WBA 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday

live text commentary


well, this is definitely my last blog before i head off tomorrow night for england, and ultimately, on saturday, i'll be at the hawthorns. today's match was not only a good omen, but it left me in a good mood for the trip and in high expectation that i'll see the baggies register no less than 7 of the possible 12 points that will be available from the matches that i'll be attending.

while the first forty-five minutes was arguably the worst half of football yet played by the baggies this season, it ended up being yet another crucial test of character and collective defining moment in the albion's campaign for automatic promotion.

the first half was so bad that it couldn't hold my attention long enough to keep me from folding some socks and underwear, doing some early packing and organizing for my trip. the only bright spots were luke moore's work-rate while having to struggle with the unsuited role of lone-striker, but still capable of threatening defenses in fits and flashes; and steven reid at right back, who was easily the albion's best player in the first period.



expecting several changes at half-time, i was surprised that roberto di matteo's only switch was robert koren for jerome thomas when the teams returned. this forced a change onto the albion formation that saw chris brunt move to left wing as koren slotted in on the right. it was clear from the first whistle that the baggies were a changed team. they came straight at wednesday, set the tone and dictated the pace as they edged closer to a goal with each attack.

the game really lit up for the baggies when moore was replaced by the recovering ishmael miller, who had an immediate impact with a spirited attack on goal (as well one or two of the sheffield wednesday centre-halfs). from this point on - and barring a couple of poor finishes by the owls when they were afforded a rare sight of goal - the baggies totally dominated. at one point i was just laughing at how long the albion kept a late passing move going. in analyzing and comparing the first and second halfs it was really a performance by two completely different teams.



robert koren was ultimately the hero on the day, and deservedly so. it is rare that someone is awarded "man-of-the-match" for only 45 minutes of football, but the first half was so bad - and by both teams, really - that it couldn't have really gone any other way. youssouff mulumbu's game was one of the most schizophrenic performances of the year... an absolute shambles of a first-half, but in the second period he regained the basic skills and confidence that had eluded him in the initial forty-five minutes.

i haven't really got time to finish this, as i've now taken too long and have to get packed and get out of here. let's just say that this was an example of the baggies once again finding another important win thanks to another exceptional individual effort and performance.

see you at the hawthorns on saturday!!!