I must admit that I didn’t get to see or hear as much of the game on Saturday as I would’ve wished. I was at a family party so had to follow the score on Soccer Saturday with the volume turned down. Phil Thompson is difficult enough to understand at the best of times, but with the sound down I had to go by the reaction of the Tottenham fans behind him to see how we were doing.
It seemed at the time like we were doing a good job of containing Spurs until a deflected effort beat Foster. But once again our never-say-die attitude shone through to earn us a point. James Morrison’s cool side-foot finish not only bagged a credible draw but it also highlighted the commitment the eleven men wearing red shirts have for the club.
To see all eleven players celebrate as if they’d won the FA Cup is a sight not very often witnessed in a Premier League game held in late August. You could see the joy on the faces of Mulumbu and Foster as they embraced mid-air that Albion’s unbeaten start to the season was going to continue for at least another week.
All too often on radio phone-ins and messageboards you hear about fans questioning the commitment of their players. After Saturday’s late equaliser I’m not sure you could question how much the players care about results or the club. Villa and Wolves fans would die to see that level of commitment at present.
The celebrations also reflect the level of morale in the camp. James Morrison, in his post-match interview, revealed his pleasure that Steve Clarke had not changed too much behind the scenes after his arrival.
I continue to be impressed with Clarke. After he choose an attacking 4-3-3 formation against Liverpool last week, the new head coach adopted a more defensive mindset with Graham Dorrans and the hard-working Marc-Antonie Fortune deployed on the flanks.
Tonight at Yeovil provides a different challenge for Clarke. If, as expected, he decides upon widespread changes it’ll give Albion’s fringe players the chance to impress. Hopefully we’ll continue to see Albion’s fighting spirit tonight at Huish Park by the likes of El Ghanassy and Rosenberg.
COME ON YOU BAGGIES!
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