COLCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS: Colchester made two changes from the team that lost to Barnsley seven days ago, with new loan signing Chris Barker and Chris lwelumo coming in for George Elokobi (suspension) and Johnnie Jackson (hamstring)

JEKYLL & HYDE ALBION DOWN PLUCKY COLCHESTER

After two tough away games it was back to The Hawthorns for a first ever league meeting with Colchester United. Having lost their first three games of the season United travelled to The Hawthorns with most pundits and indeed Baggies’ fans expecting a comfortable home win. It was the visitors however that almost took a shock lead when, inside ten seconds, Jamie Cureton latched onto Chris Iwelumo's flick-on only to drag a weak shot across the face of Pascal Zuberbuhler’s goal.

Following that near miss, Albion thankfully stepped it up a gear and took the game to Colchester in impressive fashion winning five corners in quick succession. From the third of these corners Bryan Robson’s men almost took the lead when John Hartson flashed a near post header goalwards only to see United midfielder Kevin Watson smartly head the ball off the line. Just moments later, from the following corner, the ball fell to Ellington whose 18-yard snapshot was tipped over by U's keeper Aiden Davison.

Albion did finally take the lead their dominance deserved when in the 11th minute referee Paul Taylor awarded a penalty after ruling that United defender Wayne Brown had pulled Hartson down in the box. It looked a harsh decision at the time, a view later backed up by replays that showed the actual offence had taken place outside the box. Whether the penalty should have been awarded or not, Ellington coolly slotted it past the static Davison for his first goal of the season.

Ellington so nearly turned goal provider five minutes later, setting up an excellent chance for Greening only for the out of form wideman to take too long in possession and so allow the impressive Kevin Watson to slide in and block his right-footed effort.

The visitors did make a rare foray into the Albion half on 19 minutes, Richard Garcia seeing a stinging drive well blocked by Ronnie Wallwork, but otherwise it was still all the home side with Curtis Davies going close to doubling Albion’s lead on 26 minutes with a deflected close-range shot that cannoned off the post.

Just a couple of minutes later United keeper Davison came to his side’s rescue producing a fine save from a Paul Robinson 20 yard free-kick given for a foul on Hartson. With Neil Clement’s free-kick scoring ability disappearing some two or three years ago and with dead-ball expert Jason Koumas currently out of the Baggies’ first team plans the opportunity is there for someone to take on the ‘Beckham’ role. Robinson might be something of a surprise choice but if the aforementioned effort against was anything to go by then the job should be his.

The 35th minute saw the visitors finally record their first shot on goal when Iwelumo saw his 20 yard effort easily saved by the until then redundant Zuberbuhler. An equaliser for United would have been grossly unjust but it wasn’t until two minutes before half-time that Albion doubled their lead and gave the scoreline a far more realistic look. The goal came from an unlikely but welcome source in the shape of Ronnie Wallwork who fired home from 15 yards following good link-up play with Steve Watson. It was only Wallwork’s second goal for the club - his first came against Manchester City at The Hawthorns in January 2005.

Albion’s lead was almost halved in the final minute of first-half stoppage time when Cureton curled a 20 yard left-footed effort just wide with Zuberbuhler clearly beaten.

Any hopes that Albion would dominate again in the second half were soon dashed with Colchester coming out looking a totally different team. Playing with a pace and passion that the home side couldn’t match the visitors almost pulled a goal back with Richard Garcia forcing a fine save out of Zuberbuhler.

Whilst Colchester were now the better team, Albion almost scored a killer goal in the 55th minute, Ellington and Hartson exchanging passes before the ‘Duke’ unleashed a vicious left-footed drive that Davison tipped over one-handed at full stretch.

Albion made their first substitution of the game on 61 minutes with Darren Carter replacing the ineffective Zoltan Gera. After having recently asking for a move away from the club, apparently feeling he is too good a player for the Championship, the Hungarian international needs to start showing form worthy of that kind of statement.

Just moments after the substitution of Gera the visitors were unlucky not to pull a goal back when Brown headed a Watson corner against the post of the Albion goal.

On 64 minutes goalscorer Ellington was replaced by Richard Chaplow and with two of our most attacking players gone Colchester were able to push forward even more without any real threat of a counter-attack from Albion although former Burnley man Chaplow should of done better with one chance when he was clean through on goal, deciding to attempt a pass to Hartson rather than shoot himself.

The visitors had looked threatening from set-pieces all game with the unsteady Zuberbuhler giving no real confidence to the Baggies’ support or it appeared his defenders and in the 74th minute following a Watson corner Wallwork was forced to block another effort from Garcia.

Seven minutes from time United finally grabbed the goal their efforts had deserved when substitute Lewis Guy drove the ball home from 8 yards after being set-up by U’s man of the match Watson.

Despite a nervy ending Albion held on to record back to back home wins for the first time since December and so maintained their unbeaten start to the season in front of what must be said a pitifully low crowd of 17,509.

ALBION MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Robinson
COLCHESTER UNITED MAN OF THE MATCH: Kevin Watson

PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF TEN

Zuberbuhler 5 - Yet again looked unconvincing at times.
Watson 7 - Defended and got forward well, easily his best game for some time.
Robinson 8 - Back to his best, superb in defence and posed Colchester problems with his forward runs.
Davies 7 - Another impressive defensive display.
Perry 7 - Along with Davies snuffed out the threat of United's forwards.
Wallwork 5 - Took goal well but again struggled to impress. Doesn't look fit.
Quashie 6 - Worked hard and passed ball well.
Greening 3 - Another frustrating performance. Crossing and passing was poor for a player of his ability.
Gera 5 - Generally quiet, is his mind elsewhere?
Hartson 5 - After two below par performances was back to his best. Won penalty and had header cleared off line.
Ellington 6 - Lively and dangerous. If only he could get fully fit.

SUBS:
Carter 6 - Worked hard but failed to get into game.
Chaplow 6 - Lost possession a bit too often but otherwise did well.
Albrechtsen 6 - Got forward well and gave Albion what they have been lacking all season - pace.

REF WATCH

Paul Taylor 2 - Whistle happy and angered Colchester with dubious penalty award.

FAN WATCH

Albion 2 - Poor turn out and poor vocal backing.
Colchester United 4 - Small numbers and no real noise.