West Bromwich Albion 1 - Oxford United 1

1-1 after extra time; Albion win 7-6 on penalties

Date: Tuesday 26th August 2014 
Competition: League Cup (R2)
WBA:
4.5
(4-2-3-1) Myhill 6.6, Wisdom 4.6, Dawson 5.6, McAuley 5.6, Davidson 5.6, Yacob 4.7, Baird 2.8 (Gamboa, 105 6.3), Berahino 4.8, Sessegnon 5.5 (Mulumbu, 78 6.0), Brunt 5.6 (Morrison, 64 5.1), Ideye 3.7
Unused subs: Foster, Olsson, O'Neil, Roofe
Manager: Alan Irvine 4.2
Oxford:
6.4
Referee: J Adcock (Nottinghamshire) 6.7
Attendance: 10,939   Home Fans 4.5   Away Fans 7.2

Summary:

Albion squeezed through to the next round of the League Cup thanks to extra time and penalties. Alan Irvine made seven changes to Saturday's starting lineup by bringing in Brown Ideye, Chris Baird, Gareth McAuley, Jason Davidson, Claudio Yacob, Boaz Myhill and Stephane Sessegnon.

Despite the home side dominating the stats over 90 minutes, full time ended 1-1 after Danny Hylton's strike 5 minutes from the end cancelled out Johnny Mullins' 29th-minute own goal; the equaliser looked to have been on the way since Youssouf Mulumbu replaced Sessegnon eight minutes earlier and Oxford manager and former Baggie Michael Appleton made several attacking substitutions.

Extra time followed and the score remained at 1-1, prompting what started out as a less than impressive lesson in taking penalties. Danny Hylton put away the first for Oxford, then James Morrison saw his weak effort saved by keeper Max Crocombe, Boaz Myhill saved from Michael Collins and Crocombe saved again, this time from Ideye before Tom Newey shot wide and Mulumbu scored to make it 1-1 after three penalties each. Matters improved, however, and Will Hoskins, Saido Berahino, David Hunt, Yacob, Alex Jakubiak, Craig Dawson, Josh Ruffels, Andre Wisdom, Mullins and Cristian Gamboa all scored to make it 6-6 before Boaz Myhill broke the deadlock by saving from Jake Wright and Davidson made it a 7-6 victory for Albion.

Perhaps not the most impressive way to progress to the next round, but still better than Man United (who went out 4-0 at MK Dons), Burnley (who lost 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday), Leicester (who lost 1-0 at home to Shrewsbury) and West Ham (who drew 1-1 at home with Sheffield United and lost 5-4 on penalties).

Barcabaggies:

How close this was to overshadowing the Woking defeat, particularly in view of the supposed superior quality of the 2 Albion teams?

Firstly, I was more than satisfied with the starting eleven, thought the manager was definitely taking the competition seriously and expected a comfortable win, with a few goals. Indeed I felt 14/1 for a 4-0 win was reasonable value. I should know better!

After the first half hour, where we dominated, looked comfortable and played above average, it appeared there was a collective feeling of "well, these lot are easy, won't need to try too hard to beat em" and so they didn't. As we've all seen in these games over the years, we attempted to close the game at 1-0 with the inevitable consequences. Who didn't foresee their equaliser, well before it actually came? As I said to my mate "Can we hang on to force Extra Time?"

Why, with that apparent to all, did Irvine make defensive subs? All that did was put us further on the back foot. In that respect, I have concerns about him, I don't see him making positive substitutions, rather always attempting to "close the game out"

Other concerns:

  • Wisdom - Quite simply the WORST full back I've seen at the club in years, if not decades, his positional sense is non existent
  • Brown - May not yet be fully up to speed, I hope this is the case, otherwise we have vastly overpaid

Didcot Baggie:

That was a shocker - a Premiership team made to look average (if that) by a poor Division 2 team. It was that bad - especially when you consider the strength of the Albion team Irvine put out. So what have we learned 3 games in:

  • Wisdom lacks fitness (looked knackered 2nd half) and can't cross
  • Baird is simply appalling so far. Should be nowhere near the first team.
  • Dawson isn't Premier League standard
  • Berahino (despite 2 goals) seems to have no touch or guile upfront anymore
  • Sess is probably in the same category
  • Ideye is yet to prove his worth - certainly can't take a penalty
  • Big Vic will be lucky to get you 5 goals a season

Most of all we lack creativity up front. Lets get an attacking coach who can help generate some ideas. Irvine seems straight from the Steve Clarke coaching school.

On the plus side, Big Mac and Jonas look reliable, Brunt seems reinvigorated and Gardner, Gamboa and Pocognoli look useful signings. With others to come in we can still put out a decent first 11. The home game against Everton will be a good test.