Magpies 2, Baggies 3
St Pete Inspires Baggies Fan to Early Christmas Present
Paul Scharner, Peter Odemwingie and their Baggies team mates gave their supporters the perfect Christmas present with another late enthralling away victory, this time at Newcastle. Following on from the nerves and tenseness of the Blackburn match, many a Baggies fan in St James Park (or should that be the Sports Direct .Com Arena) had a massive increase in blood pressure as they twice saw their team throw away the lead before Scharner wrapped things up late on in a pulsating encounter.
Being with the away support meant that you were up in the heavens with almost as good a view of Gateshead as the actual pitch while the mirror like glass next to us could have confused many a Baggie with a tipple too many that they were getting double vision. The travelling support was out in force for a midweek trip up North just before Christmas and were vocal throughout an enthralling match. The Newcastle fans had their moments, but as was noted by the Black Country folk, their famous atmosphere did not quite live up to its reputation.
There's only two St James' Parks
There was one change in personnel for the Baggies from the Rovers game. Morrison who struck a beauty in that win had a strain and was replaced by Thomas. Just as noteworthy was that Brunt and Thomas switched to there more natural positions, possibly for the first time under Hodgson as left-footed Brunt went on the left and Thomas on the right.
Things didn’t start too well in the game with Stephen Reid picking up a bad knock from an early clearance. He looked to play on but the injury caught up with him as he looked to play the ball out from the back. Newcastle had a great chance to capitalise as Reid collapsed next to the ball, but sportingly played the ball out for a throw in to leave the former Irish International get treatment. He was replaced by young Billy Jones, who had his first real chance to play in his preferred right-back position and he was to go on to have a solid game.
AS the game settled down, the Baggies defence looked solid. Thomas and Brunt reverting back to their natural positions but Thomas didn’t get many chances to have a run while Brunt misplaced several passes. Indeed there were requests for Brunt to come off by some of the more aggravated supporters, but he is always prone to produce a moment or two of magic. And so it proved to, as it could be said of his performance; apart from setting up two goals, he was useless; but in the Premier League – two goals is quite a lot.
The first saw him play an inch perfect ball behind the Newcastle defence. The industrious Peter Odemwingie, who looks to be back to his best with a magnificent all round display, raced onto the ball , outpaced Coloccini before calmly slotting the ball into the corner of the net.
The Baggies didn’t look comfortable holding the lead and Olsson was looking strangely unsure although being up against Demba Ba is a tough task for any defender. Many a Geordie thought they had pulled it back immediately as Foster’s net was rattled but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside. However the equaliser eventually came from a dubious free-kick. Firstly, Brunt in chasing back his player (yes that’s right – he did chase back) was checked by another Newcastle player and then when Obertan got the ball on the edge of the area he was closed down by four red shirts and decided to run over one of the eight legs surrounding him. Decision – Newcastle free, result – Demba Ba equaliser that maybe Foster could have got a stronger hand to.
Foster and Fulop being put through their warm up drills by Dean Kiely
The Baggies got back into control and won a free themselves which Brunt knocked from midfield beyond the far post. Newcastle’s defence seemed to be content to let it go for a goal kick but Scharner rushed to head it back and found the assured McAuley to send the Baggies fans into raptures and leave the half-time score at 2-1, although not before young Geordie midfielder Vuckic struck the cross-bar with a venomous strike.
The first ten minutes of the second half proved to be the Albion’s best period while holding a lead and they had what was probably the best chance of the game, even allowing for the five goals. Mulumbu slid the ball through for Long who was being outshone by Odemwingie but still putting in a good shift.
BEng forty metres from goal and with two defenders and the goalkeeper to beat he used his speed and control to race past the black and white shirts, calmly rounded Krul and then. Well it was like Leonardo da Vinci preparing to colour in the last strand of hair on the Mona Lisa and then having his elbow knock a tin of blue paint all over the painting. The hard work was done by Long, but he just messed up the last bit as he lifted his shot too high to avoid the desperate slide of the Newcastle defender and saw the ball come off the bar.
2nd Half Action in Front of Roy and the Dugout
