By Jemma Tappenden
February 9 2008

Tony Mowbray recalled Chris Brunt and Filipe Teixeira to the Baggies starting eleven, with Zoltan Gera dropping to the bench and Robert Koren missing out all together as Albion travelled north up the M1 to try and end a run of 61 years without a victory at Barnsley. A win this afternoon could have extended their lead at the top of the table.

Barnsley made a bright start to the game, immediately uneasing the 3,500 travelling Baggies support who had taken advantage of the free travel offered up by the club.  As early as the second minute Albion were showing signs that they might struggle to deal with set pieces again, a problem which has cost them goals in recent weeks.   

In the second minute a poor clearance from a corner allowed Anderson De Silva to drill in a 20 yard shot.  His effort was well blocked by team mate Macken, but the ball fell nicely for Nardiello.  His shot hammered off the inside of the right post, leaving the Albion defence shaken, but relieved. 

Just three minutes later there was a second scare for Albion when ex Manchester City striker Macken once again found himself in front of goal.  Cesar and Hoefkens failed to communicate together properly, and when they clashed heads Macken saw the opportunity to advance on the Albion goal.  But on the ball Dean Kiely came pacing out of his area, putting sufficient pressure on Macken to fire wide of the target. 

Relieved to have survived the opening stages of the game without conceding as in previous matches, Albion tried to get a foothold in the game.  But they struggled.  In the 7^th minute another set piece, this time a long free kick from Brian Howard, forced Albrechtsen to head just over his own goal under pressure from Stephen Foster.  Just three minutes later Kiely was preventing Mowbray’s blushes as he held a stinging 25 yard shot from Kozluk. 

It took Albion until the 16^th minute to show any kind of threat on the Tykes goal.  A Brunt left wing corner was headed goal bound by Albrechtsen.  But his effort was blocked by team mate Phillips.  The rare attack was only a brief reprieve as Albion found themselves under siege again almost immediately.  Nardiello should have done better from Devaney’s corner after Cesar failed to clear, and in the 21^st minute a vital Paul Robinson header prevented Nardiello from connecting to Leon’s left wing cross. 

Despite the warning signs and near missed Albion still could not regroup, and they as much as gifted Barnsley their opening goal on the half hour mark.  Caught napping in possession of the ball in his own half, Bostjan Cesar was duely disposed by an alert Nardiello who kept his cool to slot home neatly past Kiely. Barnsley kept the momentum going as half time approached, and Albion once again struggled to get anything going. 

Things went from bad to worse deep into first half injury time when they conceded a second.  Greening did well to block Nardiello’s initial shot on the line, but the rebound fell into the path of Macken, who made no mistake in firing home to double the Tykes lead from 10 yards.  It was easily West Brom’s worst half of football all season, with the divisions leading scorers nothing up only the one half chance on goal. 

Half Time: Barnsley 2-0 West Bromwich Albion 

Clearly angered by his teams first half performance Mowbray made a double change at the break.  Cesar who had undoubtedly had a nightmare in the first half was replaced by Barnett, and Bednar who picked up a knock was replaced by Beattie. 

Albion got the first shot on goal of the second half when Teixeira cut in from the left, but his effort was drive straight at Warner.  But the rare attack had left Albion exposed at the back, and a quick throw out from Warner sent Nardiello racing down on goal.  But Brunt applied enough pressure onto the Barnsley striker to ensure he could only fire at the side netting. 

Albion finally moved up a gear and in the 54^th minute Morrison did well to control Teixeira’s pass, and took a shot at goal which forced Warner into a low save to his left.  Warner was called into action again two minutes later as Robinson found Barnett on the edge of the box.  The Tykes keeper came off his line and bravely saved at the feet of Barnett on the edge of the six yard box. 

Albion pulled a goal back in the 58^th minute, ensuring that the last 30 minutes would be a contest.  Morrison found Phillips in the penalty area who unselfishly heeled back to Morrison to see him tap in from 8 yards.  But the goal was not enough to stick the frighteners up Barnsley.  And just a minute after the Baggies goal Nardiello nearly made it three for Barnsley when strike deflected off Barnett wrong footing Kiely in goal.  Luckily for the Baggies the ball flew just wide of the right post.   

Kiely saved more blushed in the 62^nd minute when he pulled off a terrific save to deny Howard, and the continued onslaught was enough to convince Mowbray to make a third and final change.  Zoltan Gera replaced Brunt.  But Barnsley did not let up, and they continued to press for their third. 

In the 67^th minute Beattie showed a rare touch of class to defy Dennis Souza before powering into the box to tee up 17 goal Phillips.  But it was not to be goal number 18 as the fans favourite scuffed his shot straight at Warner.  Moments later Albion were breaking again, Morrison presented Gera with a glorious opportunity to get the equaliser, but the Hungarian international shot wide of the left upright. 

Nardiello bowed out of the game in the 72^nd minute, as he was replaced by Coulson.  But the Tykes had already done enough to secure three points.  Albion enjoyed plenty of possession in the final stages of the game, they could not even muster up another effort on goal, making it a bad day all round as Watford took advantage of the slip up with a win at Ipswich to force Albion down to second place. 

Full Time:  Barnsley 2-1 West Bromwich Albion 

Morrison (58) 

Nardiello (30) 

Macken (45+3) 

Attendance: 13,083