Following last week’s derby victory against Wolves and a very assured performance that had followed some, quite frankly, un-assured performances, next up was a visit to Villa Park. Last victory: 1979. They couldn't, could they?
As far as team selection goes, Billy Jones had a stellar game against Wolves, providing the assist and replacing a disappointing Nicky Shorey quite effectively, so his place seemed assured. The only other real question was whether the Long/Odemwingie partnership would be resurrected.
First half
It was, but we were deprived of the chance to see it for a substantial time when Long was substituted following a good old, honest, old-fashioned tackle by Alan Hutton that could very well have broken his leg. If that was old-fashioned give me the modern prima donnas, please.
Up until that point Long had looked very sharp. Whilst Odemwingie didn't seem to be displaying the deft touches and close control he spoiled us with last year, Long worked tirelessly to retrieve lost balls, hassle defenders in possession and provide the pressing high up the pitch that allows Roy's two banks of four to set-up deeper. His injury is a great concern because following his display against Wolves, Long had looked every bit the summer bargain he was touted as. We await the result of a knee scan. On the field, Somen Tchyoi stepped in.
Things went from bad to worse on 23 minutes when the home side took the lead. The goal was so typically Albion – one of those head-in-hands defending moments that I'm sure every fan has simply adjusted to expect once every 3-4 games. Like the mix-up that gifted Stoke three points at the end of their visit, a tentative Foster plus an unsure defender led to a-ball-in-limbo that someone with the pace and reactions of Gabriel Agbonlahor preys on. He nipped it past Foster and deservedly earned the spot-kick. Darren Bent sent Villa 1-0 up by demonstrating how to confidently dispense a penalty. At least one person in the stadium wasn't watching.
Yes, our skipper, Chris Brunt. His beautiful left foot and iron-strong nerve converting those two memorable penalties against Liverpool last year. The penalty Albion were awarded on the 34th minute when Herd was judged to have stamped on Olsson was mighty different. I'm not entirely confident that this spot-kick penalty would have gone in had there have been two goals erected in front of him - it was that bad. Chance missed. Albion’s hoodoo at Villa Park looked to continue.
Red card
Sadly there doesn't seem to be a definitive camera shot of this but I think it's safe to say that it was very harsh. A tangle of legs, Herd pulling his leg in to try and get free was construed. There was a minor tussle beforehand that perhaps influenced the assistant's decision but it was highly unlucky and one of the poor refereeing decisions during the course of the game. With Herd off any numerical advantage in midfield for Villa was lost, meaning that Albion were free to pour forward, Agbonlahor and Bent starved of service. Tchoyi bore the fruits of this pressure shortly before half-time with an excellent pivot and shot from inside the area, drawing a terrific one-handed save from Shay Given.
Whereas I was initially less enthusiastic about Albion's chances of scoring from a set-pieces given the giants of Collins and Dunne looming in the middle, my Villa-supporting friend assured me of their fragility from dead-balls, having conceded in previous games. Well, he was right. Olsson rose to Brunt's excellent, redemptive corner and Albion went into the break level, and with an obvious sense that their opponents were there for the taking.
After the break
A glance at the stats handily provided in this morning's paper show Paul Scharner covered the most ground out of all the players on the pitch, often providing the extra outlet in the middle allowing Albion to keep possession in the Villa half comfortably. It was, Scharner, then, who provided Albion's second, and what proved to be the winning goal of the game. Again from a corner, he utilised wonderful technique to turn and volley a loose ball under the bar and into the Villa net. Jubilation! I can confidently say now that it was inevitable given all the pressure and the advantage in our favour. But this is Albion, remember, so at the time it was just immense relief followed by a test of nerves until the final whistle.
But to give Albion credit they held possession well and McAuley positioned himself intelligently to deal with the quicker Agbonlahor and Villa provided very few scares. Indeed the next best chance was to fall to Odemwingie near the end. Tchyoi, as he had been doing so well for a large part of the game, finding space down the line and centring for Odemwingie, but the striker scuffed the shot. It didn't matter, however. Shortly after as the Villa fans filed out, the Albion fans continued to sing and celebrate what must rank as one of the best weeks in recently memory. Boing boing!
Have your say on Albion's win here at Baggies Banter.