Leyton Orient 0 - West Bromwich Albion 3

Date:	Thursday 24th August 2006
Competition:	Carling League Cup (R1)
Orient: 5.3
WBA: 6.8	Zuberbuhler 4.3, Albrechtsen 5.9, McShane 7.5, Davies 8.0, Robinson 5.8, Greening 5.7, Wallwork 5.5, Chaplow 6.6, Carter 5.9, Phillips 7.5 (Hartson, 76 5.1), Nicholson 7.5 Unused subs: Steele, Quashie, Inamoto, Hodgkiss Manager: Bryan Robson 7.0
Scorers:	Nicholson (41), Carter (61), Greening (76)
Referee:	K Wright (Cambridgeshire) 5.9
Attendance:	3,058 Home Fans 3.8 Away Fans 7.2

Dave Watkin:

Albion comfortably won the Carling Cup 1st Round tie at Brisbane Road against Leyton Orient.

The Baggies never looked like joining the twelve Championship sides already knocked out of the competition by lower league sides. However, Orient were very competitive, particularly in the first half and the three goal margin flattered the visitors.

Pascal Zuberbuhler was kept busy and only faltered once. The defence was very strong with Curtis Davies at his best and Paul McShane looking a bright prospect. It was pleasing that midfielders were involved in all three goals, setting up one and scoring two. The front two were full of running, Kevin Phillips was sharper than I expected and Stuart Nicholson looked lively throughout, did well to score the first and was unlucky to be booked for celebrating with his Dad!

It was an enjoyable night for the sizeable Baggies contingent. Unusually, the main banter was with a group of blokes on the balcony of a flat in the corner of the ground. The relaxed evening ended with calls, usually successful, for Albion staff and players on the bench to "start the wave"!

Overall, it was pleasing that we could win by three goals away from home despite making six changes, the squad is perhaps stronger than I thought.

TEAM NEWS

Albion travelled to London looking for their first away win against Orient for more than thirty years. Over that period, we'd failed to record a victory in three league encounters and been defeated in two FA Cup ties.

Bryan Robson altered the team for the first time this season. Martin Albrechtsen was recalled to the defence where Paul McShane was making his debut, Richard Chaplow and Darren Carter started in midfield and new signing Kevin Phillips began up front alongside full debutant Stuart Nicholson.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Baggies had plenty of possession during the opening half hour, but the best chances fell to the home side. Firstly, Curtis Davies did well to head clear when Zuberbuhler was beaten by a header and then the keeper set up a chance with a misdirected clearance, only for the long range shot to flash past the post. Zubi made amends minutes later when he dived to save a header from a corner.

The new strike force of Phillips and Nicholson were combining well and both were involved in the opening 41st minute goal. Kevin Phillips flicked the ball on to Richard Chaplow who ran at the defence before shooting low to the keeper's right. He got down to save, but couldn't hold the ball and STUART NICHOLSON, racing in, was able to lift it over him into the top of the net.

After the break Albion looked more comfortable, although Zubi was called upon to tip a shot over the bar. Stuart Nicholson came close when he nodded a cross from Martin Albrechtsen over, before in the 71st minute we scored the second. Jonathan Greening was fed wide right and he picked out DARREN CARTER who from the narrowest of angles hit a superb volley into the roof of the net. Victory was sealed in the 76th minute. JONATHAN GREENING fed the ball in to young Stuart Nicholson, received the return pass and shot first time, surprising the keeper, who failed to prevent the ball crossing the line.

The third goal gave Bryan Robson the opportunity to bring on John Hartson for Phillips. The final result was the biggest ever win away from home to Orient, in seventeen competitive matches, stretching back over a century.

ALBION FORMRATE: GOOD

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: CURTIS DAVIES

Charles Allen:

Just back from the Britannia Arms in San Jose. Enjoyable game - great result.

Enjoyed watching Nicholson and McShane. Impressed with Davies, though probably not in as gushing a way as the commentary team. Thought Phillips looked pretty sharp still. Chaplow made some very tidy breaks... with pace!

Not as impressed with Carter, although his goal was superbly taken. Also felt Albrechtsen looked pretty average. Wallwork & Greening can do much better as well imho.

All in all though pleased we didn't slip up like so many in our Division.

Pub grub o.k., but pub atmos lacking - probably due to it being 11:45a.m in the US.

James Wren:

Any chances to see Albion when you live in the sticks of Austria have to be taken, so off to the local Irish pub for the game.

A good performance overall, although like the fan in the U.S.A, I really felt that Zubi's kicking was poor. Chuffed for Nicholson to prove his worth. With performances like that, maybe Kamara is not so urgent. I know it is pretty obvious why Davies is captain, a sort of Ego softener to keep him at the club, however for me the man is Paul Robinson, last night he was constantly giving instructions and in my mind he is more captain material. Very pleased with Davies performance as a player though, I hope he stays the course, unlike Gera who I fear will be with someone else before too soon.

A good result, nice to have a clean sheet, Nicholson should be on the bench on Monday night, I get the feeling that Ellington is just not going to click at the Albion.

Memories of the Ossie season seeing Brisbane Road last night!

James,
Graz, Austria

mpad.co.uk:

My first chance of the season to catch the team last night with it being on Sky.

I think it was a comfortable result and Albion did just enough in the game.

I was particularly impressed with McShane, he seemed to win everything in the air and pretty much on the ground, and he seems like a good, combative defender.

Wallwork and Greening seemed off the pace to me, although Jono took his goal well and provided a good cross for Carter's excellent finish - more of those please!

Phillips showed some good touches and link up play, especially the header for Chaplow which led to Nicolson's goal. I think Phillips will prove to be a good asset as the season progresses.

I thought Chaplow worked hard and has got good pace, some sloppy touches at times and I think he needs to work on those, and I was disappointed to see Alby hold back. He could have caused some real damage had he run at them more.

Overall it was a good win and it was nice to see the fringe players making the most of the opportunity.

donnybaggieboy:

Watched the game on sky last night 1st half i thought we were disappointing and could have been 2-0 down after twenty minutes. our first real attack coming on 18 mins and our 1st cornercoming on the half hour mark. a quick break on 41 minutes involving Chaplow, Phillips and a great finish by Nicholson sent us in 1-0 at the break.

Second half instead of being under pressure for the first 10 minutes as per usual, we had the upper hand and never looked like conceding. Carter scored a screamer on 70, to be fair it was his only positive contribution all night, getting on the end of a superb crossfeild ball from Greening, then Greening himself scoring on 75 mins.

overall after a shaky start a decent 2nd half ended up quite a comfortable win.

plus points:

Davies, brilliant display best defender outside premiership.
Mcshane, a confident performance looks a good signing
Phillips, tired towards the end,will get us plenty of goals
Nicholson, superb game looked busy all game, a great prospect. scored his 1st senior goal for us then celebrated with his dad and got booked what a stupid rule!!
Albrechston, how Watson is keeping him out is beyond me

minus points:

zubi, had a nightmare hope it was a one off
Carter, apart from scoring a cracker constantly gave the ball away

Good to see Koumas back in the fold,things are starting to look up could maybe do with one more striker, Leon McKenzie maybe?

COUCHCRITIC:

Watching Orient game,whilst heartened by our strenghthened defence (McShane looked very good), our mid field is still a muddle and desperately needs someone with the creativity of Koumas. Apart from his goal, Carter remains a liablity and we have no-one who can hold the ball and create openings. Greening reminds me of Craig Johnson the old Liverpool player, plenty of flattering footwork but very little final ball. Hartson is another Horsfield, strong but crude and likely to pick up more bookings than goals! Phillips loooked good, pity we have still got Earnshaw to play alongside him to put the ball in the net more often! Robson has been in charge for 2 years and a strong, settled side still seems beyond him.