Colchester United 3-2 West Bromwich Albion
By Jemma Tappenden
October 25 2007
It must have been a sad case of Deja-vu for Baggies fans last weekend as they made the long journey home to the Midlands on the end of another 3-2 away defeat, a repeat of the scoreline at Southampton two weeks ago. With formidable home form, Albion fans remain puzzled on why away results seem so hard to get.
Albion were boosted with the return of Kevin Phillips, who missed their last two fixtures with a niggling ankle injury. James Morrison also returned to the starting line up, as Gera and Brunt dropped to the bench.
It was a great start for the Baggies, they were off the mark in no less than 6 minutes. Phillips did what he does best, picking up a long kick from Dean Kiely and making it look easy as he slipped past Colchester skipper Pat Baldwin and placed the ball perfectly over Davison from just inside the area.
The lead was a short lived one. Leon Barnett fouled Jonnie Jackson just outside the box at the other end of the field, and was promptly punished as Yeates steeped up to curl the resulting free kick into the back of the net to level the scores at 1-1.
Albion had two decent chances in the following five minutes, but neither Teixeira or Phillips could connect to Morrison’s searching cross and moments later another chance went begging as Ishmael Miller was thwarted by Colchester defender Adam Virgo when it looked likely the striker would make it two for Albion.
The Baggies looked to building up a decent spell of pressure when they were caught on the break in the 19th minute. An Albion corner actually resulted in Colchester player George Elokobi finding Lisbie to go one on one with Albrechtsen, Who was led a merry dance around the field until former Charlton man slotted the ball home from 12 yards.
Baggies fans were forced to hold their breath again in the 27th minute when Yeates left unmarked down the right wing placed a searching cross into the paths of both Granville and Jackson. Fortunately the two got in each others way allowing Kiely to save.
The remaining 10 minutes were very much end to end. Morrison paced down the Colchester goal and looked set to score, only to see his effort pushed around the post by a spectacular Davison save. Lisbie was off again moments later, but the brave Leon Barnett making up for his previous error executed the perfect challenge to clear the danger. Moments before the break James Morrison broke down the left wing for Albion, finding Miller with his back post cross. The big forward wasted no time in converting the cross with his head to find Albion’s equaliser, albeit against the run of play.
Half Time: Colchester United 2-2 West Bromwich Albion.
Albion started the second half reasonably brightly. Within four minutes Phillips was in on goal from a Teixeira cross, after some clever play making down the wing. But the experienced striker could not find the nest this time. Lisbie could and should have scored the host’s third in the 51st minute, but his ambitious 18 yard strike flew wide of the sticks.
Both sides had chances in the early part of the second half, Phillips and Teixeira having the best of them for Albion. But still the score remained deadlocked at two each.
In the 67th minute the game changed when Albrechtsen made a clumsy challenge on Colchester winger Yeates, leaving the ref no alternative other than to point at the spot. Yeates himself converted to make the score 3-2. In the 70th minute a frustrated Tony Mowbray replaced Koren and Teixeira with Gera and Brunt.
Eight minutes later Brunt was in the thick of the action forcing a low right hand post save from keeper Davison. But time ticked away for the Baggies, who despite searching could not quite find the equaliser they wanted, leaving all contemplating why the Baggies do not travel well.
Final Score: Colchester United 3-2 West Bromwich Albion
Phillips (6)
Miller (39)
Yeates (8, 68)
Lisbie (19)
Attendance: 5, 798