West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
By Jemma Tappenden
November 7 2007
Searching for their 4th consecutive victory it turned out to be a game of much controversy last night at the Hawthorns for Albion. Striker Kevin Phillips marked his 50th performance for Albion, and despite netting a crucial goal for the Baggies his evening of celebration was spoiled by his exodus from the game nine minutes from time through injury.
Tony Mowbray made just one change ahead of last night’s fixture. Teixeira replacing Morrison despite the sides solid display in the stunning 3-0 defeat of Watford at the weekend. A win for the Baggies could see them climb to 2nd in the table providing Bristol City failed to take all three points.
Unlike previous Albion games this one got off to a slow start, not helped by an early clash between Ishmael Miller and Akpo Sodje. Miller was forced to come off field and back into the dressing room to receive treatment. Despite the temporary loss of the 11th man, Albion applied serious pressure onto the Owls box. Nothing really materialised for the Baggies despite the sustained pressure, and the most exciting even to occur in the following five minutes was the reappearance of Ishmael Miller, complete with full set of head bandages.
Lucky for the Baggies that Miller returned unscathed. He recorded the first shot of the game some 15 minutes into the half, working his way past Beever's before seeing Owls keeper Lee Grant collect his 20 yard effort with ease.
At last the dull period declined, and by 20 minutes into the half Albion were cruising and in complete control. There was a moment of horror as Zolton Gera looked to have laid it on a plate for Tudgay inside the Albion half. Luckily Albrechtsen was on-hand to ensure that the striker did not trouble Dean Kiely. Moments later Cesar was making an acrobatic clearance over his own bar to prevent the inch perfect cross of Jermaine Johnson from finding its intended target.
In the 20th minute Baggies fans thought they should have been boing boinging as Miller latched onto Teixeira’s through ball. The intended cross from Miller was deflected into the net by Wednesday defender Simek, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
The disallowed goal had really spurred Albion on. Gera tried his luck with a powerful volley from 15 yards and Miller was denied by a last ditch attempt from Beever. Teixeira came close from 20 yards but his effort was just over the cross bar.
In the 37th minute Sheffield Wednesday finally broke from their own half. It was the first time in nearly 20 minutes. Tudgay came close with a glancing header from a Johnson free kick. It was not long before Wednesday were pinned back in their own half. Albion forced a super save from Grant as Miller launched a fierce ball from a Phillips hook up.
An even closer chance came from the resulting corner, trusty Greening providing the corner ball, Phillips turning on the edge of the six yard box to crack a shot off the post before the resulting scramble forced another Albion corner kick.
Mowbray was forced into a change in the 40th minute. Albrechtsen who had been carrying a knock for some duration of the first half finally limped off to be replaced with Pele. The last chance of the half fell to the Owls, Tudgay wasting a glorious chance from 12 yards.
Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Albion could and should have been two goals to the good just after the break. Three minutes into the half Hoefkens was released by Koren. The Belgian squared the ball the Phillips at 20 yards, and the Baggies marksman placed his left footed shot over the bar. Just moments later Koren outwitted the Owls defence and teed up Miller just 8 yards out. But the popular onloan striker squandered his chance, not even troubling Wednesday keeper Grant.
The second half was beginning to be a repeat of the first, with Wednesday almost exclusively restricted to their own half. Miller was presented with a glorious chance midway through the half, but Owls keeper Grant pulled off a fluky two footed save.
Still searching for a way through the Baggies started doing the Owls defensive job for them. Teixeira looked set to score when he fired in a ferocious shot from just inside the box, but without even knowing Miller took the impact, giving Grant a much easier save. As the game entered the second period of the second half it was clearly the Wednesday keeper that was keeping them in the game. Two fines saves from Phillips and Robinson kept the scores level.
Finally, with just 14 minutes of time left on the clock, the Baggies got the break they so desperately deserved. Paul Robison picked out Phillips perfectly with his cross, leaving the popular striker with an easy job to head in goal.
The celebrations were short lived for Kevin Phillips, in the 81st minute with 9 left to play and just 5 minutes after his goal he was stretchered off. Having used all three subs available, Albion were forced to see out the half with only 10 men. The remaining 9 minutes and eventual 6 minutes of extra time looked to be no problem to the Baggies, who remained in control. But it was not long before controversy arose. Despite signalling for 3 minutes of injury time, referee Miller allowed play to roll into the 96th minute. It was during this time that he waved on play, despite a clear foul on Hoefkens by Tudgay. In allowing so Watson took a shot on goal, which beat Kiely to level the score in the dying moments of the game.
Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Phillips (76)
Watson (90+6)
Attendance: 19,807