I hate night games, especially in the winter and we’re on tele as we never seem to perform. Oh well, no good moaning, Sky dictate the schedule so might as well get on with it. Right then, hat - check, gloves - check, scarf - check and, most importantly, thermals - check.
When you get to my age it’s more about keeping warm than looking good, even if my Tina Turner hat clashed with my newly acquired 1970s porn star moustache – well it is Movember and sponsorship would be appreciated, ha ha!
Tonight’s game was more about character and getting a result rather than the performance. After playing so well in the last couple of games, but conceding two injury time goals and coming away with nothing against the champions and Newcastle, we needed points.
Good news and bad news with our line up as Jimmy Morrison is rested after picking up a hamstring injury in training, but a welcome return to the midfield for Claudio Yacob. While a fit again Billy Jones is recalled at right back.
Best news of all is Shane Long starting up front even though he’s reportedly suffering with hamstring problems!
Albion don poppys on their shirts to mark Remembrance Sunday and a minute’s silence is impeccably observed by the 25,000 plus crowd.
First half
Southampton kick off and it soon becomes apparent they are comfortable in possession and pass the ball around from side to side and defence to midfield and back again. Billy Jones marks his comeback with a yellow card after a challenge on Lallana which was more reckless than malicious.
Ben Foster takes a goal kick somewhat surprisingly with his right foot which goes directly out of play. Is he carrying an injury or just experimenting? I’d say definitely carrying an injury as he never used his left foot during the whole of the 90 minutes. This just goes to show how important this guy has become and the confidence he must give to the rest of the team.
Albion aren’t as fluent with their passing as usual but don’t give the Saints any room in the middle of the park and soon regain possession once they’ve lost it. We start pushing forward with more purpose and after 20 minutes Gera had the best chance so far but he managed to shoot over when it looked easier to score after some good work from Odemwingie down the right.
Long was the next culprit after Mulumbu had set him free just inside the box his shot ended up high and wide. Odemwingie is looking bright on the right but unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for Dorrans on the other flank, who seems to be trying too hard to regain his form and confidence. It’ll come Dozza, don’t worry.
The game is mainly contested in the middle of the park with Southampton seemingly scared to push too many men forward yet defending in numbers when Albion have the ball. Olsson was marshalling the defence well, while Mulumbu, Yacob and Gera were working tirelessly in midfield and Shane Long causing havoc up front with his running and movement as usual.
On 36 minutes Odemwingie decided it might be third time lucky for him as he cut inside from the right and hit a left foot shot goalwards. The giant Saints keeper Gazzaniga seemed to have it covered only for a defender to stick out his boot and divert the ball in to the bottom corner of the net. 1 – 0
On the stroke of half time Long had a chance to double the lead but a good save from the keeper denied him and the rebound fell to Odemwingie but his shot was blocked.
HALF TIME 1-0
The Baggies kick off the second half with the same personnel, as do the Saints but they make a couple of positional adjustments as they try to get back on level terms. It nearly pays off as Lambert hits the crossbar after only three minutes of the restart but Albion survive. Both teams are full of running and its end to end stuff without really creating anything or seriously testing either keeper. Not one for the TV really so anyone tuning in won’t be very impressed, but at least “WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE”.
With Albion’s defence in one of their mean moods, Southampton seemed to be running out of ideas and started losing faith, although you couldn’t fault their commitment or effort. With Southampton pushing more men forward gaps started to appear behind them. On the hour Yacob exploited this by playing the perfect ball down the line for Long to run on to. After controlling the ball and steadying himself, he delivered the perfect cross for Odemwingie to head home. 2 - 0
This was game set and match as you couldn’t see anyway Southampton could come back from 2 goals down.
Even the travelling fans, who must be commended for making the journey, decided that was it and started to sing, “There’s only one Nigel Adkins” just to reinforce what a tremendous job he has done and quell fears of his dismissal.
Both teams used their allocation of substitutes, Albion to replace tired legs, tighten up at the back and possibly nick another goal on the break whereas Saints were trying to change things and get back in the game. The only notable chance fell to Brunt who arrived late in the box and connected with a sweet left foot volley from Lukaku’s cross but it went well wide.
Saints had the major share of possession but this was mainly restricted to their own half or around the centre circle and a lack of quality in the final third proved to be their undoing. Just like my sex life they fumbled around the box but there was no penetration! That’s why the top teams pay £20 or £30 million pounds for top strikers.
Their play reminded me of our first season back in the top flight when we were playing some lovely free flowing football but couldn’t score and every mistake got punished. What’s more demoralising is you play really well and lose, then when you have an off day you get thumped 4 or 5-0.
This shows just how far Albion have come since then, not only on the field but off it as well. We’ve got a head coach who’s tactically aware and quality international players who are buying in to his ideas and this shows with each performance. It’s early days yet but being fifth in the league is more than we could ever have imagined, even though Clarkey won’t get carried away and he insists that only after we reach 40 points that he start looking at setting other goals.
Happy days, Wigan here we come, COYB.
FAZWBA
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