In Albion’s final away game of the season Roberto Di Matteo named an unchanged side for the third game in a row. Scott Carson managed to recover from the injury which forced him off at half-time against ‘Boro with Simon Cox again supporting Roman Bednar from an advanced midfield position. In a must win game the hosts, Palace strangely matched Albion’s 4-5-1 formation.
First Half
Despite both teams only having one forward it was clear that neither team had arrived with the intention of settling for a draw. As expected Palace started the better of the teams knowing a victory would secure their Championship status for another season. However it was the Baggies who threatened first when Chris Brunt’s delicious left-wing cross was bundled in by Simon Cox. The Bate household roared in joy but our excitement was quickly short lived with the linesman flagging for a foul against Cox. Replays showed the frontman had used his arm in a Superman/Maradona fashion to score – although the replay also showed a shove in the back for the former Swindon man. Cox was booked for deliberate handball.
The scrappy opening to the game was marred by a number of needless fouls around the Albion area. One such free-kick in the 17th minute saw Palace take the lead. Ambrose floated over an inviting free kick from the right which was turned into his own net by Steven Reid. What the right-back was trying to succeed I’m unsure but the goal lifted Palace and Selhurst Park crowd found its voice.
Minutes later the home fans were subdued when Gabriel Tamas scored his second goal in Albion colours when the central defender headed home a Chris Brunt free-kick at the near post. Considering the defender was having his shirt pulled in all directions by his Palace marker he did fantastic to guide the ball in at the near post.
Palace came back with their own opportunity with Scott Carson first denying Neil Danns with a point blank save before seeing Calvin Andrews heading wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.
Albion responded with the lively Cox leaving his marker for dead following a one-two with Roman Bednar before seeing a rasping drive palmed away by Julian Speroni in the Palace goal. Unfortunately for Albion this was to become a regular occurrence when the Baggies threatened the home goal! From the resulting corner Brunt played a short pass to Dorrans who shimmied his way to the byline before dinking a left footed cross to Roman Bednar who headed his effort against the crossbar. The ball fell to Robert Koren who somehow saw his effort go over the crossbar from two yards out!
Despite Palace needing the points it was Albion in the ascendancy pushing forward for a second. Brunt cut inside and passed to Bednar on the edge of the area with the front man playing a delightful ball back into the winger’s path. However in a one-and-one situation Brunt fired the ball at the legs of Speroni and away to safety.
Before the break the Palace ‘keeper made another fantastic save to push over a long-range Dorrans volley before being helpless as Roman Bednar ran on to a pass from the Scotsman with the Czech curling his left-foot effort disappointingly wide. Another gilt-edge chance wasted by the Baggies.
After the break
Albion could’ve made an immediate impact only seconds into the second half. Jonas Olsson strode unopposed into the Palace half and played a long ball forward to Simon Cox. The front man could only scoop his effort over when clear of the defence – although he was wrongly flagged offside. Seconds later Bednar was again wrongly flagged offside when clear through. Two terrible decisions as the officials were quickly losing control of an ever increasing fiery match.
Robert Koren had Albion’s next chance when the ball fell to him from a Chris Brunt corner. The Slovenian captain hit a solid half-volley but again the effort was directed straight at the Palace stopper.
Albion were looking dangerous every time they pressed forward. Next to try and find a way past Speroni was Bednar who wasnthrough on goal following a glorious long ball from Gabriel Tamas. However the Czech striker tried to round the on-coming stopper instead of shooting earlier and was forced wide. With Cox calling for the ball on the edge of the area Roman decided to cross for the marked Koren and the ball was again cleared.
Palace were there for the taking but showed a glimpse of life when defender McCarthy headed just wide at the back post. Albion captain Scott Carson has been in fine form recently but his reluctance to leave his line and collect the ball inside his six-yard box nearly cost us dear.
The disappointing Koren was replaced with Giles Barnes moments after Palace brought on another forward, Alan Lee, to try and find a winner. Lee was in the action for all the wrong reason seconds after his introduction when the forward pole-axed Jonas Olsson from behind. The linesman aggressively flagged drawing the alert of referee Whitestone who blew for a foul. With Olsson left sprawled out on the turf surely the official would dismiss the Palace forward for violent conduct? No. Not even a booking. Had you done this on a Saturday night outside a pub you’d be convicted of assault!
Lee was in the action again when he bullied his way past Jonas Olsson but saw his goalbound effort palmed away by Scott Carson. The effort brought the home crowd back to life as they sensed an unlikely winner despite being on the back foot for most of the game.
However it was Albion who again had another effort saved by Speroni. Graham Dorrans danced his way into the area past three Palace players before toe-poking the ball to Marek Cech who somehow found himself in the penalty area. The left-back hit a tame shot with his weak foot frustratingly at the ‘keeper with the goal at his mercy! You knew by now it was not going to be our night.
The goalmouth action was interrupted only by another scuffle after referee Whitestone again failed to control the nature of the tackles flying in. Dorrans had control of the ball in midfield and rode one challenge before Neil Danns flied in with studs showing. The Scotsman stupidly reacted by grabbing the grounded Danns around the neck with the Palace man regaining his feet and head butting Albion’s star man. This time the referee had little option but to find his red card in his pocket. Dorrans was also booked for his part and was immediately replaced by James Morrison.
The pulsating action continued with Danny Butterfield almost recreating Steven Reid’s own goal before Roman Bednar headed straight at Speroni from the resulting corner.
Palace were leaving huge gaps at the back as they pushed forward for a winner with Youssouf Mulumbu this time trying his luck in front of goal. The defensive minded midfielder raced forward between two defenders but again his weak effort was smothered instead of hitting the back of the net.
Albion again had one last chance on the break when James Morrison found himself free but could only fire over when presented one-on-one with the unbeatable Speroni.
Back came Palace with two last gasp chances of their own. First Stern John headed wide from two yards with Carson again static on his line. However the real drama was still to come when Darren Ambrose saw his goal bound effort blocked off the line by Marek Cech. The referee blew his whistle to end proceedings to a pulsating match in with the Baggies should’ve obtained all three points.
On Reflection
I’m sure like many Albion fans I still can’t believe the Throstles didn’t manage to beat a desperate Palace outfit. They battered, pulled, tackled and, in Lee’s case kneed, anything that moved. If it was not for a combination of Julian Speroni and poor finishing we could’ve put a couple of nails in their relegation coffin.
However congratulation must go to Roberto Di Matteo, his backroom staff and players for breaking the club’s points total for a season – the same amount of points the Dingles won the league with last term having played a game less.
Fingers crossed against Barnsley on Sunday our players can find their scoring boots and repeat the 7-1 thrashing we gave out a couple of seasons ago.
Boing Boing