the baggies did well in not letting the unfortunate results of the last two games - and the circumstances under which they came to pass - affect their confidence. a couple of last minute defeats can really demoralize a side - especially in the PREMIER LEAGUE - but the baggies, it seems, have been able to handle it.while one cannot say that there is such a thing as an easy game in the top-flight, it was lucky that the baggies had a fixture that they could reasonably approach in a more workman-like manner than it might be going up against one of the country's bigger sides. west brom certainly didn't need anymore crushing reality checks; just the opportunity to go ahead and win a home fixture that they'd regularly be expected to win anyway.
i don't dislike saints - and they gave me great pleasure as a teenager in becoming one the few 2nd division sides to win an FA CUP, beating manchester united in 1976. but at this point in the club's history, i think that they probably came up a year or two early and they'll need a second run at it; much like the baggies had to do following the 2008-09 season.
while there is no doubt that ricky lambert is a talented striker and saints play a generally attractive style of football, they are light in almost all defensive positions and have had to make use of no less than three goalkeepers so far this season. it is no surprise that they've shipped 14 more goals than they've scored.
after the last two horrific dissapointments - at home to man. city and away to newcastle - which saw the baggies losing both fixtures after deserving at least a point from each, this was an important win and put the baggies back on track. indeed, losing to the toon and city under similar circumstances could very well have knocked belief out of the side, and this was a big test of the team's character and resilience.
in what has become a familiar sight this last few seasons at the hawthorns, the goals came by way of the club's top-scorer of two years ago, peter odemwingie. the nigerian striker set out his intentions fairly early. in the 19th minute - and making a run into a central position from the right wing - odemwingie nearly created a goal, as an off target, left-footed attempt was turned goalwards by a quick thinking zoltan gera who had gotten into a good position in the saints' penalty area. unfortunately, it all happened too fast for any real control and the ball went fizzing over saints' crossbar.
odemwingie came close again with just half-an-hour gone. southampton had a useful spell of possession that saw rickie lambert get a header on target, but the effort was tame and ben foster's astute gathering and distribution of the ball afforded the baggies an opportunity to break on the counter attack.
again, it was odemwingie advancing the ball with shane long and zoltan gera in support. with the saints' back four out of position, the albion striker found adequate space at the top of the 18-yard box to deliver a low, hard shot that just skipped inches wide of paulo gazzaniga's left-hand post.
the nigerian international finally made the breakthrough in the 35th minute. with the baggies starting to exert their superiority in possession, youssouf mulumbu played the ball back for odemwingie whose attempt on goal took just enough of a deflection off saints defender, maya yoshida, to end up in the back of the net. 1-0 to the baggies.
the game might have taken a different turn early in the second-half when jay rodriguez played a looping cross into the albion box that gareth mcauley was unable to clear. the ball eventually fell to rickie lambert whoses skill produced southampton's best opportunity of the match. taking the ball down in a central position near the penalty spot, the saints' striker turned and hit the ball on the half-volley only to see his effort come smacking back off ben foster's crossbar.
the baggies sealed the victory in the 59th minute as shane long broke down the left inside channel. the albion striker held the ball up well before delivering a perfect cross for an onrushing odemwingie to head past gazzaniga in the 6-yard box for the final scoreline.
the baggies showed in this particular match that their success thus far has been no fluke, and that this is a very, very well run club. every year for the past decade or so, the baggies have consistently improved season to season and shown the results of what a top-rate scouting system and good management can produce.
after years of criticism from supporters, chairman jeremy peace can take much of the credit for their current success. it is his faith in the idea that implementing a sound business model would lead to results both on and off the pitch that has served to reinstate the club as a top-level side. in an era when big-spending on big names and managing huge debt has been seen as the key to success, west bromwich albion have bucked the trend, managing their financial resource responsibly, learning from their mistakes and employing creativity and vision in hiring and recruitment.
while the season may be just less than a third of the way through, the baggies can start thinking about more than finishing in the top-half of the table and perhaps start setting their sights on european qualification.
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