Oh what a perfect Christmas! Six points, the Blue Noses going from strength to strength, the Vile being thumped by a one legged man and best of all……………no festive cheer for the dingles, ho ho ho.
May I apologise if I only give half of the match report, usually it’s due to the alcohol, this time I was completely sober but had a steel girder smack bang in front of me!
Kick off
During the warm-up you could notice one half of the pitch was covered in frost but the other was basking in sunshine and looked nice and soft. Would this play a part in the outcome of the game?
Albion started brightly as they kept spreading the play wide and feeding Thomas and Brunt at every occasion. Jerome looked back on form after a short layoff but Chris doesn’t seem his usual self with misguided passes, over hit crosses and wayward shooting. He should have done better after a brilliant cross from the left caused havoc in the home defence and as the ball fell to Brunty, he smashed his shot into the side netting. Ex-Albion keeper Murphy was called in to action early on with two smart saves to deny Thomas.
It was the home side who had the best chance though, after some neat build up play it ended with a pass that split the Albion defence open but with only Kiely to beat the forward dragged his shot wide. Phew, that was close! We needed to tighten up at the back and take control of the midfield.
Once again praise must go to Luke Moore for his all round performance with intelligent runs, tracking back as well as bringing others into the game. On one of his forward sprints he caused panic in the Irons’ defence, and as Jones tried to clear his lines, Moore charged the ball down and thrashed it into the net. Just as we were all celebrating the referee noticed his assistant waving his flag like an excited cheerleader. To our amazement he said Moore had handled the ball whilst trying to block the clearance! His arms were in front of him so unless you start challenging with your arms behind your back, what chance have you got?
No need to worry, it wasn’t long until another brilliant left wing cross caused more chaos, Murphy could only parry and there was Dorrans to smash the ball into the net.
That it’s boys, let’s go for the jugular now and finish the game off!
Moore again went close as did Brunt but with the Baggies enjoying the lion’s share of possession no more goals were forthcoming. Would we rue those missed chances?
After the break
Albion were the first to arrive back out onto the pitch after the break and Scunny were in no rush to join them leaving Jara shuddering in the centre circle thinking, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ Unfortunately he wasn’t the only Albion player caught cold after the kick off as the Irons took the initiative from the start and within a minute scored an equaliser.
This should have spurred us on but it seemed to knock our confidence and gave Scunthorpe a lifeline. We couldn’t help but think how Newcastle had got on at Glanford Park earlier in the season. No please, it can’t happen surely!!!!!
The home side kept coming forward and created chances but didn’t seem to have a real goal threat (thank god). Jara and Dorrans got the blood flowing again and slowly took control of the midfield. Brunt was trying without making an impact and Thomas was a constant thorn in Scunthorpe’s side so it was no surprise when their right back was given his second yellow card for halting the winger’s progress.
From the resulting free kick Moore rose highest to score but once again the linesman raised his flag, this time apparently for offside! He has obviously upset assistant referees in a previous life.
This gave the visitors the confidence to push on and they had a bit more freedom to play and move the ball from one side to the other.
On 65 minutes Dorrans picked the ball up wide on the right and didn’t seem to have much on but he knocked the ball past the left back and an incredible turn of pace outwitted the defender who hacked him down. PENALTY! Dorrans picked himself up to place the ball in to the right hand corner of the net, even though Murphy managed to get a hand to it.
That’s it, 2-1 up against 10 men surely we can take control now? Not quite, Scunny came straight back at us and Kiely was relieved to see a header fall straight in to his arms.
Wood came on to replace the hard working Cox and had an immediate impact winning a few headers, holding the ball up well and when he cut the ball back to Moore, the striker was upended in the box. Another PENALTY! Unfortunately the spot kick was delayed as McCann remonstrated with the referee and was duly sent off for speaking out of turn. This allowed time for the home fans to make a few snowballs, which they launched at Dorrans whilst he was waiting to take the kick. This time he went the opposite side and Murphy guessed correct and saved with ease.
Now you imagine, 2-1 up playing against NINE men and missing a penalty, you can just see the headlines in tomorrow’s papers if Scunthorpe equalised. No no, get those negative thoughts out your heads, we’re going to win this by 4 or 5!!!!!!!!
We had all the possession, looked comfortable and if it wasn’t for Murphy pulling off several good saves from Brunt, Moore and Zuiverloon it could have been a lot more but we had to wait until the 86th minute before the right back finished a flowing move off with a thunderous shot. Three-one up and we can now relax.
On reflection
Certainly not a vintage performance by any means but another 3 points away from home and good performances from Dorrans, Moore and Thomas sent the Baggies fans home happy, especially as the dingles lost again later that day.
Well nearly everyone anyway!!!! I realise my cars not the most comfortable for 4 grown men (two over 6 foot) but to be honest lads I don’t think having 3 hamburgers, large fries, 6 nuggets and a chocolate muffin helped your waistline let alone you squeezing into a Hyundai Coupe. Diets in 2010 I think chaps.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ALBION FANS AND LETS HOPE WE HAVE A BRILLIANT 2010………………….Boing Boing, let’s keep the faith.
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