Cardiff City 1 - West Bromwich Albion 1

Dave Watkin:

Albion extended their unbeaten record against Cardiff City to ten games, stretching back forty five years, when they came away with a point from their midweek Championship clash at Ninian Park.

The Baggies looked by far the better side during the opening half hour and with an early goal to their credit might have been expected to pick up their first away win since January. However, encouraged by a goal against the run of play, Cardiff showed that they may well be a force to be reckoned with in the promotion race. They played at a high tempo and it needed stout defending from Albion to keep them at bay. The back four, with just that one lapse, rose to the challenge, with in my opinion Steve Watson piping the other three for man-of-the- match. Again Pascal Zuberbuhler looked shaky dealing with crosses and more than once created panic situations in the area, although to be fair, his shot stopping and kicking abilities look fine. The midfield were effective early doors but struggled to match their Cardiff counterparts as the game wore on. They were not helped, when following the loss of Nathan Ellington who was looking quite sharp, Zoltan Gera was forced to play further forward where he is by no means as effective. The folly of beginning the season with only two strikers was exposed and this needs to be rectified quickly.

Albion had a large following, many of us taking to the terraces for the first time for several seasons. The warm welcome for Darren Campbell, when he came on as substitute for the home side, contrasted with the chants directed at our want-away midfielder Jason Koumas, who seems to have completely lost the affection of the fans. At the close the team were warmly applauded for a battling performance.

Already the Championship is looking as if it will be hard fought, with many teams challenging for promotion. Maybe as the season progresses, a draw in Cardiff will look like a good result.

TEAM NEWS

Albion were unchanged, although probably significantly, Russell Hoult took over the substitute goalkeeping slot from Thomasz Kuszczak.

HIGHLIGHTS

Just as on Saturday Albion began the game well but this time they were rewarded with an early goal. In the 4th minute a neat bit of skill near the right hand corner flag by Steve Watson set up Zoltan Gera for a cross which was knocked behind for a corner. Jonathan Greening took the flag kick from the opposite side and his inswinging cross was backheaded onto the bar by a defender under pressure from John Hartson. ZOLTAN GERA was quickest to react and headed home from inside the six yard box.

Albion continued to look the better side and came close to extending their lead when Nathan Ellington, played in by Nigel Quashie, unleashed a vicious rising drive from a narrow angle which the keeper did well to claw out of the top corner.

In the 33rd minute, Albion and the travelling fans were rocked by an unexpected Cardiff equaliser. A long cross from the right found ex- Baggie SCIMECA unmarked on the far post from where he headed powerfully past Zuberbuhler. It was only as the teams lined up for the restart that I realised that Watson, who may well have been defending in that area, had been off the field receiving treatment.

Both the home team and their supporters were boosted by the goal and the Baggies had Pascal Zuberbuhler to thank for remaining on terms, when at full stretch he tipped a long range shot over the bar. Just before the break, Ellington was substituted by Darren Carter with Gera pushed forward to compensate.

The second half was dominated by Cardiff and all of our back four, Davies, Perry, Robinson and particularly Watson, were called upon to make vital blocks, interceptions and tackles to keep the rampant Bluebirds at bay. A flare up in the Albion penalty area, following an aggressive challenge on Zubi after the Baggies keeper failed to gather the ball cleanly, was settled with a booking for each side.

Richard Chaplow came on for Greening just after the hour mark, to try and tighten the midfield and Junichi Inamoto was a late substitute for Wallwork. It was not all one-way traffic, Quashie with a shot straight at the keeper and Chaplow with a fierce drive just wide, both threatened. However on the balance of play in the second half, it was probably the Baggies who were happiest to hold on for a point.

ALBION FORMRATE: GOOD

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: STEVE WATSON

Charles Allen:

Listening in tonight I was generally unimpressed with what sounded like a truly POOR Albion performance.

We sounded slow & dispassionate. We seemed to lose every 50-50. Our passing sounded bad and we lacked anything creative. Our attacking options were a long hopeful clog upfield. Overall mightily unimpressed - please those who saw the game tell me it wasn't that bad.

Ex-Baggie Scimeca sounded like he won everything in midfield!

Non-target Chopra sounded really difficult to handle up front.

Worries now with Ellington seemingly injured.

No Kuszczak - gone to Man Ure?

Saturday will be another tough one...