|I’m getting a sense of Deja Vu, having written the report when we won 2-0 at The Hawthorns back in February in the week we blew our vast unbeaten run with a limp display at Bristol City. One thing that will change is that Stu Armstrong won’t be Man of the Match this time.
Having doubled both Leeds and West Brom and drawn both games with Norwich we should be sitting pretty for a speedy return to the Prem. Of course, football will have its way, and many a slip between cup and lip could see any of these four sides going up.
Before we kick off, Norwich entertain Leeds at Carrow Road, with the Yorkshire side winning both games against the Canaries during the season. If you think we’ve had odd results, Norwich’s have been much weirder, losing to crap sides yet regularly taking points off top-half sides. If that game is close, the second leg might still see either side getting to Wembley.
West Brom finished 5th but 12 points below SFC. Our five-game form is identical: W L L L W, which is typical of the Championship, but our head-to-head record and last-day domination of Leeds may make them a little wary of pressing us as we play out from the back.
I really don’t know much about the current Baggies squad, but they seem to share the goals about. Only Thomas-Asante has clocked double figures this season, so I guess he is their “danger man”.
The referee is Sam Barrott, who has taken charge of 41 games this season (15 Prem, 21 Champ + 5 cup ties), and is one of the rising stars of PGMOL, so should be decent. He is from West Yorkshire; we must hope he is not a Leeds fan seeking revenge…
At least Saints will be maximising their chances by wearing the lovely Dandelion and Black third kit.
|West Brom don’t appear to have any significant injuries but may just be keeping their cards close to their chests.
Russ has only Larios and Stu Armstrong missing though Ché Adams may not have a whole ninety minutes in him. It seems he and Stewart may both be involved, with one replacing the other as our central striker. The 3-5-2 that won at Leeds may get another go in the Black Country.
Indeed, Ché was not named in the squad, but he is hoped to be fit for Friday’s home leg. Mara came in as the only change to the side at Leeds. The Baggies were unchanged from their final day stuffing of Preston.
Alex McCarthy did well today
|Our game closely followed the 0-0 draw between Norwich and Leeds. Prutts, with a team of 4 studio pundits, of whom only Billy Sharp was a friendly face, looked bored stiff. They pretty much agreed West Brom were much better at Home than Away, and needed to take a lead to our gaff next Friday. Gary Weaver and Andy Hinchcliffe were the commentators. They advised that Russ had faced Carlos Corberan 5 times and had never lost…
We kicked off but immediately lost the ball and spent several minutes under the cosh. WBA were in their usual 4-2-3-1, but with their backline pushed up, the game was played in and around our box. They won 3 quick corners, but we survived them and blocked a couple of shots before Joe fouled Townsend, but Asante put his shot wide. Our first attempt to playout was foiled by their press but this early dominance ended with a wayward shot by Johnstone.
This goal kick saw Saints gradually build from the back and knock the ball around. We won our first corner on 9m when KWP and Will forced Kipre to concede. Manning’s short corner went wrong, but KWP's quick thinking saw Townsend concede another. This time, the ball was swung in, and THB rose but couldn’t get his header on target.
The Baggies were still dangerous on the break and had a long-throw specialist in Furlong. His first effort into the centre of the box saw McC rise above all comers and punch it away. Furlong’s cross moments later found Yokuslu, but he stuck his header wide. Asante was then flagged offside, allowing us to regain the ball.
It was a hot afternoon, and having set off like a runaway train, WBA were increasingly forced to chase the ball as we got our passing game going. Russ must have enjoyed seeing our share of the ball rise past theirs. On 15m, Joe fed KWP, whose shot hit Townsend and went out for a corner. Will’s cross found Downes, whose shot flew just wide. We won 2 more corners in quick succession, but the pressure was released when Cap’n Jack fouled Townsend.
It was now West Brom penned back as we recovered the ball more quickly. Furlong’s foul on Mara allowed us to get at them again, and Joe set up Mara, but his shot was blocked. Two minutes later, the French lad played in Downes on the left. He hit a fierce low drive, which looped up off the keeper’s leg and dropped close to the back stick. Adam tried to volley the ball, caught it well enough, but hit the side netting. Close - but no cigar!
We then had the novelty of a mid-half drinks break which saw both coaches giving advice and waving their arms about as precious fluid was consumed. Back to business and the revitalised Home team launched an attack down their left. Johnston made room to put in a cross, but again, Alex McCarthy rose to collect it. We’re not used to it, but it was most welcome.
On the half hour, Flynn pressured Diangana into giving us another corner. This came in and was knocked on by THB to Mara, who connected but sent his shot just over. On 33m WBA got their best chance so far. Aribo fouled Diangana on their right side. Fellows put in a cross, which Diangana headed down near the back post. McC had retreated along his line and got down quickly to block it. Thankfully, Downes was on hand to turn it out for a corner.
Mowatt found Bartley with his cross, but the big defender's header was well wide. Soon after, Downes was booked for blocking off Johnson. It seemed harsh, as there had been worse fouls, but who knows what goes on between a referee’s ears? The free kick was just out of shooting range. Again, they found the head of Bartley, but his header was caught by Alex McC.
A break by Diangana required Jack to get after him and concede a throw. In it came again from Furlong (about the length of one of his throws) but our keeper was out to claim it again. A speculative long ball upfield saw AA running into space, but the lino’s flag was up. Our next attack saw Townsend clatter KWP (no yellow for this), who stayed down as the medics came on. He gingerly left the field afterwards as the game continued.
Will swung in the free kick, which Bartley headed behind. Will went over to the left to take this. His cross found THB, whose header was going in till Palmer tipped it over, then clattered into Bartley, who was flattened. The big man needed time to recover.
Three added minutes were mostly played in their half, with AA missing the one chance created. When West Brom did get forward, we won the ball and launched it forward again, only for AA to be flagged offside - again. Half time: 0-0.
There were no halftime changes, and the game resumed with us keeping the ball and them getting forward as soon as they won it back. Joe got into a good position on the edge of the box, but the ball hit his hand as he drove between two defenders. At the other end, Johnson pulled back a cross from their left, which sailed over everyone and out for a throw.
We were playing in their half now, but a Manning header sailed wide before Joe had a shot blocked. Soon after, Johnson was booked for a foul on Mara. From the free kick Aribo was immediately tripped by Yokuslu but not booked. Adam needed treatment for a face wound but had to leave the pitch to get it properly dressed.
As the hour mark approached West Brom stepped it up again. Johnson tried to go past THB, who saw him off before Owatt took a pot shot that missed. Their next attack saw KWP concede a corner which Bedders headed away. Johnston put it back in the mixer, where Furlong stuck it wide.
Adam came back on and was soon flagged offside before Bartley pulled up while escorting the ball back to his keeper. The Ref decided to hold another drinks break as he was being seen to. The game resumed, but both benches were getting substitutes ready. WBA got a throw, which Furlong hurled into the box, and McC claimed again. He must be pissing them right off…
Then KWP had to give away another corner, which landed right on Bartley’s head in the centre of the box. He either didn’t see it clearly, or his hammy was impeding him as he planted his header well away from the target. Then, the subs made their entrance.
Russ blinked first, replacing Adam, Mara and Bad Manners with Loch Ness Drogba, Brooks and our Wee Man. It looked like 4-3-3 from hereon, but it was moot whether Cap’n Jack or Fraser was left back. Both did a share of defending.
Yokuslu then conned the Ref by colliding with THB on the edge of our box and going over; free kick and a yellow card?? FFS! We were advised this was “Alex Mowatt Territory” before he stuck his shot into the Saints fans behind the goal.
Our next two ventures forward resulted in a corner they cleared and LND being flagged offside.
Baggies' next attack was probably their best chance when Fellows got to the byline and pulled it back. Diangana ran onto it and struck it hard. McC’s position was good, and he not only stopped it but held the ball too. We went right up the other end and had our best chance. Stewart ran out to the left to collect a pass from Brooks, then cut inside his marker. He took aim and shot as Palmer dived to his left. Then the ball deflected off a defender and changed direction, but Palmer got his boot in the way and stopped a certain goal. Save of the match, right there!
Yokuslu pulled up soon after and could not continue. Corberan responded with four changes at once. Ajayi came on for the injured player, and then M’Vila, Wallace, and Swift came on for Asante, Johnson, and Fellows. This gave them fresh legs, presumably to try and wrest an advantage to take South.
The Saints had a corner that hit a defender near the post. The ball looped up but dropped safely into the keeper’s gloves. Instead of a furious finish, both sides were now playing more controlled football. Neither wanted to concede a late goal, and the ball rarely left the central third as the clock clicked towards 90m.
Townsend got a shot away, but we blocked it, and the cagey midfield tussle resumed. As +6m were shown, WBA made their last change, Reach on for Townsend. Albion had two last attacks; one resulted in a corner, which we dealt with, and the last effort from Reach flew past McC’s post.
That was that. All back to ours Friday, and neither the baggies nor Norwich had got a lead from their home leg. Advantage to Saints and Leeds then…
A clean sheet was well-earned and will put West Brom at a disadvantage at SMS. Unsurprisingly, it was our defenders who earned the most plaudits. The three centre-backs were generally sound, and when they made errors, they quickly rectified them. The wingbacks were OK, and when Wee Man replaced Manning, he again showed an appetite for defending. Flynn was his usual imperious self, but his yellow card rather reduced his last-ditch tackle rate. The front 4 played their part, and Loch Ness Drogba looked up for it during his time from the bench.
However, I was most impressed by our keeper. McCarthy will never be entirely comfortable with the ball at his feet but he got his hands to pretty much everything he needed to. He made a couple of important saves but took control when crosses or long throws came into our box, effectively nullifying a key West Brom threat. Well played Alex McCarthy, you are my Man of the Match.
Ross Stewart got some more competitive minutes under his belt, replacing Adam Armstrong in the 72' and almost scoring
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