Saturday 24th September 2005, Barclays Premiership, The Hawthorns, Kick-Off 3:00pm Albion 1 - 2 Charlton Athletic Davies 51   Murphy 9 (Pen), 31       48% Possession 52% 10 Shots On Target 4 8 Shots Off Target 4 6 Corners 3 10 Fouls Against 12 3 Offsides 4 0 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 Albion: Kirkland, Watson, C Davies, Clement, Robinson, Gera, Wallwork, Johnson (Kamara HT), Greening, Campbell (Horsfield 69), Earnshaw (Ellington 69). Subs not used: Kuszczak (gk), Moore Charlton Athletic: Andersen, Young, Perry, Hreidarsson, Powell (Spector 83), Rommedahl (Bothroyd 62), Kishishev, Murphy (Hughes 83), Smertin, Thomas, Bent. Subs not used: Myrhe (gk), El Karkouri Kishishev 71 (foul) Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside) Assistant Referees: Graeme Atkins (West Yorkshire), Andy Williams (Herefordshire) Fourth Official: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire) Half-Time: Albion 1-2 Charlton Athletic Attendance: 23,909 Conditions: Warm and sunny MATCH REPORT BY: Dale Brookes WEST BROM TEAM NEWS: Manager Bryan Robson kept faith with same starting line up that drew 1-1 last weekend at Sunderland. The only changes were on the bench, Geoff Horsfield returning from a short term injury to replace the suspended Martin Albrechtsen and Darren Moore taking the place of Richard Chaplow. CHARLTON ATHLETIC TEAM NEWS: Boss Alan Curbishley made one change to the side that was defeated 2-0 at home to Chelsea in their last Premiership game. On loan Chelsea midfield man Alexei Smertin returned to replace Matt Holland who failed to even make the subs bench. DAVIES GOAL IS CONSOLATION AS DOUBLE FROM DANNY WINS IT FOR CHARLTON!!! Danny Murphy struck a double as Charlton maintained their excellent start to the season with a 2-1 win at the Hawthorns. Curtis Davies notched a goal on his home debut early in the second half, but by then the damage had been done as the Addicks coasted into a two goal lead before half time thanks to a brace from ex-Liverpool midfield man Murphy.  Albion started the game full of confidence refreshed from their 4-1 victory over League One side Bradford City in midweek but it was Charlton that opened the scoring early on when Jerome Thomas’ pace was too much for Steve Watson who slid in to challenge for the ball but could only upend the former Arsenal man inside the penalty box to give the referee no choice but to award a spot kick. Danny Murphy obliged by sending keeper Chris Kirkland the wrong way to give the Addicks a 1-0 lead. Chances were few and far between and it was not until the 19th minute that the Baggies had their first attempt on goal. Neil Clement stepped up and curled a free kick well over the bar from 30 yards out when he could have done much better. Charlton continued to look the most dangerous and  Kirkland had to be on his toes to pull off a marvelous save from a Murphy header following an excellent Dennis Rommedahl right wing cross. Kirkland was called upon again moments later when this time he clawed away a ferocious drive from 20 yards out by Jerome Thomas although in the 31st minute the on-loan Liverpool keeper could do nothing to prevent his side from going 2-0 down, Dennis Rommedahl used his scintillating pace down the right hand side to get away from Jonathan Greening and cross for the unmarked Murphy who slotted the ball into the back of the net. The Baggies finally began to wake up as Robert Earnshaw almost pulled a goal back when Kevin Campbell cleverly swung in a low cross for the Welshman but his effort was well saved by Charlton keeper Andersen. Gera then clipped in a clever cross which Campbell rose to meet with his head but again the effort was saved by the Charlton keeper as Albion continued to press for a goal. As the half drew to a close Neil Clement sent a wayward free-kick well over the bar. Half Time: West Brom 0-2 Charlton Athletic The Baggies could not have wished for a better start at the beginning of the second half as home debutant Curtis Davies headed into the back of the net from close range after Wallwork had flicked the ball into the danger area following an Earnshaw corner. Gera had a great chance to equalise moments later but he snatched at his shot and the ball sailed well wide of Andersen’s left hand post. Jonathan Greening was next to try an effort but his 30 yard strike whistled just wide of goal. In the 69th minute Albion Boss Bryan Robson decided to make a double substitution with Nathan Ellington and Geoff Horsfield coming on to replace Kevin Campbell and Robert Earnshaw but it was the Baggies’ half time substitute Diomansy Kamara that came the closest to scoring when he went on a pacey run through the middle of the Charlton defence; however the former Pompey man fired his shot just over the bar from 20 yards out. Charlton who had hardly threatened since half-time almost killed the game off but Jerome Thomas’ right-footed shot took a deflection off his own team mate and went wide. As the match edged towards it’s end Curtis Davies almost collected his second goal of the game but his powerful header from a Kamara corner was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Andersen. In a desperate late attempt to snatch an equaliser, Bryan Robson’s men almost shot themselves in the foot however when keeper Kirkland was left stranded after coming up for a late corner. Jerome Thomas opted not to shoot and instead played in the onside Bent who blazed the ball well over the bar from six yards out just as Kirkland got back in his goal. Full Time: West Brom 1-2 Charlton Athletic MAN OF THE MATCH: Curtis Davies PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF TEN Kirkland 8 - In the first half made two fantastic saves to keep us in it, although in the second was never tested. Watson 5 - Poor yet again! At fault for the penalty and looks way too slow to be a full back. Davies 8 - Another sold performance from Davies, scored a goal and could have had another one. Clement 7 - Made some important challenges, is looking more confident alongside Davies than he did with Gaardsoe. Robinson 7 - Usual solid performance from Robbo. Gera 6 - Although showed some nifty footwork his distribution was very poor again. Wallwork 6 - Awful first half, much better second half but I am starting to lose patience with him now. Johnson 5 - Never in the game from the first minute up until he was taken off, as I’ve said many times before he can not cut it at this level. Greening 6 - Unlucky not to score but apart from that did not do much and was at fault for the second goal after giving up on Rommedahl. Campbell 5 - Another poor display from him, he just has not got the legs for this league any more.   Earnshaw 7 - Good performance from Earnie, his all round game was very good but he had little service to feed off. Subs: Kamara 7 - Changed the game when he came on, always looked a threat to the Charlton rearguard, must start next game. Ellington 6 - Didn’t really get into the game and never offered a threat although maybe he was not given enough time. Horsfield 6 - Same as Ellington, he too was never really a threat. REF WATCH Chris Foy 6 - Average performance from Foy, normally very poor but was not too bad. FAN WATCH Albion 5 - Started off poor as we were 2-0 down early on, but once the performance improved in the second half it did get better. Charlton Athletic 4 - Hardly sang at all, poor support from the Addicks even though they won. MY REVIEW Well here we are again talking about yet another Premiership defeat. As soon as I heard the team sheet in which Johnson and Wallwork were both playing I immediately thought ‘defeat’, especially against a battling Charlton side that are 2nd in the Premier League behind Chelsea and have won every away game so far this season. I am just amazed at the fact that Johnson is now being looked at one of the top midfielders at our club two years after our previous manager Gary Megson had said he was not good enough for this league. Now if I, Gary Megson and probably 20 odd thousand supporters can see it, why the hell can’t a former top class England midfielder in Robson NOT see it! As for the other central midfielder Wallwork then I am just baffled how he is still getting in our starting eleven when we have an international midfielder not even sitting on the bench in Inamoto! Wallwork and Johnson sadly are not good enough for this level and until our manager sees this then in my view we are going to be in that bottom three for the rest of the season. Our performance in the first half was nothing short of a joke, Steve Watson who I honestly thought would be a good signing has totally proved me wrong so far. He is so slow that even a snail could beat him in a race and that has showed on a few occasions this season where wingers have beaten him with ease for pace. I would much rather have Albrechtsen at right back and try Watson in the centre of midfield alongside Carter, Inamoto or even Chaplow as that way we have got a ball winner and a ball player. Second half was much better and we played some decent stuff and for the second time in a week Diomansy Kamara came on and changed the game with some wonderful skill and pace which caused Charlton endless problems, I’m pretty sure he will be in the starting eleven for Blackburn after another fine performance. However we are going to have to improve if we are to stay up this season as Wigan and West Ham; two teams tipped for the drop have already won three times this season to our once and that is very worrying even at this stage of the season as at the moment I cannot see where our next win is going to come from especially with Arsenal at home to follow after Blackburn! Oh well lets hope that’s the end of the Johnson and Wallwork partnership as surely Robson can’t play them again after that. wba.co.uk cafc.co.uk baggies.com wbaunofficial.com addicksonline.co.uk netaddicks.com premierleague.com sportinglife.com Bryan Robson: "It doesn't matter what stage of the season it is, if you're down at the bottom and you haven't at least got the same number of points as games played, you're already starting to get into a relegation fight. We're not kidding ourselves because we know that. We want to have a comfortable season and although we knew we wouldn't be in the top half of the table, I just thought there would be a bit more belief from the lads than they have shown so far this season." "I don't know what we're missing. Maybe it is a mental approach to the start of games because we keep finding ourselves chasing matches. We're giving away easy goals early on when concentration levels should be at their best. Maybe some of the players are still questioning themselves but I thought they'd got over that. Some of the players are not at their best, nor near where they were at the end of last season." "It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance by us and I told the lads that. No-one took responsibility to get on the ball in the first half and pass it. We had no real drive. In the Premiership, you have to pass the ball well but we kept giving it back to Charlton and they had a comfortable afternoon for an away side. Then all of a sudden we had a bit of a go at them. We battled, showed a bit of drive and concentrated on our passing. We came back into the game and gave ourselves a chance. In the end, we were a bit unfortunate not to get anything from the game." Source: wba.co.uk Alan Curbishley: "We played ever so well in the first half and most people would've agreed with the scoreline at half-time. The problem is, some of the facets we got that got us into the lead goes against us when it becomes direct. It was a game two halves. It happened at Birmingham a couple of weeks ago when we raced off and got ourselves in front but the second half became a different game.” "You have to give West Brom credit though. They came out and got a goal which changed it a bit and they put us under enormous pressure while we lost our way a bit. I think today sums it up. We can play out our skins for first half and then have our backs to wall in the second so we won't get carried away. The trick for me is to get them playing like they were in the first half and try and get it to continue in the second. It's certainly something to think about.” "We played some really good stuff in the first half and I'd prefer to remember that - but I won't forget the second.” Source: cafc.co.uk Curtis Davis scores his first goal for the club.
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