West Bromwich Albion 5-0 Scunthorpe United
By Jemma Tappenden
December 30 2007
After a stunning home performance against Bristol City on Boxing Day, which saw Albion net four second half goals and go top of the league, a win against 19th placed Scunthorpe United would firmly establish their position at the top. So, could the Baggies give the home fans another goal feast to continue the festive celebrations? You bet they could.
Despite welcoming back a host of players from injury, including Ishmael Miller and Martin Albrechtsen, Tony Mowbray named an unchanged starting eleven. He did however make two changes to the bench, opting for no substitute keeper as Luke Steele and defender Leon Barnett replaced by Chris Brunt who had recovered from a hamstring problem and Filipe Teixeira who had been ill
the outset Albion were flying high, and Scunthorpe were soon feeling the force of the divisions top side. Defender Kelly Youga, returning from a four match suspension was given a baptism of fire as the onslaught of attack began. In fact within the opening minutes he had made two crucial near post blocks to keep the Irons on level terms. In the 8th minute left back Williams saves his sides bacon when he made a crucial block on the line from a Kevin Phillips downwards header.
It was 7 goals in 7 games Roman Bednar who was next to take a turn on goal. Bt again Albion were denied by desperate Scunthorpe defending, this time skipper Andy Crosby denying the Czech his 8th goal with a crucial challenge after Bednar had controlled a pass from James Morrison well. Despite the onslaught from Albion, Scunthorpe continued to hold on, throwing everyone behind the ball and frustrating the Baggies by packing bodies into the area.
They did however have to pay gratitude to keeper Murphy, who made a series of important saves. In the 20th minute Murphy blocked Bostjan Cesar’s goalbound header from a Greening free kick, and then was called into action immediately after as Gera pounced on to yet another Greening set piece. In a rare counter attack Scunthorpe troubled the Albion defence when Jack Cork very nearly connected to Forte’s dangerous cross.
Morrison might have done better at the other end when he cleverly dispossessed Youga and beat off several challenges before firing well over from 20 yards. In the 32nd minute the Baggies had a big let off when Martin Paterson connected to Youga’s diagonal pass. But his first touch was not good enough when he only had Dean Kiely to beat.
Two minutes later however the Baggies were in front. Causing controversy amongst the Scunthorpe fans, to whom Phillips appeared to be offside, the 13 goal striker beat the offside trap and to pick up a perfectly placed pass from Morrison. Phillips let rip an 18 yard right footed volley which beat Murphy and sailed into the left hand top corner of the net. The goal brought Baggies fans and Irons boss Nigel Adkins to their feet. The latter of which was dismissed to the stand for his protests at the referee in allowing the goal when he believed Phillips should have been flagged offside.
Eight minutes later Scunthorpe were reduced to 10 men when Williams was shown the red card for tugging at Gera’s shirt when he was clear onto a through-ball from Pele. As the last man Williams was given his marching orders, in what appeared to be a harsh decision. It got worse for them two minutes into first half stoppage time when Albion doubled their lead. Zoltan Gera sent Hoefken’s clear on the right who centred to Koren to allow him to slot home for his second goal in as many games.
Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Scunthorpe United
Mowbray made one change at half time, replacing Roman Bednar with Ishmael Miller. And it did not take long for the 9 goal marksman to get into the stride of things. Turning Baraclough on the edge of the box he unleashed a powerful shot on goal, but super keeper Murphy was first to the ball. Miller would instead have to watch as his strike partner Phillips grabbed his second of the game, and fourth in two games to put the Baggies three up.
In the 52nd minute Murphy thought he had spared United’s blushes when he raced off his line to deny Morrison after he had been played in by Phillips. But the loose ball fell to the lurking Phillips who chipped the ball over a deflated defence and into an empty net. There was no reprieve for Scunthorpe as Albion continued their bombardment. Murphy, earning his pennies well came to the rescue again when Miller fired in a dangerous shot from 15 yards, and again moments later when Miller placed a header straight into his hands after Phillips had played him in.
hero of the hour was then called upon to save a penalty when Miller was brought down in the box by Youga. Murphy denied Phillips his hatrick and 16th of the season by making a save to his low left from Super Kev’s spot kick. Phillips will have to wait until New Year’s day visit to Ipswich Town before getting the chance to score number 16 as he was take off just three minutes later and replaced by Craig Beattie.
A stunning 64th minute save from Kiely kept the three goal cushion intact for Albion when Ian Morris headed goalwards from a Taylor set piece. Kiely was straight back on his feet to make a second save from Taylor’s follow up. Miller, fastly becoming frustrated by the handy work of Murphy in the Irons goal was yet again denied by a near post block. The on-loan striker held his head in frustration as the ball bobbled out of play.
Superman Murphy was beat however in the 78th minute when Gera chested down the ball to volley into the net. And three minutes later it was five as Beattie scored what could easily be goal of the game. Controlling the ball perfectly from Greening’s pass before making a carbon copy of Gera’s goal. Another thriller at the Hawthorns ended up a 5-0 victory for the Baggies, as they followed up their 3-2 victory at Glanford Park to complete the double over Scunthorpe United.
Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 5-0 Scunthorpe United
Phillips (35, 52)
Koren (45+2)
Gera (78
(81)
Attendance: 25,238