By Stuart Kidson
November 1 2003

Was it a case of two points dropped or one point well deserved ? Would the epic battle at Newcastle in mid week be too much for the Baggies to overcome ? West Bromwich Albion (0) v Sunderland (0)
The Hawthorns, Saturday 1st November 2003

A tired and lethargic Albion slipped from top spot in Division One following a goalless draw with Sunderland at The Hawthorns this afternoon. With Wigan beating Crystal Palace convincingly 5 - 0 earlier in the day The Baggies needed a win to remain on the top of the pile. Wednesday nights marathon effort against Newcastle in the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup had obviously taken its toll on the Stars in Stripes.

Gary Megson made three changes to the side that had started at St. James's Park with Jason Koumas returning to midfield, Paul Robinson returning to the left wing back position after being cup tied for the mid week game and Lee Hughes partnering Rob Hulse up front. Sunderland included loan signing Stewart Downing.

The Black Cats were unlucky not to have taken an early lead when in the fifth minute James O'Connor fouled Downing on the edge of the Baggies area. John Oster chose to shoot rather than pass and Russell Hoult did well to dive low to save the shot. Moments later the visitors were granted another chance when Oster again was involved. This time rather than going for goal himself he laid the ball off for Marcus Stewart. Hoult was beaten but Baggies Captain Sean Gregan was on hand to clear the ball from danger.

Sunderland were by far the fitter of the two sides with the Baggies looking decidedly jaded across the length and breadth of the pitch. Sunderland had been able to enjoy seven days rest between their league fixtures, whereas the Baggies had been involved in a high tempo game mid week and it showed.

Another chance fell for the North East side after 19 minutes when Stewart robbed Gregan of the ball. Kevin Kyle was on hand to pick up the loose ball and fire a shot straight at Hoult. The traffic was not all one way and the Baggies soon forced Latvian International Mart Poom into a fine save when Koumas tried his luck from 25 yards.

The game was see sawing from end to end and Robinson was working hard on the left side of the pitch. It was the former Watford man who sent over the cross that Hughes headed back across the face of goal as Sunderland blustered about trying to clear. The ball fell to former Black cat Bernt Haas but his shot was deflected to safety by the visitors. Moments later Robinson was again involved when hit a long ball over the back of the Sunderland defence but poor control by Hughes meant he had lost the advantage and Poom was able to deal with the threat comfortably.

Sunderland attacked again and sloppy play in midfield by O'Connor allowed Downing to pick up the ball and run at goal. His shotlooked to be heading for goal but Hoult managed to beat the ball down and Thomas Gaardsoe cleared before any Sunderland striker could react.

Hughes and Darren Williams seemed to be having a personal battle in front of the East Stand and the former Smethwick roofer was lucky not to enter the book for his blatant challenge from behind which saw the Sunderlnad defender end up face down on the grass. Andy Johnson had found himself in the book earlier in the game for his challenge on Julio Arca and it looked likely that either Williams or Hughes would be joining him in the book when they clashed in front of the Smethwick End goal. Williams appeared to push his head into Hughes's face and both players were called aside for a chat with referee Mr. C. Penton.

Sunderland then pushed forward again and Downing was able to deliver a pin point cross for Stewart to head downwards but Hoult was again on hand to prevent the visitors from taking the lead. Hughes then made a reckless challenge on Williams and the referee had no choice but to book the Baggies striker.

Tempers were beginning to become strained as the referee made a series of bewildering decisions and Robinson was the next player to be cautioned for a late tackle on Williams. The Albion fans in the East Stand could sense that there was tension on the pitch and this was compounded when Williams again was involved. This time the Sunderland defender showed a cowardly and petulant side to his character when he blasted a loose ball ino the stands. The ball hit a female fan square in the face and knocked her out. Paramedics were called for as stewards tried to ease tempers amongst the home fans. Koumas ran over to Williams to protest at his actions towards the home fans who booed every time the Black Cat player touched the ball. It is believed that several fans have complained to West Midlands Police about the incident.

As the half came to a close tackles and challenges were flying in from all angles and directions and Haas was then lucky not to be added to the book when in an off the ball incident Downing was left on the floor clutching his face. Sunderland striker Kyle then added to the tension in the stands when he made a meal of a challenge from Gaardsoe and threw himself to the ground in dramatic fashion but the referee waved play on and Gaardsoe cleared the ball. Sunderland finished the half on the attack as Downing sent over a low cross which forced another clearance from Gaardsoe.

Megson tried to bring some stability to the game at half time when he replaced O'Connor with Artim Sakiri and Hughes made way for Scott Dobie. It was the visitors who found the route to goal first though when Arca weaved his way down the left and delivered an awkward cross which skipped across the face of goal before going out for a goal kick.

Albion were unlucky not to have opened the scoring when Gaardsoe almost scored with a header following a Koumas corner but Jeff Whitley was stood on the goal line to clear for the visitors.

Referee Penton came in for some more critical chants from the home side moments later when former Ipswich Town striker Stewart made a reckless challenge on Hoult which saw the Baggies shot stopper laid out in front of his goal and requiring treatment. To his credit Stewart apologised profusely to the keeper and to the referee and the incident passed with nothing more than a quick chat with Mr. Penton.

Sunderland continued to apply the pressure and Stewart thought he had given the visitors the lead when he somehow managed to toe poke the ball underneath Hoult into the open net, but former team mate Haas had other ideas and he raced back to clear the ball off the line to deny his former employers. Hoult then produced a top drawer save when used all of his skill to tip over a header from Kyle that looked to sneaking in under the crossbar.

Sunderland were now in their best period of the game and again they pressed forward looking for the goal that would have killed off a tired Baggies side. Stewart rushed down the right and pulled back a pass for Whitley, but somehow the hero from a few moments before could only manage to sky his shot and send it flying high into the Smethwick End Stand.

The game was entering the last 30 minutes when Whitley again came close but former Blues player Gary Breen was guilty of getting in the way of a stunning 20 yard volley and the ball was deflected just wide of the upright.

Megson made his last change of the game when he sent on Neil Clement for Hulse which bought some remarks from the home fans who could not understand why the manager had sent on a defender for a striker, but Clement ran straight up front and replaced the former Crewe hit man.

Albion were looking to hit the visitors on the break and almost snatched a victory when Dobie raced past his marker to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for Clement. The former Reading player tried to flick the ball into the net but Poom got down well to his left and smothered the effort. The Baggies were temporarily reduced to 10 men when Robinson limped off for treatment. Mick McCarthy could sense that one goal would secure all three points and he ended Stewart's nightmare afternoon in front of goal when he replaced him with Tommy Smith.

The game continued in much thesame vein as neither side could find the back of the net, Clement came close to becoming a hero in his stand in role when he was found by Koumas with a telling through ball but the defender could not control his shot and the ball drifted wide of the post. The game ended goaless.

Albion were tired and looked lethargic in all areas of the pitch thanks to 120 minutes of furious tempo cup football in mid week but this is not an excuse as many Baggies fans will say that this kind of performance has happened several times this season. The tactic of sending long balls up field for the strikers will only work if the Baggies had a player able to win the ball in the air or who has a good first touch. Hulse and Dobie can do neither of these things and as long as they continue with these tactics then performances like todays will become the norm at The Hawthorns.

The baggiesworld.co.uk Man of the Match went to Andy Johnson.

Teams
BAGGIES: Hoult, Gregan, Gaardsoe, Gilchrist, Haas, Johnson, Robinson, O'Connor, Koumas, Hughes, Hulse
Subs Murphy, Clement, Sakiri, Dobie, Volmer

MACKEMS Poom, Arca, McCartney, Breen, Williams, Downing, Healy, Whitley, Oster, Stewart, Kyle
Subs Wright, Smith, Ingham, Thirlwell, Bjorkland