The Baggies’ first friendly on their Scandinavian trip was played against Swedish top club Malmo FF at “Swedbank Stadion” on Thursday night. Malmo FF are currently second in the Swedish Premiership, “Allsvenskan”, which is almost mid-season by now.
They have also a great history in Swedish football with numerous titles in “Allsvenskan” and also many cup triumphs, and one international achievement worth mentioning: they lost the final of the old European cup against Nottingham Forest in 1979 (0-1, Trevor Francis scored). Roy Hodgson was manager of the club in the late 1980s and won many titles.
First half
The Baggies started with: Myhill, Jones, Tamas, McAuley (C), Hurst, Jara, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Roofe, Odemwingie and Fortuné.
Neither Malmo nor WBA fielded a regular starting XI, but Malmo were inspired and the better team during most parts of the first half. They took the lead already in the 8th minute through Alexander Nilsson who finished cooly alone with Myhill. There were suspicions of offside but it was probably a correct goal.
In the 15th minute Dorrans got a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the penalty area, but Odemwingie’s shot was weak. Odemwingie (most of the times) and Fortuné ran offside quite a few times during the first half, we also had some corners but there were no real chances of scoring in the first half, to be honest.
In the 23th and 24th minute we got two bookings, Hurst and Tamas.
Mulumbu fed Fortuné with a good through ball in the 33th minute, but Fortuné wasted it the opportunity.
Mulumbu and Dorrans were Albion’s star men of a first half with no real bite and low tempo.
Second half
Ridgewell and Morrison came on and Jara (who was totally invisible in the first half) and Roofe came off.
The rain started falling and with that a rejuvenated Albion appeared, more decisive and pegging Malmo deep down in their own half. Fortuné was fed by Hurst, spun round and his shot was blocked by the keeper for a corner.
In the 53th minute a good shot by Dorrans was saved for another corner. From the set piece Ridgewell headed inches over the crossbar. A minute after that, Odemwingie got away from three Malmo players and saw his shot saved by the ‘keeper.
In the 74th minute we saw some of the pace of El Ghanassy when he moved into shooting position, but the shot was easily saved though.
From the 82nd to the 92nd minute we saw three or four good manoeuvres from Berahino which should have resulted in at least one goal, but they either just missed the goal or the keeper made sharp saves, particularly one in the top far corner.
The second half was almost one-way traffic and we should have equalized and maybe even more but we lacked the final touch and the real bite up front, which is understandable in the first friendly of the season.
Many substitutions were made during the second half, the following came on: Mantom, Reid (replaced McAuley as captain), Berahino, Allan and El Ghanassy. Mulumbu, McAuley, Fortuné, Odemwingie and Dorrans came off.
The best plaudits go to the ubiquitous Mulumbu, Dorrans, Morrison and Berahino.
The best Malmo player of the second half was their keeper, no doubt about that.
Myhill didn’t have that much to do and Tamas and McAuley looked pretty solid.
On reflection
Attendance 3128 and about 3-400 Baggies who were quite vociferous. The local newspaper stated that they did a good job and were heard more than the home supporters. They also wrote that the chanting of the Baggies fans was the only thing of Premier League class during the game.
Did you see Albion's pre-season defeat? Have your say here at Baggies Banter.