By Stuart Kidson
September 13 2003

The long drive along the A14 back to East Anglia must have been a nightmare as Ipswich fall to the bottom of the table. Thomas Gaardsoe, Rob Hulse and an own goal all added to the worries of the Tractor Boys. West Bromwich Albion (4) v Ipswich Town (1)
The Hawthorns, Saturday 13th September 2003

West Brom new boy Thomas Gaardsoe broke the hearts of his former employers this afternoon when he headed in his first goal for The Baggies in the 12th minute of play. Albion last win over the Tractor Boys came on January 2nd 1983 when Gary Owen and Gary Thompson scored in a 2 – 1 at Portman Road.

Manager Gary Megson called upon the same players that had won at Pride Park two weeks ago to continue the run of form that The Baggies are enjoying early in the season. The notable change on the subs bench was the inclusion of Alassane N’Dour replacing James Chambers. Artim Sakiri took his place on the bench and his name was met with loud jeers from the travelling Ipswich support but this was countered by the loudest cheers of the day by the home crowd. The controversy was added to by the inclusion of former Baggie George Santos on the Ipswich bench. Santos was the player responsible for the challenge on Andy Johnson that sparked the infamous Battle of Bramhall Lane two seasons ago which saw the game abandoned due to a lack of players for Sheffield Utd.

The visitors started the game determined to show that they did not deserve to be at the wrong end of the table and pressured the Albion lines for the first 5 minutes. Larus Sigurdsson was on hand early on to clear a Fabian Wilnis cross out for a corner and the flag kick was headed powerfully away by Rob Hulse. Sean Gregan let fly minutes later with a powerful volley that was heading on target but Kelvin Davis was able to hold onto the ball.

Albion were pushing forward now and Lee Hughes entered the fray with a nice display of skill and pace to leave the Ipswich defence static before driving the ball inches over the bar. Minutes later Jason Koumas delivered one of the best cross field passes ever seen at the Hawthorns when he found Bernt Haas running down the Baggies right from all of 55 yards. Haas beat his marker and sent the ball across the Ipswich area into the path of James O’Connor. Unfortunately the former Stoke City midfielder was crowded out by the Tractor Boys defenders.

The opening goal came courtesy of a Koumas corner when Gaardsoe rose above his former team mates to plant a sold header into the bottom corner of the net. Gaardsoe’s name had been met with rapturous applause from the largest travelling support seen at the Hawthorns this season and a few could even be seen applauding his goal. The goal seemed to lift the Baggies team and Koumas, sent off in the week for Wales, went on a trademark run beating two challenges before shooting wide of the mark.

Koumas was again at the heart of things for the Albion second when his curling free kick from outside the area in front of the Smethwick End. Davis appeared to have come out to collect the ball as it hung in the air but he spilled the catch and it fell in front of Rob Hulse who managed to steer it across the line with his thigh to extend the Baggies lead.

Hughes was adjudged to have fouled Ipswich defender Drissa Diallo as he chased down a flick on from Hulse. Albion now had the bit firmly between their teeth as they went looking for the third goal to tie the match up in the opening 45 minutes. Another corner gave Gaardsoe his second opportunity of the afternoon. Despite slipping and being sat down on the floor, the Danish defender somehow managed to direct his shot towards the goal only to be pushed onto the bar by Davis and out for another corner.

Ipswich were still playing very attractive football and gave the home side a brief scare on the half hour when Alan Mahon brushed the top of Russell Hoult’s crossbar following a free kick. Ipswich refused to be beaten but failed miserably in the final third of the pitch to be of any real threat to Hoult’s goal.

The Baggies should have made sure of the three points within the opening 10 minutes of the second half when Hulse broke free of his marker and through the Ipswich offside trap to race towards goal. He steered the ball around the onrushing Davis and sent over a cross for Hughes but the ball was cleared out for a corner. Neil Clement picked up a loose ball from the flag kick but his effort which was hit from outside the box, went agonisingly wide of the upright.

Albion kept up the pressure on the Ipswich back four and Koumas should have scored with a long range effort but he hit the shot straight into the arms of the keeper. Hulse was again causing problems for the Town defenders but missed his chance as he took too long shooting and allowed Wilnis to get a foot in to clear for a corner. Hulse made no mistake this time around and his header found its way into the back of the Brummie Road net from another Koumas corner.

5 minutes later Ipswich got the goal that they had deserved when Jim Magilton sent over a corner that found the head of Richard Naylor. The travelling support had been very quiet up until this point came alive and finally got behind their team. Ipswich continued to press the Albion back and Gaardsoe was forced into a clearance moments later to deny Darren Bent.

West Brom were losing the battle in midfield and Megson saw this as the time to make changes. He replaced Koumas with Artim Sakiri and this bought jeers from the Tractor Boys in the Smethwick End, but the Macedonian skipper was given a standing ovation by the Baggies faithful.

Ipswich pressed again and were unlucky when Bent raced through the Albion defence but failed to make any contact with the ball. Hughes again came close minutes later following some neat passing between O’Connor and Clement, which saw him attempt to chip Davis from 20 yards. His effort, however, went wide.

Ipswich bought on Santos to a huge amount of noise from the Brummie Road Stand and the cry of ‘There’s Only One A.J.’ rang out around the ground, referring to the now infamous incident at Sheffield. Haas had been playing a solid and dependable role down the right for the Albion all game, producing perhaps his best performance of his Baggies career so far, so he was unlucky to see his fiercely hit shot at Ipswich’s near post go just wide.

Diallo completed the misery for the visitors on the 86th minute when he managed to head Clement’s cross past his own keeper. Hoult was forced into making to fine saves in the dying minutes.

The signs are there that the Baggies are becoming a force to be reckoned with this campaign. The new signings are bonding well with the older players and there is an understanding developing between all of the players that should see the Baggies challenging for at least a play off berth come the end of the season.

Man of the Match selected by Sam Evans aged 13, a season ticket holder in the East Stand – Bernt Haas

Teams:

Baggies: Hoult, Sigurdsson, Gaardsoe, Volmer, Haas, O’Connor, Gregan, Koumas, Clement
Subs: Johnson, Sakiri, N’Dour, Murphy, Dobie

Ipswich: Davis, Wilnis, Diallo, Naylor, Richards, Wright, Magilton, Bart-Williams, Mahon, Couango, Armstrong
Subs: Santos, Bowditch, Bent, Westlake, Price