West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Crystal Palace
By Jemma Tappenden
March 12 2008
Tony Mowbray insisted that it was imperative that his side out the euphoria of FA Cup success to one side to concentrate on League business as they continue the press for promotion. With three games in had top spot was still in Albion’s sights and very much in their control if they could make things go their way. Could the Baggies capitalise on the first of their games in hand tonight?
Mowbray made two changes to the side that swept aside League One opposition Bristol Rovers at the weekend. Both Zoltan Gera and Kevin Phillips were restored to the starting line up, with James Morrison and Roman Bednar dropping to the bench.
After a steady start from both sides Albion created the games first real chance in the 7th minute, Gera and Phillips pairing up to allow Phillips a shot on goal which went just wide from 18 yards. Four minutes later Ishmael Miller did well to escape his marker and get in a cross which was painstakingly close to Jonathan Greening in the box.
It was proving to be a tight game, with chances few and far between. In the 15th minute Gera tried an ambitious shot from 30 yards, and then Phillips went close from a header after Greening had placed a perfect cross. But under pressure from the Palace defence Phillips could do no better than find the side netting.
29 minutes had past before Neil Warnock’s side created their first real chance; Shaun Derry played a diagonal ball into the box where Tom Soares headed straight at Dean Kiely. Moments later Albion paced down the field to take the lead. Paul Robinson surged through the middle of the park to find Phillips with a defence splitting pass. A good first touch from Phillips allowed him to control and place the ball over Palace keeper Speroni for his 200th league goal.
Five minutes before the break Albion were forced into an early substitution when Chris Brunt had to leave the field through injury. James Morrison was the man to replace him, and he was straight into the action as he spun his marker on the edge of the box, only to fire straight into the arms of Speroni.
Crystal Palace were also forced to make a change before the break, Soares joined Brunt in the injury room and was replaced by Clinton Morrison. Half Time:
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Crystal Palace
Things went from bad to worse for Albion during the break, as substitute James Morrison was substituted himself through injury, he was replaced by Korean republic International Do - Heon Kim. Within 20 seconds of the restart Kim was pressing for Albion, trying his luck with a 35 yard cracker that flew just wide.
In the 52nd minute Palace produced what had been their best chance up to that point. Clint Hill connected to Watson’s free kick to head just wide of the post. And just three minutes later Palace drew level. A left wing cross from Hill was flicked on by Jamie Scowcroft who had risen well above the Baggies defence. He nodded down to a waiting Moses who slotted home past Dean Kiely after the rest of the Albion defence had been caught napping.
It would prove to be his last action, as Moses picked up an injury and was forced t leave the field of play in the 61st minute, Shaun Scannell coming on in his place. The Palace equaliser had knocked all sense of rhythm out of the Baggies side, and so in the 68th minute Gera was replaced with Luke Moore as Albion looked to spruce up their performance.
With 20 minutes left to play Albion at last began to inject some life into their performance. Miller tried his luck with a 30 yard piledriver which Speroni struggled to hold. He gathered the ball on the second attempt however before Moore could pounce. Seconds later it took a full stretch dive from Speroni to keep out Kim’s 20 yard strike.
As the game came towards an end Moore wasted a terrific cross from Robinson by heading over from 10 yards, and Miller fired over from 15 yards after collecting a neat pass from Kim. In a final chance Phillips 20 yard shot was deflected by Hill, but the Palace keeper was alert to the danger.
A disappointing night for Albion, who await news on injured duo Morrison and Brunt. Morrison is believed to have gone over on his ankle, whereas Brunt seems to have developed a hamstring strain.
Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Crystal Palace
Phillips (30)
Moses (55)
Attendance: 20,378
...but just LOOK at that pathetic attendance:
20,378
We pulled around 22,000 for a night game last week versus Southampton. The temperatures were absolutely freezing...in fact, if your nads didn't drop off, you were bloody lucky.
Then there's the utterly $HIT football; lack of goals; lack of wins; lack of stylish play....yup, that's Wolverhampton Wanderers for you this season.
Compare that to a Tesco team who seemingly score for fun; regularly knock in 3, 4 or even 5 goals; play with style, pace and no lack of class....oh, and you've had a great Cup run, too. So, ENTERTAINMENT has been absolutely top-notch for you lot, whereas we've had utter DROSS served up under the guise of 'football'...and that's been since Day One of this season.
Yet, once again, our fans outshine you. Yes, you've go BY FAR the better team...but hey, we all know which club has the bigger, better fanbase, don't we? It's not much comfort at this moment in time, I admit...but it'll do me.
Shucks...it seems I reneged on that "not scoffing" promise. Well, you should never trust a Wolf in sheep's clothing, should you? (snigger)
Regards, a self-satisfied, smugly superior KKH.
... 
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:13:10:37:24 by King Kenny Hibbitt.
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
However, I will point out that on the back of last seasons "success" the club earned itself an impressive 18,000 or so season ticket sales.
This is 4,000 more than Albion currently claim to have - but most likely means that their match day sales are better than ours.
And I can't imagine anything like 18,000 have accepted the early bird offer.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
Given THEIR team...
THEIR resources...
THEIR results...
THEIR free-scoring entertainment...
THEIR success over the past 5/6 years
We'd have 27,000+ full houses at Molineux. YOU KNOW IT.
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:13:10:40:36 by King Kenny Hibbitt.
Just trying to prevent the outbreak of WW3!
I'm a pacifist lol.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
Don't want things TOO cosy on here, do we? Lol...
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
Boy, oh, boy.... I can't wait!!!
By the way: has our Tony stopped counting? If so, tell him to add ONE MORE to the list...ho, ho, ho!!!
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:13:10:51:53 by King Kenny Hibbitt.
I could never marry a Boggie. Against all my principles, it is. Besides, I'd be at war where the kids are concerned. NO WAY would I put up with my beloved kiddies EVER wearing a Sh*t shirt. NO WAY.
As I said, my brother's married to one of 'them' lot...but he put his foot down and brought the lads up in the correct, civilised manner: they're both happy, well adjusted ST holders at Molineux.
Okay, they aint getting much joy these days, but at least they know they belong to the bigger 'half' (what a misnomer!) of the 'Black Country Divide'.
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:13:11:02:45 by King Kenny Hibbitt.
Now are you sure you are not a Boggie fan in disguise? lol! 
.....
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
Besides, if I'm a "closet Sh*t fan"...what does that make YOU? After all, I've made my feelings for that lot perfectly clear -as SHWG acknowledges.
Contrary-wise...
YOU have yet to make a considered statement...
...Other than polite chit-chat, that is.
There! That's put yer in ya place, ay it, nurse?
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:13:11:46:17 by King Kenny Hibbitt.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
Trust you to invite him back. DOH!!!
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
Our ground is bigger than yours, when we were in division 9 we took so many fans upto whats it names. If we played that game we would have that many.
All speculation Kenny. Yes we may not have so many fans as you Wolfies, The bragging rights are well and truly yours. You are a bigger supported club than ours. As are Leeds United, Nottingham forest Etc, etc.
Some could argue you have more fools, who sit there week after week, if its that dross on Matchday.
Wigan sit in the premiership, with poor attendances, As do Boro, as do Fulham. all in a better place than us. Extra fans don't make your club any more successful.
You can have that as your one upmanship, i'll take the higher league positions,Cup runs Goals etc as mine.
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
You were right.
I rescind my remarks.
I can clearly see I've upset my Number One fan and I didn't mean to do that.
Went down like a lead balloon, it did.
Hope I'm forgiven because the guilt is killing me.
Sorry, Tony.....I'll send you my autograph by way of recompense.
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
....The fact SHWG p*ssed me off for poignantly (and subtlely) indicating Wolves are sh*t and going nowhere had nothing to do with it.....
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
By the way....how's the counting going? Are we winning, matey?
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
.....
COME ON YOU WOLVES....GERRIN' TO UM, AND F*CK 'EM OFF!
Kenny, mine was also humour errr without a smiley. Honest.
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
only teasing. See attention.
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:13:13:39:07 by janets2803.
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:13:14:10:35 by janets2803.