West Bromwich Albion 2 - Peterborough United 2

Date: Saturday 30th January 2016 Reduced price tickets or special offers available
Competition: FA Cup (R4)
WBA:
3.6
(4-4-2) Myhill 3.8, Dawson 5.0, McAuley 5.9, Evans 5.3, Pocognoli 4.2, Sessegnon 4.5 (Anichebe, 67 3.7), Yacob 5.8, Gardner 4.0, McClean 4.4, Lambert 2.0 (Rondón, 63 4.0), Berahino 6.8
Unused subs: Rose, Olsson, Chester, Gamboa, Leko
Manager: Tony Pulis 3.2
Peterborough:
5.8
Scorers: Berahino (14, 84)
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire) 3.7
Attendance: 22,517   Home Fans 4.5   Away Fans 6.5

Mark Koppel:

TS Elliot said April is the Cruelest Month. If you are an Albion Fan it is January.

In January we normally have a poor set of results and, when most other Premier League Clubs use the transfer window to strengthen, we use it to get rid of a top scoring striker( Earnshaw, Long, Odemwingie, Berahino).

Today was bad enough but we still might have to suffer losing to Swansea, being in serious relegation threat, and losing our only Striker with no replacement, all by next Wednesday.

Today's game showed how weak our squad still is and when we have only 2/3 injuries we cannot even beat League One opposition. Not that it will happen, but we need 3 more new players before Monday night.

Playing ratings for today:

  • Myhill 5 - Only seemed to save shots straight down his throat. Today I was in the Brummie but he looked seriously flat footed(and not for the first time)for both their goals.
  • Dawson 5 - Tried to play wing back role but all his crosses today were ineffective.
  • McAuley 7 - As before, solid without mistakes.
  • Evans 6 - Ok but one or two basic passes went astray.
  • Pocognoli 3 - So this is why Pulis doesn't play him, he is a totally liability. Looked seriously at fault for both goals, and against a League 1 attack.
  • McClean 5 - Looked lively for first 10 minutes and then went out the game after his miss. The Mad Fenian Demon finally played its role second half which ended in a yellow that could have been red if he had caught his opponent. This guy's temper is shorter than Colonel Gaddafi's.
  • Yacob 6 - Solid but he needs creativity with him in the centre which isn't there without Morrison.
  • Gardner 5 - Tried a few shots today but all were way off.
  • Sess 5 - Back to his previously observed form of flapping around without any end product at all. Time to be dropped and brought back in again.
  • Saido 8 - The one quality player we have and some people want to sell him. They obviously want Championship Football as well.
  • The Lump 2 - Obviously not offered a Double Cheeseburger with Chips as a half-time incentive. He was so bad I ended up feeling sorry for him.

Subs:

  • Sick Vic 4 - No he is not the new Troy Deeney, playing just behind the strikers. Did nothing today when he came on.
  • Condon 3 - Got knocked off the ball very easily and still no shots on target. What excuse will we give this week to go with Jet Lag, Wrong Formation, Tiredness? Perhaps it is the strength of Sterling against the Venezuelan Bolivar that is to blame?

Didcot Baggie:

I haven't posted for a while but I have to comment on a freezing cold afternoon spent watching a woeful Albion performance against a team way below us in the leagues.

On the plus side.... Saido scored two classy goals which mean we will either sell him that little bit easier by Monday, or, if we keep him, maybe he can turn in performances like that regularly. If not... we're going to get drawn into a relegation battle as with Jimmy out there is no real class in the side (no disrespect to GMac who puts a dependable shift in week in, week out).

On the negative side.... Poc and Daws blatantly can't cross; Gardner can run around for 90 minutes but to what effect? Lambert is slower than a donkey that's been plodding up Blackpool beach for 10 years, Mclean gets wound up like an angry wasp, Rondon adds little and so on...

Worst was Pulis bringing on Big Vic to play in central midfield. What!!

Peterborough had a number 10 who was the shortest, least muscular, professional footballer I've ever seen. He offered more movement and skill than anybody in our team.

Like many I was happy when Pulis was appointed - a safe bet. But he's a safe bet to get to 17th (hopefully!) with no style or class to our play. And Man U fans think they should be angry! This isn't the Albion of Bomber Brown or Lawrie Cunningham that we all want to see again.

I want to see Albion win a trophy before I die. The FA Cup is a good bet. For god sakes Pulis lets try and win it not throw it away.

michael mills:

Unfortunately, overall things seem to be getting worse, not better. Another ponderous, careless, excruciating performance, from Pulis's team. Tripe and dross definitely to be continued at the Hawthorns in 2016.

Pulis, you certainly know how to rip the heart and soul out of a loyal and passionate bunch of fans, and kill a stadium dead. My youngest daughter cried, after last weeks humiliating and inept attempt at a performance in the derby against an exceptionally poor Villa. The guy in front of me, bought his son a season ticket this year, but he now refuses to attend games. Football? Entertainment? Can you blame him?

Pulis, you are taking my beloved club backwards, at an alarming rate. Rubbish like this, I haven't endured, since the Bobby Gould years. Pulis, you boast you have never been relegated [never won anything either.) Don't count your chickens buddy, there is a first time for everything.

Take Berahino out of the equation, and what is left? Huff, Puff, Delusion, and timid scared journalists who let you off so lightly. So fed up tonight.

Lord Charles:

Yesterday was the end of the line for me. Until Pulis leaves I will not set foot in the Hawthorns again, and this is from someone who has been watching Albion for 50 years. I renewed my season ticket thinking I would give him a season to win me over. I remember only too well how awful Stoke were, but, I heard that Palace were much better and I hoped we would be too.

The last three home games against poor opposition have finally done for me. I expect a cautious approach when we play to top teams but to play the same way against Bristol City, Villa and Peterborough is to me totally unacceptable. Peterborough deserved their draw as we just allowed them to have possession and invited them to attack. The Pulis philosophy being we can get ahead then sit back and hold out. We could not even manage that against a very poor team.

I noticed the huge cheer when Pocognoli's name was read out. Anyone asking why Pulis will not play him had their answer today. Rickie Lambert should do the dignified thing and retire as Andy Townsend did. Berahino, despite not being fit was a class above anyone else and he WILL stay even if it means running down his contract. To sell him would be suicide and would you give any money to Pulis after he has wasted on Rondon, Chester, Lambert, McManaman and McLean? Only Jonny Evans can be regarded as a decent signing.

Has there been a game this season when Pulis has not played someone out of position? He plays our most creative player for SIX seasons in a row (not my opinion but fact), Chris Brunt, at left back! Even now is he is equal first in the assist stats with Morrison with 3. Dawson right back? Anichebe midfield? Now we have Sandro, another thug to go along side McLean... rant over.