West Bromwich Albion 3 - Wigan Athletic 1

Dave Watkin:

Albion Alive after Licking Latics

The Baggies needed to beat Wigan Athletic at The Hawthorns to retain an outside chance of staying up and did so thanks to an early goal, some first class goalkeeping, lots of effort and last but not least, some very good football, especially late on.

With three first team regulars, Scott Carson, Paul Robinson and Robert Koren, all out injured, Tony Mowbray gave Dean Kiely his first League start of the season, Marek Cech a rare outing and brought back fit-again Graham Dorrans. In one more change, Juan Carlos Menseguez made his full debut, playing just behind the striker, with fellow loanee and defensive midfielder, Youssouf Mulumbu, returning to the bench.

Albion scored one of their quickest goals of the season in an 8th minute move which involved both full backs. Marek Cech over-hit a left wing cross, but Chris Brunt retrieved the ball and played a clever pass inside for Gianni Zuiverloon. His powerful shot was well saved by ex-Baggie Chris Kirkland, but the ball fell kindly for Marc-Antoine Fortun?, who had the simple task of nodding home. Just minutes later the Baggies had their current keeper to thank for retaining the lead. From a right wing corner, Zuiverloon kicked a Kapo volley off the line, before Dean Kiely made a miraculous double save. First he got down quickly to save a fierce low drive from Brown and then, still prone, used his feet to foil Kapo, from point-blank range, at the foot of the post. The Baggies came close to doubling their lead when Chris Brunt clipped a superb ball in to Juan Carlos Menseguez, just inside the penalty area. The Argentinean still had a lot to do, but he cleverly twisted past his marker and hit a shot which substitute goalkeeper Kingson just managed to claw away. The game was action packed and in the 17th minute, out of the blue, the visitors were level. From twenty yards out, Rodallega struck a free kick straight at the wall where it took a wicked deflection to elude the wrong-footed Kiely. Both sides could have gone into the break ahead but for the keepers. First, Kingson saved a cross-shot from Fortun? and then Valencia galloped through the centre of the home defence, only for the advancing Dean Kiely to smother his shot.

Both keepers were in action again early in the second half. The Baggies defence allowed Wigan to work the ball through to Melchiot, well inside the box, from where he struck a fierce drive forcing a reaction save from Dean Kiely. When Jonathan Greening picked up a clearance ten yards inside his own half, we hardly expected him to go on a run through the centre leaving defenders in his wake, but that?s what he did, finishing with a rising left footed shot which Kingson did well to push over the bar. The important breakthrough came in the 59th minute. Sheer persistence from Marc-Antoine Fortun? won a penalty, when he was chopped by Bramble near the goal-line. Chris Brunt stepped up and although his kick was saved by the keeper, he latched onto the rebound and coolly smashed the ball home. A classy Albion goal wrapped up the game in the 74th minute. A sequence of crisp passes from Greening, Cech, Mulumbu, Zuiverloon and Valero found Chris Brunt wide right, from where he picked out Borja Valero, who had made a powerful intelligent run down the wing. The Spaniard showed great awareness to spot that Marc-Antoine Fortun? had pulled clear of his marker and cut the ball back, a neat side-step and a low shot did the rest.

In recent matches the workrate of Marc-Antoine Fortun? has been superb, so we shouldn?t be too surprised that this week he has coupled that with a brace of goals and also won us that vital penalty. However, the turn-up for the books is that he has been run so close for man-of-the-match by a reserve goalkeeper and a much maligned midfielder. Dean Kiely made at least three match winning stops, including that double save-of-the-season. Borja Valero looked re-born, all of a sudden he seems to have discovered how to play Premier League football, adding energy to his undoubted skills he was involved in much of our best football. Perhaps he was helped by having Juan Carlos Menseguez ahead of him, a player capable of controlling a pass and taking on defenders. Gianni Zuiverloon and Chris Brunt also shone, both looking increasingly at home at this level. We?ve probably played better and lost, we did look nervous under pressure, especially when the opposition pushed players forward for set pieces but, overall, we were well worth the massive three points.

STATISTICS

Wigan Athletic were not elected to the Football League until 1978 and remained below even the second tier of English football until 2003. Nevertheless Albion have played them five times, strangely in Divisions with five different titles; Three, Two, One, Premiership and Premier and have recorded a victory in each season. Three of those wins have been at The Hawthorns, the biggest margin being 5-1, on Saturday 24th April 1993, when Bob Taylor scored twice and Paul Raven, Kevin Donovan and Micky Mellon added the others.

ALBION FORMRATE: GOOD

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: MARC-ANTOINE FORTUNE

Two matches remaining and Albion have more points than at this stage in any of the previous Premiership seasons, plus we?ve already won more games than in any of those three campaigns. So, we?re still in with a chance, albeit a slight one, consequentially the odds against us staying up have been slashed from 40/1 to 8/1.

Throstle:

Well the dream still lives on... for another week at least!.

Just heard Big Ron and Mogga' on Radio WM and when Tony was asked as to how he thought the chances of avoiding relegation were after beating Wigan, with a chuckle in his voice he said (from this aging memory!) "Very slim to be realistic but we'll keep battling on"

About the game itself he said "It was an open game but for me we gave them to many opportunities but the defence had a bit of luck. Their keeper made some great saves as did Dean Kiely. We played some lovely football in the second half. I'll be interested to see what the bookies think of our chances now. It was 200-1 on then 100 to 1 on! We'll simply go out to do our best"

Just a few words on the game... Dean Kiely made some great saves. Fortune showed he's coming to terms in the Premiership, while for the second game running Borja Valero showed massive improvement. And how he laid on the pass for the third goal!

So yes we ARE still in with a chance but all along it's the thought of having to play Liverpool next week that's convinced me that sadly we won't avoid the drop. 'Big Ron' summed it up thus "They need to win both of the remaining games and hope other results go their way"

Saw Deanno's mask of Mogga before kick off! Lifelike and somewhat scary! Who knows he may just be persuaded to hand out a few before the Liverpool game? Any chance Deanno'?

Brendan Clegg:

I thought we got the rub of the green today, whether that comes from the belief that we can win matches in the Premier League or otherwise.

Interesting line-up with Carson and Koren presumably injured and 4-5-1 against a side we needed to beat.

We started OK and went a goal up after some great play from the Loon.

We could and should have made it two nil with the Argie doing brilliantly from an equally good long pass only to see their keeper make a great save.

From then on for most of the first half I thought we were second best. Their midfield was too powerful for us and they bullied us around the pitch and could have scored a few goals but for some poor finishing, desperate defending and outstanding goal keeping.

Dorrans was doing his best and Valero was a bit of a passenger but they swamped us. The Argie was looking useful in the hole in front of them and Greening was having a go from the left but coming into the centre a lot to give us a bit of strength.

For the final 5 of the half we seemed to get back into the game but it was honours even.

At that point I would have taken off Valero, as he was doing OK without influencing the game, for Bednar to go and try and steam roller them.

But in the second half we came out with a bit more purpose. Greening nearly scored a goal having run from the halfway line but his final shot was too near to the keeper.

Valero, not sure if anyone wound him up at the break, pretty much took the game by the scruff of the neck in the centre, not just with his passing but by being aggressive and running his legs off. The introduction of Mulumbu for a hobbling Dorrans seemed to bring him out of his shell even more.

After the penalty miss then goal he was everywhere. It was his great pass out to Brunt, run and then centre that set up Fortune to finish well for his second and our third but he also popped in areas to make vital interceptions and in one instance ran the length of the pitch to get up with the Argie who if his pass had been better would have ended up with a likely goal. It was as if, suddenly, he 'got' English football and it clicked. Extremely encouraging no matter where we end up next year.

We saw out the clock well and we move on to next week. To quote Adrian Chiles, "It's the hope that kills you".

Running through all the possibilities drives you mad.

Two unlikely wins might not be enough.

Then again, if Borough and Newcastle draw on Monday, and then both fail to win a game thereafter, Hull are on 34 points with a goal difference of 5 better than us at the moment.

We need them to lose away to Bolton and at home to Man U in the last game of the season. It's not inconceivable that we lose by an odd goal to Liverpool but then beat Blackburn, and Bolton win by a couple of goals and Utd trounce them on the last day, and we stay up with 34 points. What are the odds?

Marks -

• Kiely - 8 I actually thought he could have stopped the goal but, apart from a couple of dodgy cross moments and kicking, he was outstanding.
• Loon - 8 Top class. Hope he keeps this form up for the next 2 games. We need it.
• Shelts - 7 A couple of errors but generally a good, honest shift and he won everything in the air.
• Ollie - 7 as above a couple of blips/ sloppy passes but pretty good.
• Cech - 5 Had a bit of a mare. Looked and played like he hasn't played football all season.
• Brunt - 7 Another solid game from a player who is looking increasingly comfortable at this level.
• Dorrans - 6 Not as good as of late but still hit some great passes and made some good covering challenges. Don't think he was a match physically for them in the centre.
• Valero - 8 Took a while to get going but when he did he was excellent.
• Greening - 7 Thought we missed his strength in the middle but was generally mr dependable. Should perhaps have shot earlier several times.
• Argie - 7 Looked a real threat until he tired late on. Great feet and pace. Nearly scored a wonder goal. I would keep him.
• Fortune - 8 Led the line as he always does, chipped in with some goals too. Excellent.

Subs -

• Mulumbu - 7 Was a bit of a worry to begin with but settled down and then did his job and brought the best out of Valero.
• Donk - 6 Wailed the ball anytime it came anywhere near him. Lovely stuff.
• Simpson - 4 One good run and shot but otherwise crap. What was the point? Surely Tex or Bednar deserve minutes ahead of him?

Paul Barnsley:

A slightly odd one yesterday. For once we won a game when no-one could have complained had we lost. I was surprised by Wigan. Not only were they strong, huge, well organised and tough (which I anticipated) but they were also surprisingly technical, fast, played with decent ball rotation and created numerous chances. In short they look like an established premier league team and I can see why they were - I think 7th - a few weeks ago.

As TM has said we had to go for it today and be more expansive, this resulted in an end to end affair, mistakes and chances flying about and a generally good game to watch.

Player marks

• Kiely 9 - three fantastic stops - including an incredible double save after we had opted not to defend a corner. Would have got 10 except I feel he was at fault for their goal, Although the free kick was deflected, from my position in the Brummie it looked as though it went almost straight through him. His kicking also remains poor but he is a much better bet for the last 2 games than Carson. I would love to know how someone of Kiely's age manages to get down to the ball about 10 times quicker than an supposed international. Would Kiely have stopped Jenas' shot last week? I suggest he would.
• Zuiverloon 8 - A very good performance. Got forward well (his shot created the first goal), overlapped, tackled well, strong and powerful. Generally looked the player we saw at the start of the season. Hope we don't flog him to PSG.
• Olsson - 7 One major clanger where he unfathomably missed the ball. Other than that commanding, blocked a number of efforts and needed to make a number of last ditch interventions.
• Martis 5 - A number of clangers yesterday. Olsson bailed him out two or three times in the first half.
• Cech 6 - So embarrasingly better than Robinson it's untrue, particularly when we go forwards. Put the cross over that led to the first goal, overlapped all day, passed it excellently and seems totally unflappable. Defensively got done a few times and seemed a yard too slow at times. Hardly surprising when he has been bench warming all season. For me TMs biggest error this season is not being clever enough to resolve the differences he has with Cech as he could have made a major contribution.
• Brunt 6 - was Brunt. Two sublime passes will linger in the memory, in particular the very lovely lob that sent through Mesenguez.. Got lucky with his crap penalty, backed out of challenges/tackles and was lazy. In other words a typical Brunt performance. Wouldn't be sorry to see him go I have to say.
• Dorrens 7 - Not his best game but think he will learn from yesterday as he came up against a very good Wigan midfield. Never stopped trying, some great passing and some very good tackles. However his inexperience was evident at times and he let Wigan players run off him too often, This boy has got a real future however and his attitude seems spot on.
• VALERO 9 - MOM by a long way. Ran the game for us. Great tackling, unreal energy and his short and long passing was of the highest quality. Made the third goal and kept the ball in the way that only the best players can. Tried his heart out and ran about 100 miles. Those who have abused him (and there are many) should watch a tape of last week and yesterday and hang their heads in shame for treating a Albion player like that. You have nearly destroyed the lad's confidence, I am so glad he has found it within himself to ram the goons abuse back down their throats. MUST STAY.
• Greening - 7 Burst though the Wigan backline and it was like watching a game in slow motion! Out on the left yesterday and less involved as a result. Tried to influence matters and worked very hard. I do like Jonno, but wonder if he still rates the badge kissing fist pumping bluffer as one of the best left backs in the league having been supported by Cech?
• Fortune 9 - Scored two goals, has great workrate, runs the channels in a totally unselfish manner, has great awareness, is strong and holds it up really weel, very nimble feet (see penalty award) and is just generally much better than anything else we have at the club in that position. MUST STAY (or at least not go to Dingles)
• Mesenguez 6 - large parts of the game passed him by. Clearly has talent and seems to be honest and hardworking as well as skillful. Had one great chance from a lovely pass from Brunt, he turned Bramble inside out but couldn't get the ball out of his feet.

Subs

• Mulumbu 8 - looks a useful addition to the squad. Puts his foot in a proper manner, distributes well and generally gives us a robustness that we probably need next year. Another who we should try to keep imho.
• Donk 5 - played out of position after the tiring Cech was removed and seemed totally uninterested. Just aimless hoofs up the park, we all know he has talent and normally will look to pass it.
• Simpson N/A - disgracefully booed onto the pitch by brain dead Albion fans. Not only does it say a lot about the people who enjoy booing young boys starting out in the game (always a strain of this at the Albion imho) but no doubt will do wonders for future attempts to get other Arsenal players on loan.

Two final points:

1. The Brummie is back! It was loud and jumping yesterday. Easily made more noise than the curiously quiet Smethwick. Hopefully, this will continue as it was great to make some noise.
2. How great was it to see the under 15 team and their pot being paraded at half time? They got a great reception and it just adds to the feeling that we have the best set up at junior levels at the club than we have had for years.