SECONDS of the second period. Cech fed Dorrans down the left who had acres of space to advance in. With Thomas outside as an option, the Scotsman continued into the area before chipping in another inviting centre with Roman Bednar glad fully waiting on the end of the cross. The striker, having his best game in an Albion shirt for months, powerfully headed the ball downwards with Harper making a fine save before the ball bounced back off the bar giving the forward an easy header to send Albion fans across the country into raptures! Boing Boing.
Albion had a spring in their step again. Two-touch passes saw Newcastle chase shadows again with the Baggies posing a real threat on the counter attack. Brunt came within inches of making it three following a well-worked free-kick with Koren in the 54th minute. Had that gone the other side of Harper’s post it would’ve been game over.
Back came United however with Lovenkrands somehow beating Carson at this near post with a header from 12 yards. Despite Gonzalo Jara playing the ball off Gutierrez, United were awarded a throw-in which was worked back to Enrique who crossed to find the unmarked head of the Newcastle striker. Despite the ball not having a vast amount of power or pace, Carson was already heading towards his far post and was unable to stop the ball crossing the line as he fumbled it into the net. An error by the Albion keeper whichever way you look at it.
With the Geordie fans again in full voice referee Taylor went card crazy with Bednar booked for receiving a kick to the shin! Olsson for a 50-50 challenge from the side and Gonzalo Jara for winning the ball of the theatrical Gutierrez – who was only too willing to show off his vast array of rolls.
For me the game then turned in Newcastle’s favour when Roberto Di Matteo decided to introduce Ishmael Miller in favour of the excellent Roman Bednar. The striker was somewhat dismayed to see his number displayed after playing his best game in an Albion shirt for at least a season!
After Carson had somewhat made up for his earlier error by saving from Nolan and then from a deflected Jonas Olsson clearance, the referee finally decided to take action after another Amoebi foul. Following on from the forward elbowing Tamas during an aerial clash, the striker made another tackle from behind. The TV cameras focused on the ref who clearly counted five fouls on his fingers before issuing a booking. Shocking officialdom in my opinion!
Albion regrouped and created two excellent chances inside the last ten minutes. First Brunt whipped over a great cross with his right foot to find Jonas Olsson at the back post. The giant defender headed the ball back across goal but a foot too high over the bar. Thomas, who had been much quieter in the second-half, then turned Simpson inside and out before sliding the ball across the six yard box to Ishmael Miller only three yards out. Presented with an open goal, the striker somehow pulled his effort onto the post much to the delight of the home crowd and the dismay of Albion fans. The rebound was easily blocked and the danger was over.
With four minutes of added time presented it was Newcastle who pushed for the winner with Gutierrez breaking before pulling the ball back to Carroll. Marek Cech however intercepted moments before the striker pulled the trigger. In the final minute Carson was again called into action palming Taylor’s goal-bound free-kick around the post.
On reflection
This was a much better performance from Albion. The Baggies controlled the game for long periods and were a threat throughout. The pros far outweighed the cons with every Albion player showing fighting spirit and a sense of commitment. Play like this for the rest of the season and there won’t be too many more disappointments.