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 Wednesday 13th July 2005, Pre Season Friendly, National Hockey Stadium, Kick-Off 7:45pm
Milton Keynes Dons: Baker, Oyedele (Crooks HT), Morgan, Chorley, Lewington, Small (Kamara 78), Smith (Edds HT), Mitchell (McKoy 78), Rizzo (Puncheon HT), McLeod (Chaib 62), Wilbraham (Makofo 86) Albion: Hoult (Kuszczak HT), Scimeca, Purse (Hodgkiss 15), Clement, Albrechtsen, Smikle (Gera HT), Wallwork, Davies (Inamoto HT), Greening, Horsfield, Elvins (Nicholson 67). Subs not used: Forsyth
Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire)
Assistant Referees: Tony Green (Leicestershire), Dean Whitestone
(Northamptonshire)
Fourth Official: Carl Henry
Half-Time:
Milton Keynes Dons 0-1
Albion
Attendance: 3,755 Conditions: Clear skies,
pleasant summer evening
MATCH REPORT
BY: Mark Thomas After the 6-0 stroll against AFC Telford United I travelled to Milton Keynes knowing that the game would not be so easy but was still hoping for a good performance and perhaps a couple of goals, It didn’t happen. We scored just the one goal and put in a very poor performance. Admittedly most of the team on show will not start the season at Manchester City but it still contained a good number of first team squad members, of whom only two or three could be happy with their night’s work. Albion actually started quite brightly with Rob Davies and Jonathan Greening both looking good in midfield and Neil Clement and Martin Albrechtsen solid in defence. It was a surging run by Albrechtsen in the fourth minute that led to the only goal of the night, Geoff Horsfield netting his second goal in consecutive games with a close range header. That was to be as good as it got. What followed was a typical friendly game performance, poor passing, half-hearted tackling and a general lack of quality. Russell Hoult, starting his first game of pre-season continued his poor form of last year, his kicking and indeed his shot-stopping showing no signs of improvement, Darren Purse also looked less than solid in defence before injury ended his night early. Riccardo Scimeca stepped into Purse’s central defensive position and he too looked suspect against the lively Dons attack. Neil Clement was easily the pick of Albion’s defenders, after a poor showing at Telford on Saturday he produced the type of performance we came to expect from him last season. The hosts should really have gone into the interval at least on level terms but thanks to poor finishing and the woodwork Albion went into the break ahead. Half-time saw the arrival of last season’s player of the year Zoltan Gera and Japanese international Junichi Inamoto but even they could not lift Albion’s performance although Gera produced the moment of the game with an audacious lob from near the half-way line that had the Dons keeper scrambling back. Credit must be given to the MK Dons fans who were very vocal in their support. Sensing they were capable of at least a draw they urged their team on but despite a number of close calls Albion held on for the victory, thanks mainly to keeper Tomasz Kuszcak who had an inspired game. With a match against Crewe on Friday coming up next I can only hope that Bryan Robson puts out a stronger side and the players put in a much improved performance. If not we shall be on the receiving end of a somewhat embarrassing scoreline. MAN OF THE MATCH: Tomasz Kuszczak
PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF TEN
Evening Mail:
ALBION won the battle of the Great Escapees at the National Hockey Stadium
thanks to Geoff Horsfield's second goal of the pre-season. The Baggies
held on for a victory although the test was more about fitness than
quality of football. And that's just as well
with the MK Dons, who secured their League One status with six minutes of
their season remaining, putting up a very strong second-half display. More
worrying for Bryan Robson was the injury to Darren Purse, with the central
defender lasting just 13 minutes before limping off with a thigh problem.
Albion opened the scoring after just three minutes when Horsfield nodded
home Martin Albrechtsen's cross suggesting more goals were to follow.
Brian Smikle could have made it two just six minutes later when he failed
to hit the target with a free header from Jonathan Greening's cross. And
then The Dons started to take control the game with Albion players working
hard, but still looking a little rusty. Danny Wilson's men should have
levelled on 18 minutes when Izale McLeod pounced onto Dean Lewington's
through ball but sliced his shot across the face of goal. Gary Smith went
even closer when his 25-yard strike beat Hoult but not the Albion post.
Kuszczak, on as a second half sub, came to Albion's rescue just before the
hour when he saved from Aaron Wilbraham after Scimeca had skewed his pass
straight to the Dons striker. The Polish keeper, who looks set to battle
it out with Hoult for the understudy role behind Chris Kirkland, produced
a string of saves to deny the hosts. Both Inamoto and Zoltan Gera played
their opening pre-season games for the Baggies, but had few chances to
make an impact. The Japanese international did try his luck on goal with a
speculative long-range effort, but his shot was a rare attacking moment as
Albion got penned further back into their own half.
mkdons.co.uk baggies.com
Bryan Robson: "It's about building up fitness over five or six weeks so you're at your peak when the season kicks off. MK Dons gave us a tough game and our lads looked a little bit rusty - but that's what pre-season is all about. I was pleased the lads kept working and didn't slacken off and allow MK Dons to score.” "Tomasz Kuszczak also did very well in goal. He made some good saves and he is doing very well in training.” "The lads had a step up in standard from Saturday and they were probably affected a little by the hard work we've been doing in training." Source: wba.co.uk
Danny Wilson: "We got caught cold in the first three minutes, but after that I thought we equipped ourselves very well, so I was very pleased with the workout. There were plenty of chances from our perspective. Bearing in mind the vast majority of the West Brom side had plenty of Premiership experience I thought we gave them a very good run for their money. We brought on quite a few fresh legs to shake things up and kept the momentum going right to the end. It was our first game of the pre-season and it gave me lots of positives to mull over." "It was a fantastic outing and I thank Bryan Robson for bringing his West Brom side down here to face us. We didn't disgrace ourselves and gave them a good run out as well. Some of their players were on their knees at the end and we got a good test as well so all in all it was a good evening for both clubs." Source: mkdons.co.uk
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