West Bromwich Albion 0 - Liverpool 2

Dave Watkin:

Down but not out - Albion pride in Reds defeat

The Baggies needed to beat Liverpool at The Hawthorns to have a realistic chance of staying up but, playing well; we were thwarted by a defensive lapse, bad refereeing, bad luck and missed opportunities. Our season summed up in ninety minutes.

With both left backs out injured, Ryan Donk made a rare start. An injury to Graham Dorrans meant a recall for Youssouf Mulumbu and despite an improved showing last weekend, Borja Valero returned to the bench, replaced by fit-again Robert Koren.

Albion made a brilliant start to the game and having forced a right wing corner came desperately close to opening the scoring. Chris Brunt swung the ball into the box, Jonathan Greening made a run around the back of the defence and his first time shot was brilliantly beaten out by Reina. Even then the ball fell to Greening and his second shot was blocked at the foot of the post by the keeper?s knees. The Baggies continued to be the better side before, in the 28th minute, falling behind to a bizarre goal. The referee awarded a dropped ball on the halfway line and Liverpool played it back to the Albion defenders, midway inside our half. When the ball was passed sideways to Martis he had an outlet right, but chose to turn back inside and was robbed by Gerrard, who raced through and clipped his shot over the helpless Kiely. With Albion understandably subdued, the Reds almost doubled their lead just before the break. A chip by Gerrard was nodded on by Torres and his header would have sneaked in, if Dean Kiely hadn?t leapt and tipped the ball onto the top of the crossbar and over.

On the restart Albion continued to take the game to Liverpool, but obviously there was a possibility the visitors would take advantage and Torres did curl a presentable chance around the post. The game turned on an incident with an hour played. Robert Koren played Juan Carlos Menseguez in down the right, who, as he cut inside, drew the keeper before squaring the ball to the unmarked Fortun?. As the striker was about to fire into an empty net he was flattened by Leiva, but with Albion players and fans alike appealing for a penalty, referee Martin Atkinson, although well placed, turned a blind eye to the incident. In the 63rd minute the game was as good as over. Kuyt ran at the Albion defence, made an angle and then from twenty yards fired accurately just inside the right hand post. By bringing Valero on for Martis and Moore for Mulumbu, Tony Mowbray was having a go. Lucas might have exploited the gaps in defence if it hadn?t been for a smart diving save from Kiely, before at the other end Koren retaliated by forcing Reina into a diving stop. Unbelievably, Albion then pinned Liverpool inside their own penalty area, as first from a Brunt cross Luke Moore shot on the turn hitting a post and then Koren crossed for Fortun? but the striker missed a golden opportunity by heading over. Then, when Robert Koren tried a shot it ricocheted off a defender to Fortun? who thumped the ball home, only for the linesman to flag for offside. There was even an unedifying punch up between Carragher and Arbeloa as Liverpool got rattled, before on the final whistle the Albion crowd rose to acclaim the team and when they returned for a lap of the pitch the backroom staff as well.

There were plenty of good performances. Dean Kiely was solid, as was Jonas Olsson. Gianni Zuiverloon, Chris Brunt, Robert Koren, Youssouf Mulumbu and Jonathan Greening moved the ball as sweetly as their illustrious opponents for much of the match. I liked the way Juan Carlos Menseguez took on his marker and once again Marc-Antoine Fortun? showed an admirable workrate. Both of the substitutes Borja Valero and Luke Moore were enthusiastic and effective when they came on. We really seem to be getting the hang of playing in the top flight, shame it?s taken so long.

What more is there to be said? It was a lapse of concentration by Martis, who probably didn?t expect Albion to receive the ball from the bounce-up. It was a clear foul when Fortun? was flattened, but who expected the referee to give a penalty against Liverpool. It was the same when the ?pool defenders squared up, not even a yellow card for the culprits. The favouritism shown by refs towards top Premier League clubs is a thing I won?t miss. Once again we engineered plenty of chances but didn?t convert.

Being positive, we outplayed the Premier League runners-up for much of the game. Our fans were first class; compare the gaps in the stands at Middlesbrough and the Newcastle supporters streaming out with ten minutes to go. The key will be to retain our best players and hopefully the fans reaction at the end will have an influence.

STATISTICS

Before today Albion had not scored a single goal against Liverpool in over twenty-three years. In contrast, in a sequence of eight defeats, seven League and one League Cup, the Reds had netted thirty-two times! Our last goal, the first for the club by long forgotten Craig Madden, was in a 1-2 home defeat, at the end of the disastrous 1985-86 season. We have to go back eighteen games, to Saturday 7th February 1981, for our last victory, by 2-0 at The Hawthorns. The goals, by Bryan Robson and Cyrille Regis, ultimately meant we finished 4th in Division One, a place above Liverpool.

ALBION FORMRATE: GOOD

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: JUAN CARLOS MENSEGUEZ

After the Saturday matches our odds to survive were 8/1, now we?re relegated for the third time in eight seasons, we?re 6/1 to win next season?s Championship.

oshawabaggie:

Just finished watching the game on Setanta. Albion's season in a nutshell. Lot's of possession, created chances but couldn't score (even sitters), then killed by a couple of defensive lapses. (lapse is being kind to poor Martis, who will be haunted by this).

The big story for me though was the fans. The Baggies fans must be the best in the world. Great, sympathetic round of applause for Martis. Singing and applauding to the end. No calls for Mowbray's head. What a great bunch! You put the weak Liverpool crowd to shame and deserve a better team.

Keep your heads up and we'll bounce back next year.

Proud to be a Baggie.

Malteser:

It was always going to be an uphill struggle against the Reds, also given our awful record against them. However, I felt optimistic. We gave Liverpool a game, were assured in our play, and looked particularly dangerous on the flanks.

Hopefully, we will retain our best players next season, endeavour to make the Fortune and Menseguez loans permanent, invest in 2-3 players and bring in some youngsters from the Academy ranks.

• Kiely 6.5 - Hardly could be blamed for both goals. His handling was good, and to be honest, I felt more at ease seeing him in goal than Carson!
• Zuiverloon 6 - As usual, tends to leave the back exposed.
• Martis 5.5 - His error in judgement led to the first goal. Lack of concentration left Gerrard to take advantage. I believe that his confidence went down thereafter and he had to be substituted.
• Olsson 7 - Strong and command at the back.
• Donk 6 - Surprised to see him start, he might have been at fault for letting in Kuyt score the 2nd goal.
• Brunt 7.5 - The Player of the Year was dangerous with his crosses, I hope we keep him next season.
• Koren 6.5 - Got stuck in, and had a good chance in the 2nd half, albeit a weak shot.
• Mulumbu 6.5 - Same as Koren.
• Greening 7 - He seemed to tired out towards the end, after an apparent knock.
• Menseguez 7 - Tightly marked, he floated front the centre to the wing often, and gave a very good account of himself. Will only get better by time as he gets accustomed to the English game.
• Fortune 7.5 - Another tightly marked player in what might be his last game at the Hawthorns. Being the lone player up front, it was always going to be hard, however he gave the Liverpool rearguard plenty of problems. Wasted a couple of chances though.
• Valero 7 - I have criticised him in the past as being too frail for the English game, however was impressed with his commitment and play on either flank. He only made 1 mistake all game. He may be a major influence next season in the Championship
• Moore 6 - Not much to choose from the sub bench, he didn't do badly though. Had one good chance.
• Albion Fans 9 - You were Amazing!!

Lickey Baggie:

Beaten but not bowed, defeated but not disgraced. At the end of the game I was bursting with pride after a stirring performance by the team and an even better one by the crowd. It's at times like these when you realise what being a true supporter is all about. The surge of noise and passion when the final whistle went and our inevitable fate was sealed was simply awesome. Many of the players seemed deeply touched by the rousing applause they received when they went on their post-match lap of honour. If they show even a small fraction of the loyalty and dedication that the fine supporters of this club possess, there is hope for the future. If only Tony Mowbray and the players had shown a similar level of enterprise and organisation against some of the "lesser teams" against whom we have suffered far more humiliating defeats in recent weeks, we might have stood a decent chance of retaining our Premiership status.

Player Marks

• Kiely - 7. Not at fault for either goal and made some very good saves when tested. When we were promoted, I saw Deano as a weak link and was really pleased when we secured the services of Scott Carson. On current form DK has to be the first choice GK, by some distance.
• Zuiverloon - 6. Tremendous energy and enthusiasm going forward, but always prone to neglecting defensive duties.
• Martis - 3. Oh dear! One should perhaps make allowances for a player whose only previous experience of English football was at League Two Darlington. This is also a player who cost ?50K and wasn't good enough to play regularly last season in the Championship. Why has he now become our first choice central defender?
• Olsson - 7. Solid and dependable
• Donk - 4. An accident waiting to happen when he played at LB. Fortunately his deficiencies weren't exploited by the opposition, partly because of valiant covering by team mates. Looked more at ease when he moved to the centre. However, his laid-back to the point of being horizontal attitude seems unlikely to change and is no good at all for those of us with a nervous disposition. Should be allowed to go during the summer break.
• Greening - 7. Good game. Strong on the ball, more urgency than usual in initiating forward moves.
• Mulumbu - 8. MOM. Tremendous work-rate, relentlessly harassed the opposition when they had the ball and was generally strong and accomplished when in possession himself.
• Koren - 6. A decent shift, but didn't seem quite back to his best.
• Brunt - 8. Another excellent performance by a player who has steadily improved during the season and who I believe deserves his "Player of The Season" award. Superb corners from the right wing during the first 20 minutes caused all sorts of problems to the opposition. Was also decent with headers, generally incisive and accurate with passing and did more than his fair share of defensive duties.
• Menseguez - 6. Plenty of running with good ball skills. Has a tendency to run into blind alleys and to miss the opportunity to pass the ball to a better-placed team mate.
• Fortune - 7. Tremendous strength always caused problems to the opposition, who resorted to illegal tactics to control him. Unfortunately these went largely unnoticed by the referee (including an apparently clear-cut penalty). Missed a couple of decent chances which could have made a difference.

• Valero - 7. Having been completely ineffective for almost all of the season, he is now showing signs of being a decent player. Will he have the strength of body and mind to play on a muddy pitch at Doncaster in November?
• Moore - 5. So frustrating. The speed and skill that saw him swivel to hit the post with a stinging shot were the attributes of a really good footballer. What is preventing him from doing this on a regular basis?

I will be interested to see what happens over the summer. It's clear that Tony Mowbray has the backing of the supporters. I hope he has learned from his mistakes and manages to obtain the balance in his squad that he has often talked about but not yet achieved. To facilitate the team-building process, I also hope that Jeremy Peace can manage (as he has done before) to secure decent transfer fees for players who are currently surplus to requirements (if Ellington was worth ?3 million, then surely someone can be persuaded to spend a similar amount to secure the services of Luke Moore?).

Brendan Clegg:

Another Premier league season ends in relegation and I'm pretty bitter about it at the moment. I know everyone can say that it isn't this result that sent us down but once again I'm sat here not thinking we're not good enough, but questioning what the point really is in playing in this crooked league.

The referee was abysmal and unapologetic in his awarding Gerrard and Torres free kicks for being breathed on. The amount of their challenges, tugs back and obstructing that went unpunished or without a card, which we received for similar offences, was frankly embarrassing. The very best players in the world are so good they don't need to cheat, but they all do.

In any of our recent top flight campaigns this is as good as we've played against Liverpool, typically we get disgraced but not so today. We harried them, passed it well, were strong and disciplined up until the error and then regrouped after a wobble to be the better side again.

We actually created enough clear cut chances to win the game 4 or 5 - 2 but finishing again let us down.

I know everyone is mentioning his cost, but up until the error I thought Martis was immense, the "best striker in the world" had not had a kick. Jamie Carragher made the same mistake last week against West Ham and their player failed to convert. I thought Gerrard over ran it a bit and Kiely could have got out sooner but it was still a class finish. After the goal, Martis made 2 or 3 more excellent challenges when one on one with Torres and Gerrard. If football-wise he is good enough (and I think he is better than anything else we have got apart from Olsson and Clement) then surely he should have been being played more regularly far sooner than he has been and these mistakes would have been conditioned out of him earlier on, maybe even in the championship. Anyone who has met him will agree what a good and honest guy he is, polite with no ego. Really felt for him today.

The big turning point in the game for me was the penalty incident. The Argie was offside, fair enough, but we got a break for once. He squared the ball and as Fortune pulled his leg back for a tap in he was taken out by the Liverpool player. I have slowed it down and replayed it and there just isn't any way it isn't a penalty and red card.

So we could/ should have been level and them down to ten. The referee bottled it and Kuyt has the ball in the back of the net 5 minutes later to send us down. If that decision had gone against a big club there would have been media frenzy, calls for new technology etc. But because it's only costing little West Brom 30 odd million quid it hardly gets a mention.

For the Kuyt goal I do think Martis prevented that kind of run and shot all game by pressing the ball earlier and I don't think Kuyt would have scored it had Martis still been on the pitch.

After that we created a wall of sound and numerous chances were spurned at either end as we pressed to score.

It wasn't to be, we are down again. Too little too late. It took the players and manager too long to figure the league out. If we started again now I'd back us to finish mid-table but as it is we'll be going to war week in week out in the Championship again.

I just hope we can fend off interested from the players we want to keep and ship out the ones we no longer need.

• Kiely - 7 A couple of world class saves but not the busiest of the 2 keepers.
• Loon - 6 Marauding and some big tackles. My player of the year, but for 2 month dip in form.
• Ollie - 7 Generally did well, a couple of times found out a bit.
• Martis - 6 Was our MOM up until the error. Managed to regroup himself and did OK after.
• Donk - 6 Stuggled positionally but did a decent job, he certainly never got murdered out there. Appears to be very casual.
• Brunt - 7 Great crossing and a constant threat. Looks at home in this league now.
• Koren - 7 Great energy, sometimes lacks that final bit of class but he and Mulumbu dominated the centre against multi million pound opposition.
• Mulumbu - 8 I hope we can keep him. Had a really good game. Creative for a "ball winner".
• Greening - 7 Led the team through his performance, unlucky not to score, reliable in possession. As we've said many times, a lack of pace is really the only thing that stopped him from being a top 6 player.
• The Argie - 7 Pace and good running. Would love to keep him if we could afford him. Exploits the holes well even though he isn't quite on the same wavelength as our team yet.
• Fortune - 7 Ran their defence ragged. If he was clinical in front of goal he would be a hell of a player. I really hope we can keep him, but I expect any side out of the top 6 will be looking at him now.

Subs -

• Valero - 7 Was brilliant again when he came on, thundered into Gerrard a couple of times. If Mowbray had have dropped him sooner, he could have been a revelation in the 2nd half of the season.
• Moore - 5 I have seen more movement in a glacier. And then he turns and hits the post and you get even more annoyed with him because he can obviously play a bit when he can be arsed.

Blackburn will feel a bit like a wake now, but I'll be proud to put on the Mowbray mask.