ALBION GIVEN THE BLUES DESPITE DOUBLE FROM THE HORSE!!!

Geoff Horsfield carried on from where he left off against Portsmouth as he notched another double for the Baggies but it was not enough as Birmingham City ran out 3-2 winners at The Hawthorns to give Steve Bruce’s side their first win of the season. Awful defending from the home side had presented Blues with an early lead as Heskey scored with his head from a Clapham cross. Two minutes later Horsfield equalised when he rattled home after the visitors failed to clear the danger but Jarosik then restored City’s lead before Heskey collected his second of the afternoon. Horsfield netted his second just after the hour mark but it would be just a consolation goal.

The game began as fiery as derbies come as Albion took the game to Birmingham straight from the start. Darren Carter played a looping ball over the top of the Blues defence which found Horsfield through on goal, but luckily keeper Maik Taylor came rushing out and managed to clear the ball out for a throw in. In the tenth minute though the deadlock was broken and it was completely against the run of play, as Jamie Clapham was able to swing over a left wing cross for the unmarked Emile Heskey who made no mistake by heading past the stranded Kirkland and into the back of the net.

The Baggies hit back immediately as following a Darren Carter corner Clapham failed to clear for the visitors and when Neil Clement missed his kick the ball rolled through to Horsfield who could not miss from four yards out as he tucked the ball inside Taylor’s near post to level proceedings. Moments later Albion could have been ahead as a lovely sweeping move down the left flank had City’s defence all over the place, Jonathan Greening clipped in an inch perfect cross onto the head of Campbell, but the former Everton man could only watch as his header clipped the top of the bar and sailed over.

Campbell was proving to be a thorn in the Birmingham City side as once again he was involved in the thick of the action, Geoff Horsfield dummied a Clement header beautifully which set up the chance for Campbell, but he could only fire his shot wide of the goal from 18 yards out. Amazingly it was the visitors who retook the lead, Jermaine Pennant curled in a dangerous free kick straight onto the head of Chelsea loan star Jarosik who ghosted in to head past Kirkland and into the corner of the net.

Despite falling behind again it was still Albion who looked the better side as Kevin Campbell wasted another golden opportunity when after shrugging off the challenge of Cunningham he shot weakly into the arms of the grateful keeper Taylor when Horsfield was unmarked in the centre. Blues were starting to get into the game as both Pennant and Johnson tried their luck from long distance, but Kirkland was equal to their efforts. The Baggies keeper however could do nothing 13 minutes before the interval as Heskey was once again presented with a free header which he converted to make it 3-1 to the visitors, Jermaine Pennant the man providing the excellent right-wing cross.

Half Time: Albion 1-3 Birmingham City

Albion boss Bryan Robson made one change at half-time as Danish defender Martin Albrechtsen replaced Steve Watson at right-back. It didn’t take long for the home side to try their first shot on goal when ex-Blues man Darren Carter was given space to hit a left foot effort but the ball sailed well wide of Taylor’s left hand post. City were almost gifted a goal though just moments later as dreadful defending by the Baggies let in Mikael Forssell, just as the Finnish striker was about to pull the trigger Thomas Gaardsoe produced a last ditch tackle in the nick of time to prevent the ex-Chelsea man from scoring.

Ten minutes into the half and Albion made their second substitution of the afternoon with new boy Nathan Ellington replacing Campbell and entering the fray to partner Horsfield up front. The combination of the two former Wigan strikers almost payed off immediately when Horsfield clipped in a cross for Ellington but his header was not powerful enough and keeper Taylor was able to save comfortably.

Moments later however the Baggies finally got their just reward as Ellington’s back header seemed to confuse Blues midfield man Damian Johnson as he incredibly lobbed the ball back to his own goalkeeper, unfortunately for Johnson Horsfield was there to capitalise and he lashed the ball past the stranded City keeper to put the home side back in it. Robson’s men were now searching for an equaliser and it almost arrived when Neil Clement hit a ferocious left footed free kick towards goal, but the ball hit his own team mate Wallwork and went behind for a goal kick. 

Wonderful wing work between Gera and Albrechtsen created an opening for Jonathan Greening, but the ex-Middlesbrough man’s low drive was well kept out by keeper Taylor. Albion continued to pile on the pressure and it was Horsfield that so nearly grabbed a hat-trick when he stole in at the back post following a Gera knock back from an Ellington left wing cross, the former bricklayer however could only divert his header over the bar due to the awkward angle.

Nathan Ellington missed a golden chance to score on his home debut blasting a right foot volley well over the bar after City had failed to clear a right wing cross from sub Martin Albrechtsen. Despite the clock ticking down Albion still had time to make their third substitution of the afternoon with Earnshaw coming on for the hardworking Darren Carter but even the little Welshman failed to inspire a West Brom comeback as he too missed a chance when he volleyed a loose ball straight down the throat of keeper Maik Taylor.

Full Time: Albion 2-3 Birmingham City

MAN OF THE MATCH: Geoff Horsfield

PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF TEN

Kirkland 6 - Made a couple of fine saves from Johnson & Pennant, was left helpless for the goals.
Watson 5 - Although he looked good going forward he was dreadful when defending, was deservedly taken off at half time.
Gaardsoe 5 - Yet another dreadful game for Gaardsoe, seems to have lost confidence and does not seem to be the same solid player we know he can be.
Clement 5 - Awful game for Clem as well, he can do a lot better.
Robinson 6 - Also seems to have lost confidence, another poor game from Robbo although second half he did improve.
Gera 6 - Woeful in the 1st half but much better in the 2nd when he looked like the old Gera.
Wallwork 5 - Poor display from Ronnie, he too seems to lack confidence.
Carter 6 - Looked very composed in the midfield, was very impressed with him today unlike the other games I’ve seen him in.
Greening 6 - Not a bad performance from Jesus, looked dangerous every time he went forward and was unlucky not to score.
Campbell 5 - Although he caused Birmingham umpteen problems at times, he seems to have lost the knack of scoring.
Horsfield 9 - Man of Match by an absolute mile. Worked his socks off for the whole 90 minutes and fully deserved his two goals if not a hat-trick.

SUBS:
Albrechtsen 8 - Superb performance from Martin, he was constantly using his pace up and down the flanks and causing them problems.
Ellington 6 - Is lacking a little bit of match fitness but certainly caused Blues problems in the air and on the floor. Cannot wait to see more of him.
Earnshaw 5 - Didn’t really have to time to make an impact but should have done better with his chance late on.

REF WATCH

Graham Poll 5 - Didn’t referee the game too bad although his constant refusal to allow quick free kicks was annoying for both sides.

FAN WATCH

Albion 5 - Started off superbly but once we were 3-1 down it died down a lot although there was still a slight chant every now and then to lift the players.
Birmingham City 6 - They weren’t as vocal as they normally are but probably just about out sung us.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Well what a poor defensive display that was eh? If we hadn’t conceded those stupid goals when we did then we may have been looking at a victory as we had enough chances to win the game let alone draw it. I suppose you have to give credit to Blues because they took their chances whereas we didn’t and that is what the Premiership is all about. It was just so disappointing though to see our defence defend like they did, we were absolutely shocking at the back but I just cannot put my finger down as to why. I mean this is the same defence that produced a solid display at Manchester City and then a solid one at home to Portsmouth but then all of a sudden concedes seven goals in two games! Work that one out? I know I can’t.

In the second half we were much better and created a boat load of chances which was good to see but the damage was already done. If you concede three goals at home in the first 35 minutes then you don’t deserve to get a result if I’m honest. It’s just irritating that we actually didn’t play that bad at all and had we taken our chances then we could have been talking about a convincing win but that’s just the Premiership for you isn’t it? Don’t take your chances and you will get punished, it’s as simple as that! Now we have to regroup and get prepared for the Wigan game after the International break which has come at completely the wrong time for us.

"That's seven goals we've conceded in two games and it's not as if someone has scored a really good goal against us. It's just not good enough because, in the Premiership, it is hard enough scoring goals without having to get four to try and win a game. We have gifted people goals because of bad play by ourselves. Blues put some good crosses in but our tracking of runners in the wide areas was really poor and the marking was really slack.”

"In the second half, the lads responded well, kept going and got themselves back into the game and, with the players we've now got at the club, we will score goals. That is why it's important we get back to the basics which got us success last season. We've got to start defending better as a team."