The day started off in usual fashion arriving to a packed and hot Sportsman for a few beers before kick off. After the disappointing and frustrating defeat at The Reebok Stadium Roberto Di Matteo chose to replace Marek Cech with Nicky Shorey and Jerome Thomas in for the suspended Chris Brunt in the starting line up.
First half
Albion got off to the game in positive fashion but pushed too far forward inside the third minute. Nikola Kalinic found space in the absence of Gonzalo Jara while Scott Carson dilly-dallied and was – not for the first time this season – caught in two minds as the forward rushed towards goal. In the end he too was caught in no man’s land and ended picking the ball out of his net as Albion suffered a nightmare start.
The goal didn’t seem to knock our confidence however as we pushed forward in menacing fashion. James Morrison and Graham Dorrans looked threatening as both found space on occasions between the opposition’s midfield and defence. However, once again our final ball found a Blackburn foot as the opposition defended narrowly and we ignored the option to go wide first time.
The one time our midfield did create a clear cut chance Dorrans was denied by an excellent save from Paul Robinson in the Blackburn goal. Robinson had done what Carson had failed to do when called upon for the first time.
Our equaliser came from our natural width when Somen Tchyoi – who up to that point had failed to control the ball when rolled to his feet – found his footing and rolled a fantastic low cross across the six-yard box to find Jerome Thomas sliding in at the back post to pull us level.
There was only one team in the game at this point. Albion pushed forward in numbers with the clever runs of Dorrans and Morrison creating chances Albion failed to convert. The Baggies went into half time looking the probable winners after a comfortable first half marred by the opening three minutes.
After the break
Albion were given a boost when Paul Robinson was replaced by a very small looking Mark Bunn after the break. The hosts again pushed forward and looked the more likely to take the lead, and eventually the three points.
Odemwingie was next to try his luck as he raced on to a through ball and fired a left foot effort towards goal that Bunn parried around the post for a corner.
But for all Albion’s possession and attacking threat it was poor defending which again cost us in the 53rd minute. Blackburn won three corners in succession which Albion failed to clear. The first two were short and cut out immediately with the third fired long to the back post where Ryan Nelson was waiting. Nelson lost Odemwingie and headed back across goal to find Kalinic to head home into an empty net. Not for the first time this season Albion had had all of the play, the majority of the chances, yet found themselves behind and needing to salvage a point.
Just as in the first half Albion again pushed forward searching for an equaliser. By this stage Morrison and Tchyoi had drifted out of the game – the former having his worst afternoon in an Albion shirt.
Minutes after Carson had almost gifted Rovers a third following poor control, the visitors had the third goal needed to kill off the game. Again Albion failed to clear properly from a corner, the ball was fed wide to Diouf who crossed for his namesake to score a free header. Albion’s defence were all over the place!
Blackburn’s danger man Kalinic was then shown his marching orders for an horrendous late challenge on Paul Scharner to give the Baggies a glimmer of hope. But by now the confidence and desire had gone from Albion’s game – although we still pressed forward for an equaliser. Morrison was replaced by Cox and Barnes came on for the disappointing Jara – but neither made any impact; although Cox should’ve scored a free header from a yard out!
Paul Scharner hit the crossbar with a header and Tchyoi somehow failed to score the resulting tap-in as the game came to a close. Albion’s misery was then compounded when Gabriel Tamas was turned as last man and clinically sliced down Diouf as he ran towards goal. It was no surprised he was shown his marching orders.
On reflection
This was a game we should’ve won and could’ve easily had we again been more clinical in front of goal. Our defending at times was comical. To give one free header away in our area is inexcusable, to give two is simply appalling. Once again we’ve given teams a head start then shown we really should be beating them.
Too many players underperformed and let their head’s drop yesterday. Only Scharner and Shorey came out of the back five with any sort of credibility. Dorrans, Thomas and the excellent Mulumbu from the midfield – although both JT and Youssouf went missing as the game went on. Odemwingie up front offered little and missed the chances which came his way.
With the January transfer window now only days away from opening thoughts will turn to who can strengthen our squad. Rumours of John Carew – who I think could do a job – still circulate, although the club has played down a move for the Villa man. Ideally we need another centre-back until Olsson returns. Olly might not have won us the game yesterday but he demands high standards from his teammates. He also organises the defence at set pieces. I’m sure he’d have had something to say about yesterday’s school boy errors. Jara also costs us too many goals. I’m not sure his natural position is at right back. He’s too quick to go forward and gives the ball away in dangerous areas.
We’re quickly being dragged into a relegation fight after a fantastic start. In my opinion Di Matteo needs to bring in new faces just to get the squad back on their toes. At the moment Odemwingie knows if he’s fit he’ll play. Another quality striker at the club might well have seen him take one of his chances yesterday.