2009/10 Friendly Review

Last updated : 06 August 2009 By Wba-mad Editor

Histon 1 Albion 0

Roberto Di Matteo’s start as Albion’s head coach started with a loss at Histon after debutant Simon Cox and Luke Moore both missed penalties towards the end of the game.  Histon captain, Jaime Barker, scored the only goal of the game after the Baggies failed to clear a corner in the 64th minute.  Not the start the former MK Dons boss had hoped for.

NK Nafta 0 Albion 3

Albion’s opening game of their mini-tour to Slovenia started with a convincing win, which in truth, could, and should, have been more.  Jonathan Greening, making his first pre-season start, scored a corker after the break as Albion took an early lead through Luke Moore.  Jonas Olsson scored Albion’s third after 73 minutes from a header off a corner.

NK Varteks 2 Albion 2

Two fine strikes in each half stopped Albion making it consecutive tour victories in Slovenia.  A brace from Craig Beattie had given the Baggies the lead twice but were denied victory three minutes from time by an unstoppable Zoran Lesjak stunning free-kick.

Shrewsbury 0 Albion 2

Luke Moore continued his scoring form in front of goal by giving Albion the lead with an 18-yard left-foot strike inside 15th minutes as the Baggies made a winning return to England.  Robert Koren, making his first start of pre-season after tendonitis in his knee, doubled Albion’s advantage in the 33rd minute via a lucky deflection from a wayward Chris Brunt strike.

Kidderminster 2 Albion XI 2

A youthful Albion XI earned a credible draw at Kidderminster with Keith Downing, the new academy coach, taking control of matter.  Josh Knight fired Albion ahead when he fired home from the spot after being bought down.  The lead was short lived when Matthew Barnes-Homer equalised and Kyle Hadley gave Harries the advantage just shy of the break.  However Albion’s youngsters were not to be outgunned with Knight smashing the crossbar before striker Lateef Elford-Alliyu equalised with seven minutes to go.

Walsall 2 Albion 2

A large following travelled to the Bescot Stadium to see Albion come from two-goals behind to extend their unbeaten run.  Despite a solid start two goals inside a minute from Dwayne Mattis and Matt Richards saw the visitors trail at half-time.  It was a different story however in the second-half with Luke Moore and Craig Beattie earning the Baggies a draw.

Swindon 1 Albion 0

Simon Cox’s return to the County Ground didn’t go as planned as Albion’s unbeaten run of five games came to an end.  Gordon Greer’s first-half free-header sentenced the visitors to defeat during a below par performance from Di Matteo’s men.  Filipe Teixeria and Simon Cox both wasted good chance to extend Albion’s run.

Cheltenham 2 Albion XI 1

Keith Downing’s youngsters again featured heavily for the Baggies with Chris Wood scoring his first Albion goal with an impressive second-half strike.  Goals from David Hutton and Elvis Hammond scored from the home side however it could’ve been a different story after Romaine Sawyers and Josh Knight both hit the woodwork near the end.

Albion 0 Chievo 0

Albion finished their pre-season fixtures with a bore draw in the only game at The Hawthorns.  In Di Matteo’s first game at The Shrine, Graham Dorrans and Luke Moore came closest to scoring in a game which the Baggies dominated.