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it's hard to tell whether the larger changes have already taken place, or if this is just the first signs of things to come. but make no mistake about it: something's up with this season's PREMIER LEAGUE!!!in some ways, this result was even more important for west brom than the win at arsenal, as it proves conclusively that the baggies' success thus far has been no mistake or fluke, and is the product of excellent management and player performance. there is also a terrific confidence and sense of purpose in the side, and roberto di matteo is the league's manager of the moment.
it's been long hard road whose travel has required years of patient building and organization, but the baggies may finally have arrived.
the baggies typically conceded early with javier hernandez scoring within the first five minutes through a free-kick to united just outside the baggies' penalty area. scott carson got down low to make the initial save from nani's direct effort, but could only manage to parry the ball into the path of the onrushing mexican forward who had no trouble with the easy finish.
this looked as though it might become another typical afternoon at old trafford, making display of the disparity between a large, community-based side like the albion and one of world football's acknowledged super-teams. just on 25 minutes, united increased their lead as nicky shorey lost his footing and nani was left with the opportunity to run in on goal to score united's second and quite predictably they went in at half-time 2-0 up.
the baggies had not played well in the first half and the difference was probably deserved.
however - and in trademark style - the baggies came out for the second half and started decidedly the better team. they continued their recent practice of doing what all winning teams do, which is to put the ball into dangerous areas in the box and force scruffy goals as well as creating well-crafted gems.
with less than five minutes of the second-half played, chris brunt smashed a free-kick low and hard into a melee of players around the united goal, and it crossed the line from a deflection off the leg of united full-back, nani.
a little less than five minutes after that - and with albion creating a good long period of possession and keeping up their attacking pressure on the red devils' goal - chris brunt, again, sent in a looping, spinning cross that veteran dutch international, edwin van der saar, was unable to hold onto as the ball bobbled over his shoulder and was tapped into an open net by albion winger, somen tchoyi.
after that it was down to the excellent defensive play of jonas olsson and gabrial tamas, flanked by gonzalo jara and nicky shorey that kept the baggies in this one to hold on for a quite unbelievable draw. all the more impressive is that they did this without peter odemwingie, and with starting striker marc-antoine fortune isolated and left largely ineffectual by the united midfield.
so, with important players still to come back from injuries, others yet to find form, a really tough set of opening fixtures out of the way, and a current standing of 6th in the league table, there is precious little to be critical of at the moment.
nobody, and probably the team itself, could have imagined that west brom would have been able to take so many points at the front end of the season, given that their first four away fixtures were chelsea, liverpool, arsenal and manchester united respectively.
roberto di matteo has brought back a feeling of excitement and anticipation to following the baggies that was present around the hawthorns in the late 70's. as a supporter, i can't wait for saturdays to roll around and spend friday night thinking about who'll be in the starting team the next day.
yes, it's a very exciting time to be watching the albion!
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