By Stuart Kidson
January 11 2004

TWO GOALS FROM JASON KOUMAS AND GEOFF HORSFIELD SEE THE ALBION REGISTER THIER FIRST HOME WIN IN THREE MONTHS. Apologies once again for the late posting but yet more PC problems, this time a keyboard that does not like 'o' being used was to blame. West Bromwich Albion (2) v Walsall (0)
The Hawthorns, Friday 9th January 2004
Nationwide League Division One

West Brom wracked up their first home win in three months thanks to second half strikes by Jason Koumas and Geoff Horsfield, which helped to erase the memories of the opening day encounter between Walsall and the Baggies which the Saddlers won 4-1 thanks to Paul Merson's single handed destruction of the Baggies.

Albion stuck with the 4-4-2 formation used at Nottingham Forest in last weekends 3rd Round ties as Gary Megson looked to end the home game jinx in front of SKY's cameras. However it was the visitors who almost drew first blood when Albion were caught napping at the back. Thomas Gaardsoe missed his tackle in the middle of the park and George Leitao raced away down the right before whipping across for Darren Wrack. Wrack swung his boot from 3 yards out but completely fluffed the chance to put the Saddlers into an early lead.

Walsall were the dominant team in the opening stages of the game and the Baggies had to be thankful to Russell Hoult's reactions when Wrack got the better of Bernt Haas and sent over a lovely centre for an unmarked Gary Birch to power towards goal with his head. Hoult produced a wonderful reaction save to deny the Saddlers.

Walsall had set an early pace with their attacking fotball and Darren Bazeley was next for the visitors to chance his arm when he headed over from 6 yards out following n frm a Vinnie Samways free kick. The Baggies had to defend the onslaught of Walsall for the opening 10 minutes of the game before Scott Dobie bought out the best of Jimmy Walker. Dobie ran onto a through ball from Artim Sakiri, but Walker read the path superbly and dived at the feet of the young striker and nicked the ball from off the laces of the Baggies forward.

The Albion had taken their time to find the pace of the game but began to push as hard as the Saddlers. Walker again came to the rescue of the visitors when he was first to the ball ahead of Horsfield following Neil Clement's downward header. Sakiri had crossed and Ian Roper, who spent the majority of the game on Horsfield's back, failed to clear.

The two teams were both unfortunate in front of goal and the tie entered a period of calm as the sides looked for ways around each others defence. Walsall put some wonderful one and two touch passes together across the width of the park which had the Baggies midfield unit chasing shadows. Unfortunately nothing came of the passing but it was a great display for Black Country fotball.

Horsfield came close with a header that went the wrong side of the Smethwick End upright after Koumas had skipped and jinked his way past Samways before crossing from the left. The Baggies were pushing Walsall but the Saddlers were still very dangerous on the break, but it was Dobie who had the best of the chances. The former Carlisle striker was left with a simple tap in but Jamie Vincent rescued the Saddlers with a well timed challenge. Walsall answered with sme style as Wrack attempted an ambitious overhead kick after former Dingle Simn Osbourn had pulled the ball back and teed up his team mate.

Referee Barry Knight then joined the growing list of officials who seem unwilling to award a penalty to the Baggies when he waved away appeals and then booked Horsfield for diving when the frward went down in the box following a heavy challenge with Roper. Sky TV showed the incident and all of the pundits agreed that it was a dead cert penalty. Well dne Mr. Barry !!!

Albion were far from done though as Clement tried his luck from distance but his 35 yard effort was parried by the alert Walker. Horsfield then blew the best chance of the half for the Baggies when he intercepted a pass from Roper and raced clear towards goal. Roper lunged at the striker with a sliding tackle but the Baggies front man pulled the ball inside and Roper missed his challenge. With only Walker to beat Horsfield waited a fraction too long and his shot was superbly saved by the Saddlers keepers legs. The groans from the packed home stands could have been heard on Smethwick High Street.

Albion continued to apply pressure to the Walsall defence in the opening stages of the second half with a series of half chances, but it was the visitors who had the first solid effort to score when Leitao's shot was hit straight at Hoult. Birch had been a problem for most of the evening and he got onto the end of a loose ball that deflected off Darren Moore. His shot from the edge of the 18 yard box sailed just over the Baggies crossbar.

Albion were being held comfortably by the Saddlers but all the effort up until the the 63rd minute was wasted when a Koumas free kick found the back of the Brummie Road net thanks to a wicked deflection off Vincent in the Walsall wall that took the ball away from Walker who looked to have had the shot covered.

With the bit firmly between their teeth the Albion could have made it two moments later when Dobie and Horsfield broke free following a quick break by the home side. Ritchie and Vincent produced some effective defending to snuff ut the attack. Walsall were still a potent force and Wrack was unlucky not to have equalised minutes later when he ran with the ball before firing just wide from 18 yards out.

Albion boss Megson decided that changes were needed and 20 minutes from time he handed Lloyd Dyer his League debut when he replaced Sakiri in midfield. Two minutes later he was celebrating after his pace had beaten Bazeley and his cross had been headed back across the face of goal by Dobie. Horsfield was on hand to register his first goal for the Baggies and head into an open goal as the Baggies took a 2 goal lead.

The game was a very competitive affair, as local derbies are, and Ritchie and Koumas both needed treatment after they both went full on into a heavy challenge on the half way line late in the game. Ritchie appeared to have made a two footed challenge on the mercurial Welshman, and both men were rolling in agony after the impact. Koumas was stretchered off to a standing ovation from the home fans whilst Ritchie made an attempt to continue. It was obvious that after a few minutes the Walsall defender would be unable to continue and Zigor Aranalde was bught onto replace him.

Walsall made several efforts to get something from the game in the last ten minutes but Gaardsoe and Moore were able to soak up any pressure and help the Baggies record their first home win in three months much to the relief of the home fans.

The baggiesworld.co.uk Man of the Match went to Geoff Horsfield

Teams
Baggies Hoult, Haas, Gaardsoe, Moore, Robinson, Koumas, Gregan, Clement, Sakiri, Dobie, Horsfield
Subs Murphy, Gilchrist, O'Connor, Dyer, Hulse

Saddlers Walker, Bazeley, Roper, Ritchie, Vincent, Wrack, Merson, Samways, Osborn, Leitao, Birch
Subs Allaway, Lawrence, Oakes, Aranalde, Emblen