West Bromwich Albion 1 - Southampton 1

Date:	Monday 28th April 2008
Competition:	Coca-Cola Championship
WBA: 7.7	(4-4-2) Kiely 6.7, Hoefkens 6.8, Barnett 7.7, Perry, Clement 7.5, Robinson 7.6, Gera 8.1, Koren 7.1, Greening 7.3 (Moore, 81 6.4), Morrison 6.8 (Brunt, 64 7.8), Miller 6.9 (Bednar, 69 6.8), Phillips 6.2 Unused subs: Danek, Albrechtsen Manager: Tony Mowbray 8.2
Southampton: 6.5	(4-4-2) Wright, Wright, Lucketti, Perry, Surman, Safri (Dyer, 63), Viafara, Idiakez, Euell, Saganowski (Lallana, 74), John (Wright-Phillips, 74) Unused subs: Davis, Licka
Scorers:	Brunt (84); Lallana (77)
Referee:	Lee Mason (Lancashire) 6.2
Attendance:	26,167   Home Fans 8.8   Away Fans 6.6

Dave Watkin:

Baggies not Saints go marching in to the Premiership

With promotion still in doubt at the kick-off, Albion mustered a point against relegation threatened Southampton at The Hawthorns to virtually guarantee our ascent into the Premiership, for the third time in our last four Championship seasons.

Saints entered this game on the back of thirteen successive away games without a win, stretching back to December last year. Albion made just one change, bringing back Ishmael Miller for Roman Bednar. The visitors showed a determination which, had it been duplicated in that unsuccessful run, would surely have seen the team, managed by ex-Baggies No.2 Nigel Pearson, climb clear of danger. They closed down Albion players as soon as they received possession and effectively stifled the game. There were few if any direct chances for either side before the Baggies succeeded in upping the tempo as half time approached and Jonathan Greening cracked a long distance shot over the bar. A surging run by Robert Koren through the centre and a cross to the feet of Phillips at the far post seemed to have set up the first goal. Incredibly, Super Kev contrived to spoon the ball over the bar from close range and must have been the most relieved man in the stadium to see the linesman?s offside flag. The Saints responded and it needed a brave block by Paul Robinson to divert a close range shot wide.

Shortly after the restart Ishmael Miller gained possession near the right touchline and embarked on a mesmerising run, cutting inside, before firing in a low shot which on-loan keeper Wright saved at the foot of the post with his outstretched foot. Chris Brunt replaced an injured James Morrison, before Roman Bednar took over from Miller. We were just inside the last quarter-of-an-hour when ex-England international Wright again came to the visitors? rescue, by flinging himself to block a header from Kevin Phillips, created by a leaping header from Zoltan Gera. Southampton had resisted thirty minutes of almost incessant Albion pressure before they broke out and with their first on-target shot, forced Dean Kiely to make a competent save. In the 78th minute, from a similar break, a through ball found Lallana breaking clear and looking suspiciously offside. He was allowed to race on and coolly found the bottom corner of the net with an angled drive.

Tony Mowbray responded to the shock goal by bringing on Luke Moore for Greening. Two corner kicks from Chris Brunt almost brought an equaliser, but the first was headed down and over by Clement and the second also ended with a header over the bar. With time running out the breakthrough came in the 84th minute in goal involving all three substitutes. A running cross from Roman Bednar was touched on by Luke Moore. The ball was at an awkward height when it reached Chris Brunt, in space just inside the penalty area, but he brought it down perfectly with his right foot before rifling a fierce left footed shot which went through the heroic Wright to trigger off scenes of delirium. There was a suspicion that both sides were now happy with the draw and despite four minutes of added time that was the outcome. So it all turned out all right in the end. You wouldn?t have wanted to win promotion sitting in an armchair on Saturday afternoon or after a boring nil-nil draw last night, now would you?

From my vantage point in the East Stand, overlooking the edge of the penalty area at the Brummie Road End, I saw the best of the Albion action close-up. In the first half the Albion defence, including the goalkeeper, were superb in snuffing out any hint of danger from the visitors. Leon Barnett and Neil Clement were commanding and Paul Robinson a mixture of controlled aggression and determination. After the break most of the play was in front of us, Zoltan Gera showed some extraordinary skills and Robert Koren and Jonathan Greening worked tremendously hard, even if a few of their passes went astray. We also saw an outstanding dribble and shot from Ishmael Miller which deserved a goal. Then, when the ball fell for Chris Brunt, we had time to recognise that the situation was ideal for his immaculate left foot but also a split second of anxiety, before the ball hit the back of the net. There were ten more minutes of anticipation and agony before the release of the final whistle; the invasion of the pitch; the retreat and the lap of honour. Under normal circumstances, man-of-the-match would go to Paul Robinson, Zoltan Gera or maybe even goalscoring substitute Chris Brunt. However, to mark the achievement and his coolness under pressure, timely substitutions and determination to carry on playing football through to the final whistle, I?ve nominated our Promotion winning Manager Tony Mowbray.

STATISTICS

We stretched our run of unbeaten home matches against the Saints to six, thinly spread over twenty-three seasons of league competition. Only two of the six have been won, each by a single goal in a relegation season. In 1985-86 Garry Thompson netted for our only win in the last thirteen games; in 2002-03 Sean Gregan?s late strike in a third successive victory took us to, as yet, never repeated heights of 7th in the Premiership.

ALBION FORMRATE: FAIRLY GOOD

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: TONY MOWBRAY

We extended our unbeaten record to eight league games and the point was sufficient to take us back to the top of the table, ahead of Stoke City. A win at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, coupled with our superior goal difference, will give us our first league title in 88 years, even if the Potters take maximum points at home to Leicester City.

How can a Club with such a proud Cup record have acquired so few league titles? A little research shows that in the 16 years since the formation of the Premier League, half of the 92 league clubs will have won one or more divisional championships. Even fans of the two clubs expected to leave the league this summer, Mansfield Town and Wrexham, will have the consolation of recalling Division Three wins in 1976-77 and 1977-78 respectively. If we go back to the formation of Division Three and Four fifty years ago, the number of clubs without a title is down to single figures. As a proud Baggie, I?m reluctant to reveal that only four Clubs have had a longer wait for a title. They?re Crewe Alexandra, Hartlepool United, Morecambe and Rochdale. Please Tony, no relaxing, weakened teams, etc; let?s win the Championship next weekend!

Real Baggies:

Well done to the lads for a smashing season, the best football an Albion team has served up probably since Ossie. But its probably better than that as we can defend as well.

Last night was obviously a nervy affair, as we knew a point was good enough. Saints needed the win, but you could have fooled me, they looked like a team who had come to our place to stop us playing not to score goals. Good job for Phillips that the two yard empty goal tap in he had, that somehow did a Kanu and went over the bar, was offside. It was a shocking miss. The other good chance he had that he put wide was a good bit more difficult so that forgivable. Clement heading into the ground from a corner when completely unmarked was a howler as well. We missed some sitters last night. As I say I think the nerves had set in subconsciously.

QPR have nothing to play for and I hope Mowbray tells them to go out and enjoy the game on Sunday. As QPR will I'm sure give us time to play they wont do the closing down that Saints did yesterday. It's a tough call between Morrisson and Brunt, but Brunt shades it for me, his crosses are the best in this league compared to any player.

But the ref didn't help us as he let far too many Southampton fouls go unpunished, bad fouls at that. So they did it the more, Ish was hacked down at least twice before finally Perry got a yellow. Have to love Robbo's challenge in the first half, 100 mile an hour and won the ball, then sent their player flying. You can see when he mis-times those he's sent off, and in the Prem he'll be up against the theatrics of the worlds best actors ever to don a football shirt.

The players were nervy last night, the fans were in good voice but were nervy too. So probably like the fans who are very much relieved after last night, I really hope the burden of expectation is lifted from them for Sunday.

COYB lets win the title!!!!!!

Peter Browning:

The nerves certainly showed last night and I think we were almost trying too hard. Clem and KP wanted to be so sure of scoring that they overfinessed and missed. Luke Moore also got in Bednar's way and denied him a clear header but that was also down to keenness.

Saints did a good job of closing us down and stopping us playing as well.

Funnily enough I didn't get downhearted when they scored, I think I've got so used to us scoring in the last few minutes that I simply expected it - dangerous I suppose!

Very, very good performance, especially under the circumstances. I would so like to see it all sealed with a convincing win now, that would just be the icing on a fantastic, sometimes rollercoaster but hey, it's Albion, season.

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!! Well done lads!

Brendan Clegg:

Typical Albion making us sweat for it but thank God we're pretty much there! The feeling I had was one of massive relief, rather than euphoria, when the whistle blew, I dread to think what could have happened to us had we not got up this year. But it doesn't matter now and QPR can be one big party. Let's hope we win and take the championship.

The game was a bit patchy in the first half, Southampton not really willing to come over the halfway line and doing a job on being tight on Greening so we didn't really flow all too well. Still, we created some decent chances when we moved the ball quickly and Phillips should really have done better when played through, mis-controlling the ball and running it out when so often in that position this year he's taken it out of his feet with one touch and clipped it past the keeper with another.

I'd go as far as saying I thought he was poor in general last night, not quite as sharp and the movement wasn't there. By contrast I thought Miller did really well, winning a lot of balls in the air (although not really to anyone) and causing them problems on the deck. At the back we looked pretty solid and Kiely looked confident and assured. Yes, I know! The midfield controlled the game without penetrating too much.

Second half we came out and upped the tempo a couple of gears and for about 20 minutes had them on the ropes without delivering a killer blow. On a few occasions we got through and players who can finish, such Koren and Mozza, elected to try and square the ball rather than having a go.

I thought taking off Miller was the wrong thing to do. Perry had largely snuffed out Phillips for the evening but was really struggling with Miller's pace and I felt if Miller could get at their back four once more he'd get through or get someone sent off.

The introduction of Brunt gave us more of a crossing threat and he did well when he came on but his tracking back left a lot to be desired and it was on our unprotected left side the ball was slid through for Southampton to take an undeserved lead with not too long to go. The next substitution was to bring Moore on for Greening - I could understand this more as we looked to play it longer rather than build the play up with Jonno.

Eventually we got our rewards when after some work on the right the ball scrambled across to Brunty who took a great first touch and hammered the ball through the otherwise excellent Wright. And then we went mental and after closing the game out with a couple of chances to win it could celebrate.

• Kiely - 7 Did everything asked of him very well tonight.
• Robbo - 7 A couple of crunchers and tried to support. Where were you for the goal?
• Clem - 7 Has made a big difference since coming back. Keeps the ball and hit some great passes to Gera. Suspect for goal?
• Barnett - 7 Great defensively, on the ball that is probably as good as he's ever played for us. Kept it simple mostly and found a blue and white shirt. Just shades MOM.
• Hoef - 7 Contender for buy of the season. Did his job well, and broke when he could.
• Mozza - 6 In and out but great work ethic - you see the gaps we leave when he went off. Can't fault effort.
• Jonno - 7 Controlled it without really dominating. Awareness is excellent.
• Roko - 7 Great energy again and got forward well.
• Gera - 7 In the thick of everything. Sincerely hope we can keep him as he will be a big loss.
• Phillips - 6 Not his best performance but kept going.
• Miller - 7 Led the line well, ran his socks off and starting to put himself about. Still makes wrong choices at times but it'll come.

Subs -

• Brunt - 7 You wouldn't have wanted anyone else from that distance when the ball fell. Some great crosses too.
• Bednar - 6 Battled away without nay real chances.
• Moore - 5 Is it a done deal? I'd play Sherjill before him.

So a big well done to all the players... so many have had great seasons individually. Let's hope those who've earned it can make a decent fist of the top flight. Mogga and Veno have done us proud, I hope they've learned a few things themselves this season.

I think credit should also go to someone not usually popular... Jeremy Peace. With former Premiership sides like Southampton, Leicester, Sheff Wednesday, Norwich and Coventry fighting the drop, Charlton, Sheff Utd & Wolves struggling to make the play-offs and Watford looking to throw their season away it just shows you what can happen if clubs aren't run sensibly. I've not always agreed with his transfer policies but he's backed every manager under his tenure with millions, got great prices for want away stars like Koumas, Kamara, Davies & Ellington and has also reduced Season Tickets for the last few years. Hats off to him, he deserves his invite to the boardrooms of Old Trafford, The Emirates and er, the JJB Stadium next year.

MALKOP:

Just a few words to say that I watched the game last nite on TV here in South Africa, not good for the heart especially when Soton scored, still turned out alright in the end didn't it?

Great that promotion is assured but now I have a special request. I have been a West Brom fan since 1954 when I was 8, my birthday is on 4 May, I don't ask for much usually but now I want - NO, I DEMAND - the Championship for my present. What could be better?

Last time I was in England we needed to beat QPR to ensure survival and I was there. This time it's just a little bit different but I cant be there. GO ALBION.

Hippothirteen:

Wonderful result. Yes, we didn't win. Yes, they are 3rd from bottom, but and it's a big but, Saints were playing for their Championship survival. It makes a difference and they certainly showed passion. Of course, Pearson used to be 2nd in command here so we should have expected no less.

Albion have played great football all season, hats off to the players, Mowbray and Peace. Again last night we created a shed load of chances and 3-1 wouldn't have flattered us. Perry was lucky to stay on after having been yellow carded and then missing the ball with his next tackle. Against 10 men the result would have been 3-1.

Contrast our recent results with Watford who haven't won in yonks and Bristol City who are also slipping. This is real pressure.

I expect the Baggies to have the flair and determination to win at QPR - no pressure lads, but a first 'Championship' in 70 years is no more than you deserve!

Pete Cottrell:

I don?t know if anyone else out there feels the same way as I do, but after going through the whole range of emotions in a quarter of an hour last night ? worry, tension, horror, numbness, resignation, delight and ultimately euphoria ? I feel strangely flat this morning. Not that I am still worried about the possibility of our losing 3-0 at QPR while Hull City romp home 10-0 at Ipswich, but that at the end of the day, yet again, we came close to losing a match that we dominated for the majority of the game. OK we were nervous, but so were Southampton, and it was by no means the first time this season that we have allowed this to happen. Phillips, Clement, Moore and Koren could and should have scored and Miller, Morrison and Gera could at least have tested the goalkeeper more.

But having got that out of my system there were some excellent performances last night ? Barnett, Clement, Gera and Brunt all being outstanding, plus sterling performances from Robinson, Kiely and Greening. And what a season! Could we really have asked for any more back in August last year ? that we should gain automatic promotion and reach the FA Cup semi-final playing attractive football, which we were told cannot be successful in the lower divisions. Full marks have to go to the manager for building a team spirit which you can feel from the terraces, for insisting on playing the most attractive football we have seen since Big Fat Ron was in charge, and for putting together a squad which is comfortable playing like this. And I know that it is not fashionable to say this, but let?s recognise the part that Jeremy Peace has played in this ? backing his manager without spending silly money and risking the sort of decline that we see so often in relegated clubs. Not to mention getting about 10,000 times more money for Nathan Ellington than any of us thought he was worth.

Player of the season? Three players come to mind: you cannot ignore Kevin Phillips?s consistent goalscoring record (even though he had a poor game last night); Zoltan Gera injects class just when it is needed and also managed to get 10 goals himself; and Jonathan Greening, rarely if ever man-of-the-match, but transformed into an inspirational captain directing the speed and style of play in true reflection of his manager. Perhaps honourable mention should be made of Robert Koren and Paul Robinson, but overall it has been a team effort and rarely has there been a case where just one individual has stood out ? which is probably all that we could usually hope for during the previous 25 years...

Marks from yesterday:

• Kiely 7: Good positioning and imaginative distribution. Only had one save to make.
• Hoefkens 6: Quiet and not up to recent standards, but steady enough.
• Barnett 8: (MoM) Hardly put a foot wrong. It will be interesting comparing him with Davies against Villa next year.
• Clement 8: Excellent in defence. Could/should have scored. Why does he take corners?
• Robinson 7: Typical gutsy performance, but was he supposed to be marking Lallana?
• Gera 8: Wonderful turns of speed and skills on the ball, but final ball sometimes over-optimistic.
• Greening 7: Typical understated but steady performance. Almost single-handedly stopped a nervous team from resorting to long-ball tactics.
• Koren 5: One of the season?s consistent players, but an off-day yesterday. Seemed slow on the uptake at times.
• Morrisson 5: In and out of the game. Could have asserted himself more.
• Phillips 5: Poor show from Super-Kev. Never looked like scoring and slow to beat the off-side trap.
• Miller 6: Was just starting to scare the Saints? defence when he was pulled off. Actually won some balls in the air as well.

Subs:

• Brunt 8: More good crosses in 25 minutes than some players manage in half a season. Should have had three ?assists?
• Bednar 6: Put himself about but a bit lumbering at times
• Moore 5: One chance, fluffed it. Good positioning skills though.

Hopefully the team will feel relaxed after doing the hard bit last night. Now let?s put the icing on the cake with a win at QPR.

costakiblue:

Typical Albion indeed! Great edge of the seat drama again! Guts and sheer will to win (or draw) got us back in the game.

Match highlights were:-

• Robbo's perfectly judged first half (perfectly fair) tackle which was worth the admission money alone.
• Clem's continued return to form
• Brunt's strike causing bedlam all round the ground!

Post match highlight:-

• Watching some loon struggle with an 8 foot piece of advertising hoarding (Floors-To Go) along the Birmingham Road (WHY?)

10/10 for everyone for a magnificent effort all season, and for having the bottle to achieve it by playing the right way!

DICKOS:

Through the mill match again, right result nuff said.

Finally we have a team not far short of the Atkinson 80's side. There?s no big time Charlies here, the Davis?s, Ellington's, Koumas's and Karmara?s were despatched by a very astute Chairman who secured value fees which were re-invested through Mogga for transfers, Upgraded the Acadamy & training facilities beyond recognition. Recruited a humble modest hard wording manager with Albion ?Football? ethics who inturn himself source footballers prepared to fight tooth and nail for their manager, fellow pro?s and a terrific set of supporters. Mogga and Mr Peace have galvanized this football club back on the road to where we should be.

Jonno as club captain you aint brain of Britain we all know, but you are one hell of a footballer, and a top bloke, u showed great loyalty to this club in a very fickle age of greed impatience and ill manners. You lead the team all year with dignity and style nice one.

Its been a tough season for all concerned and you can ask yourself where are Watford and Charlton now, believe me it?s a very difficult league to escape from and we have achieved it playing flowing expansive football. Portsmouth amongst many others will not be looking forward to playing the Albion as opposition next season. New faces needed for sure, new and tough challengers ahead.

But the same old faces will still be there cheering on the Baggies in the stands, quality.!

Marks: Straight 10?s for

• Chairman,
• Manager,
• Players & staff
• Supporters

Well done to all. Dickos signing off.