Wimbledon (0) v West Bromwich Albion (0)

By Stuart Kidson
December 31 2003

ALBION'S CONTINUING DROP OF FORM TAKES THEM TO 4 LEAGUE GAMES WITHOUT A WIN. Despite freezing temperatures 2500 + Baggies fans witness another lacklustre display by their team as they fail to beat bottom side Wimbledon.

Wimbledon (0) v West Bromwich Albion (0)
The National Hockey Stadium, Tuesday 30th December 2003
Nationwide League Division One

Albion continued their appalling run of form in the cold Buckinghamshire surroundings of Milton Keynes as they made it four successive league games without a win. Manager Gary Megson made 6 changes to the side that performed woefully on Boxing Day in an attempt to end the shocking performances the side has been producing of late.

Some 2500 plus Baggies fans braved the bitter cold to sit in an open terrace and were treated to yet another disappointing display by the Baggies as they could only draw against a young and inexperienced Wimbledon side who are languishing at the foot of the table. As on Boxing Day, any neutral watching live on SKY would have been hard pressed to tell that the Baggies were second in the League and Wimbledon were the basement side.

The Baggies started brightly enough, with Ronnie Wallwork crating a chance for himself as he found a way past Nigel Reo-Coker and Adam Nowland, but his long range effort from the outside of the box sailed wide of the post. The Dons could have taken the lead in the seventh minute when Jamie Mackie found his way around Darren Moore and Thomas Gaardsoe, but his shot was wide and did not trouble Russell Hoult.

Wimbledon began to play some nice football around the middle of the park, being allowed time on the ball by the Baggies midfield. Patrick Agyemang was next to try his luck for the home side but again his effort was the wrong side of the upright.

James Chambers, who had replaced Bernt Haas, crossed from the right to find Rob Hulse with a little space and his shot forced Dons keeper, Steve Banks into making a dramatic save and again the Baggies were denied. Jason Koumas sent a dangerous ball into the area on 21 minutes after the Baggies had been awarded a free kick, but a lack of communication between Hulse and Gaardsoe saw the striker put the ball over the top of the defender and out for a goal kick and Baggies fans were left wondering whether Gaardsoe could have nodded in.

The home side had controlled the tempo of the game and were holding their own in midfield, but they were assisted by wayward passing from the Baggies. Chambers almost gifted the home side a goal when he passed straight to the unmarked Mackie who set off for goal before powering a shot just inches over the bar. Nowland then had Wallwork chasing shadows as he beat the former Manchester United and Anderlecht player before forcing Hoult into making a diving save. The Baggies were well and truly under pressure, but it was self inflicted pressure and the away fans could sense the confidence within the team draining away.

Koumas, who has done little to impress of late, made another attempt on the home side defences in the 34th minute, but despite finding a route past Reo-Coker, his shot was tamed by a deflection and fell into the arms of Banks.

Albion could have gone into an undeserved lead minutes before the break but a weak shot by Koumas again who fired straight into the keepers arms. The chance had come from Geoff Horsfield's persistence in chasing what looked to be a lost cause on the bye line. Dispossessing Mikele Leigterwood, Horsfield passed to Hulse who had his back to goal. The striker laid the ball off for Koumas who tried his luck.

At the tea bars and burger stalls situated at the visiting fans end of the ground most of the talk was of the lack of passion by the Baggies again and the lack of noise from the massed ranks of Baggies fans freezing in the winter night. Gary Megson has often commented on the support the team has been given around the country and the lack of any atmosphere generated by the visiting fans must have been apparent to the players and management.

Following the restart, Wimbledon came close to opening the scoring from a corner after Hoult dropped the ball amid claims he had been fouled. Northamptonshire referee Mr. P. Walton dismissed the claims and Gaardsoe had to be on top of his game to clear the ball from danger.

The Baggies were awarded another free kick outside the Dons area and Koumas sent over a dangerous ball towards the back post which Big Dave could only direct over the bar. Horsfield looked set to score his first goal for the Baggies moments later when he ran onto Hoult's long punt up field, but Banks made a good solid block just outside his area and the danger was cleared.

Albion were beginning to get themselves sorted in the opening stages of the second half and yet another Koumas free kick saw Hulse rise above the pack but his header was again just too high and sailed over the crossbar for a goal kick. Albion's injury list grew when stand in captain Andy Johnson was forced to limp off following a crunching tackle in midfield and he was replaced by James O'Connor in the 63rd minute.

Clement, recalled to the starting line up in place of the injured Paul Robinson, sent over a near post cross and Horsfield bravely slid into a tangle of bodies but could not get any position to get a shot off inside the six yard box. The Baggies were increasing the pressure on the home side but the Dons were still dangerous on the break.

Reo-Coker should have done better with his effort from 10 yards but he swung wildly at the ball and it sailed high into the Buckinghamshire night sky following a low centre from Jobi McAnuff. McAnuff then sent over another dangerous looking cross which had Hoult flailing for before Chambers saved the keepers blushes by blocking a stinging shot from Wade Small.

Wimbledon were now applying the pressure as the visitors looked to have run out of any ideas and two long range efforts from McAnuff and Nowland forced Hoult into making two saves in close succession. A squared free kick from McAnuff then saw Small curl the ball over the bar from just on the edge of the Baggies area.

Wallwork almost put the ball past his own keeper when he deflected Agyemang's shot towards the bottom corner, but Hoult got down well and smothered the ball to Wallwork's relief. Koumas then passed stright to Reo-Coker who in turn sent Agyemang off on a run towards goal, but Hoult did well to make himself as big as possible and managed to deflect the ball wide for a flag kick.

The introduction of Scott Dobie for Hulse almost paid off when the former Carlisle striker came close with a diving header at the near post, but the ball skidded off the top of his head and out for a goal kick. Dobie then showed Dean Lewington a clean pair of heels as he raced past the defender into the box, but his shot/cross was from a very tight angle and hit the side netting.

The game finished a goaless draw and the baggies left the pitch to booing from certain sections of the away fans, frustrated at the alarming dip in form displayed by the Baggies just of late. The general feeling amongst the crowd was that the problem lies in the midfield, who play far too deep and fail to close the ball down allowing sides to hit them on the break.

The baggiesworld Man of the Match went to Russell Hoult

Teams
Wimbledon Banks, Small, Leigterwood, Nowland, Gier, McAnuff, Mackie, Lewington, Darlington, Agyemang, Reo-Coker
Subs Worgan, Chorley, Tapp, Harding, Gray

West Brom Hoult, Gaardsoe, Moore, Volmer, J. Chambers, Koumas, Wallwork, Johnson, Clement,
Hulse, Horsfield
Subs Murphy, O'Connor, Dobie, Sakiri, Dyer