By Stuart Kidson
February 15 2004

FOLLOWING ON FROM THE DEBACLE AT DEEPDALE LAST WEEKEND THE BAGGIES NEEDED A WIN TO KEEP THEMSELVES IN TOUCH WITH LEADERS NORWICH. FACING LENNIE LAWRENCE'S CARDIFF WAS NEVER GOING TO BE AN EASY TASK West Bromwich Albion (2) v Cardiff City (1)
Saturday 14th February 2004, The Hawthorns
Nationwide Division One

Lee Hughes grabbed a late winner to give the Baggies a well deserved victory over Lennie Lawrence's Bluebirds despite having to cope with the now predictable abuse from the away fans in the Smethwick End. Hughes was ideally placed to poke home Thomas Gaardsoe's header and end an unbeaten run of four games for the Welshmen.

Gary Megson faced a crisis mid week when it was revealed that Russell Hoult could be out for up to 9 months with a back injury, ending his run of 67 games between the sticks for the Baggies. Megson went back to his old club, Sheffield Wednesday, to secure the services of Kevin Pressman as cover for the number one jersey, but many fans were left asking what goalkeeping crisis after Joe Murphy stepped into Hoult's shoes and performed superbly.

The atmosphere inside the ground was red hot as the Cardiff fans sang their hearts out for their team and Wales, and although the tension was there both sets of fans were a credit to their clubs as the game passed off with no violence anywhere inside the ground despite reports of trouble outside.

Murphy, who was given a fantastic reception by the home fans, was called into action inside 60 seconds as Robert Earnshaw looked to extend his tally after Paul Parry got the better of Bernt Haas on the left and crossed for Earnshaw. The Welsh international turned superbly and hit a low shot from six yards out, but Murphy did well to get down and prevent an early lead for the Bluebirds.

The game had set off at a terrific pace and Earnshaw again tested the stand in keeper when he unleashed a thunderous shot from 25 yards but Murphy was enjoying his chance to make the number one shirt his own and dealt with the effort comfortably.

Cardiff keeper Martyn Margetson was in the thick of the action after the visitors lost possession just inside the Baggies half and Jason Koumas charged forward before letting fly with a 20 yard shot which Margetson did well to stop and hold onto.

Gaardsoe created pressure for the home side when he gave the ball away needlessly on the halfway line to Parry. The former Hereford player sent a cross into the Baggies area where Peter Thorne rose highest to head down. Murphy was aware of the situation and his reaction prevented Richard Langley from edging the visitors in front as the Irish keeper rushed from his line to dive and punch the ball from the toes of the Cardiff player.

Albion responded with Neil Clement heading straight at Margetson after being picked out by a superb cross from Hughes on the right. Clement went close moments later when he unleashed a rocket shot from 25 yards which Margetson could not hold at the first time of asking. The keeper spilled the ball but dived onto the loose before Geoff Horsfield could react.

The game was flowing at pace as both sides prodded and probed each other, but in all fairness Albion had a slightly superior edge over their visitors. However, former Stoke player Graham Kavanagh, had other ideas and it took a wonderfully timed tackle from Gaardsoe to prevent the superb Cardiff captain from bearing down on goal.

Margetson was soon in action again when Mark Kinsella let loose a wonderfully hit shot from 30 yards which the keeper did well to push around his post at the last minute. From the corner Horsfield put the ball into the back of the net but a push by Darren Moore on Danny Gabbidon ruled the goal out.

Big Dave was in the thick of the action again minutes later at the next Albion corner when he beat the former Baggies player, Gabbidon to the ball but his header was not directed well and went high and wide of the goalmouth.

Albion were now in control of the game and they kept the pressure on the visitors with some nice inter linked play across midfield with Kinsella and Andy Johnson spreading the ball out wide. Margetson was called upon to save the day for the Bluebirds again though when he blocked Horsfield's flicked effort from a Clement cross. The keeper reacted first to the loose ball to pull off a good two attempt save.

As the game drew close to half time Cardiff conceded a free kick in dangerous territory and Koumas was very unlucky to see his 20 yard kick curl just wide of the top corner which must have shaved a coat of paint from the outside of the post.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first had finished with the Baggies applying most of the pressure on the Welsh side. Margetson almost scored a very bizarre own goal though when he totally miscued his clearance from a Gabbidon back pass. The ball skimmed the top of his boot and spun backwards towards goal but fortunately for the keeper the ball went wide of the post for a corner.

Johnson was then set up by Horsfield moments later as the Welsh international raced in from midfield to blast the ball wide as the Bristol born player looked to break his duck for the season. Albion were unrelenting in their pursuit of the first goal and Gabbidon almost turned provider when he lost possession on the edge of the box to Horsfield. The former Blues striker lost his balance on the wet surface though before he could do any damage.

Albion's efforts were rewarded on 56 minutes when Koumas fired in a free kick which an unmarked Clement headed powerfully past Margetson for his first goal since October 4th at Gillingham.

Cardiff responded immediately when Gabbidon raced clear of the defence. Murphy raced to the edge of his area and threw himself forward to head the ball clear but poor contact saw the ball slew upwards and fall for Parry whose shot across the face of goal was a tad rushed. Murphy threw himself in an attempt to block the shot but the ball raced through a crowded goalmouth and out for a goal kick. Parry again caused problems for the Baggies defence moments later and he sent a wonderfully weighted ball across for Langley but the Ronaldhinio lookalike could only head straight at Murphy.

Cardiff were now pushing the Baggies back and began to apply the pressure on the Albion. The visitors were the stronger team but that did not stop Horsfield from forcing Tony Vidmar into making a strong challenge as the Yorkshire born striker bore down on goal. Koumas was feeling the effects of the game on his knee and Gary Megson replaced him in the 73rd minute for Sean Gregan.

With little over 10 minutes remaining on the clock Cardiff stunned the home support and sent the packed away section into raptures when Kavanagh's free kick from the left was edged over the line with the merest of touches from substitute Alan Lee. The massed hordes of Cardiff fans went wild with delight and were celebrating again just 5 minutes later when Earnshaw finally lost his marker and shot the ball past Murphy. Fortunately for the home side the referee's assistant had spotted the player was offside and the goal was ruled out.

Hughes, who had been on the receiving end of some abuse from the Cardiff fans over his court appearances, silenced the Welsh fans when he poked home the ball into the Brummie Road goal after Gaardsoe had sent his header low towards the left hand post off a Lloyd Dyer cross.

Earnshaw wasted a perfect chance to draw level in the closing minutes when he vollied high over the crossbar when a simple tap would have sufficed, but the whistle went and the Baggies took all three points.

On a positive note the game was a boost for the Baggies following last weeks debacle at Deepdale and will do some good inside the Albion camp for confidence as we now enter the home straight in the run in for promotion. Cardiff deserved a little more from the game and will certainly figure largely in the run in to the end of the season no doubt. Their fans were the best to have been to the Hawthorns so far this season creating an atmosphere that was second to none.

The baggiesworld.co.uk Man of the Match was awarded to Joe Murphy

Teams
Baggies Murphy, Haas, Gaardsoe, Moore, P. Robinson, Koumas, Kinsella, Johnson, Clement, Hughes, Horsfield
Subs Pressman, Skoubo, Dyer, Gregan, J. Chambers

Cardiff Margetson, Weston, Gabbidon, Vidmar, Barker, Langley, Boland, Kavanagh, Parry, Thorne, Earnshaw
Subs Alexander, Prior, Campbell, Lee, J. Robinson