Coventry City 0-1West Bromwich Albion

By Jemma Tappenden
April 30 2007

Forget the race for the Premiership title, this year it's all about the top of the Championship! Blues and Sunderland are promoted thanks to Derby's loss against Palace yesterday. But with Derby the only side currently guaranteed a play off place its all go for the last day of the season next week!

Whatever is said about Saturday’s game, the end result was one of high importance. You can’t fault Albion’s fan base. With tensions running high a massive 6,411 baggies made the short trip up the road to Coventry City’s new Ricoh Arena. Decked out in Irish colours, in honour of duo Paul McShane and Dean Kiely, they witnessed the taking of another three vital points in the promotion race.

The fun and games continued on the pitch – just days after the FA reversed the red card decision made at Burnley last Monday, Diomansy Kamara received his marching orders for a second bookable offence in the 92nd minute of play. Mowbray was left fuming at Kamara, who will miss a vital game for the Baggies next week at home to Barnsley. The result however was what counted at the end of the day.

There were three changes from the side that started at Turf Moor, Sodje returning from the foot injury that had caused him to miss a couple of games, and Phillips and Chaplow returned to the starting eleven in place of Ellington and Koren who dropped to the bench. It was a scrappy opening from both sides, not seeing any real threats on goal until the 10th minute when Zoltan Gera struck with his head just wide of the left post from a Jason Koumas corner. Kamara wasted what could have been a fruitful chance when he slotted the ball just behind Chaplow who was in a perfect firing position. It was Coventry who threatened next, although Robinson was more than equal to the challenge. The biggest scare of the first half for Albion was in the 18th minute, when defender Sodje needed treatment on what was feared to be a repeat of his foot injury. Thankfully the defender was able to continue. After a few half chances the deadlock was finally broken in the 37th minute, Kevin Phillips with a powerful header from 10 yards to put Albion 1 up. There then followed a flurry of half chances at either end, Albion coming close to shooting themselves in the foot on more than one occasion. There was an eventful end to the first half when Coventry City’s teenage debutant Turner was shown the red card for a challenge on Phillips.

The start of the second half was marred for Albion as Mowbray was finally forced to substitute the injured Sodje at half time. His replacement Albrechsten came into right back, and McShane slotted into the centre of defence. Kamara missed a glorious chance to double the Baggie’s lead in the 51st minute as he latched onto a pass from Greening. Kamara was foiled by City keeper Andy Marshall, who saved at his near post. Dele Adebola missed Coventry’s best chance of the half, as Dean Kiely made a superb one handed save to curl it around his right post. Albion had copious chances to further their lead, but instead the game ended in an entirely different eventful manner. City boss Iain Dowie was dismissed to the stand in the 86th minute following a vigorous touchline protest, and just minutes later it was Kamara heading for an early bath after tripping McNamee for a second yellow.

The result was the right one. With victories for other play off hopefuls Wolves, Stoke and Southampton the three points were vital. Albion move to 4th position, Wolves to 5th and Southampton sneak into the playoffs in 6th place after Preston lost to Plymouth. There are still three teams outside of the playoffs who remain within touching distance as we approach the last game of the season. Stoke, currently 7th on 72 points, missing out to 6th placed Southampton by goal difference alone. Preston on 71 points and Colchester on 69 have the slimmest of mathematically possibility to hang on to. Both Wolves and Albion, both on 73 points will have to win their remaining game to ensure playoff place, with the table as tight as it is on the last day of the season there is no room for error. Wolves visit Leicester City, and the Baggies entertain Barnsley. A little food for thought…..if the table remains this way the two midlands sides will meet each other in the first leg of the playoffs. Still a long way to go yet though.