West Bromwich Albion 0 - Crystal Palace 1

Dave Watkin:

Palace plunder points

Albion were below par against Crystal Place at The Hawthorns and consequently suffered their first league defeat of the season.

There were two enforced changes from the team which won in our previous league match at Middlesbrough. Gonzalo Jara made his home debut, in an unaccustomed role on the right of midfield, in place of the injured Chris Brunt; on the other flank, Robert Koren replaced the suspended Jerome Thomas.

There?s very little to report up until midway through the first half. The Baggies then attacked down the right, with Gonzalo Jara feeding the overlapping Gianni Zuiverloon, who cut inside and rolled a pass back to Moore. However, the striker struck the ball first time, sending it soaring over the bar. A shot by Jara, comfortably saved at the foot of the post, was then matched by a Moses cross-shot, which flashed past the upright.

We had a scare early in the second half when, for a moment, it seemed that a shot into the side netting from distance by Ambrose, was actually nestling in the back of the goal. Then, just before the hour mark came the game?s crucial moment. Jara, who had switched positions with Zuiverloon, fed the Dutchman, who, having raced from the halfway line, brilliantly picked out Moore in front of goal with just the keeper to beat. Unfortunately, he took a touch rather than fire first time and Speroni was able to come out and smother his shot. Palace had been content to sit back and frustrate the Baggies, but in the 63rd minute they shook the home side with the opening goal. A long free kick was nodded on and although there was a strong suspicion that N?Diaye controlled the ball with his hand, he was allowed to run on and nick the ball past Carson. A switch to three strikers didn?t really help Albion, but in the closing stages, a deep cross from Joe Mattock reached substitute Reid, but he failed to hit the target with his header.

A whole midfield of creative wide players was missing; Morrison and Brunt through injury, Thomas suspended and Teixeira on the bench and it showed. However, we did create a few chances, but missed them all. Particularly at fault was Luke Moore, who snatched at one chance and then hesitated with another. He?s a player who lacks self confidence; one can imagine Kevin Phillips converting both. On the plus side, both full backs, Gianni Zuiverloon and Joe Mattock, did well going forward, but were not so good when defending. Shelton Martis and Jonas Olsson might have kept a clean sheet if one of the officials had done their job and spotted the handball by the goalscorer. Graham Dorrans just about shades the man-of-the-match award.

Palace were a typical Warnock team, defending in depth, aggressive, operating on the margin of the law, time-wasting and feigning injury to break up the game. However, they did work tremendously hard at closing down their opposite numbers and preventing them playing.

STATISTICS

Albion didn?t meet Crystal Palace in a home league match until Saturday 10th January 1970, when a hat-trick from Jeff Astle ensured a 3-2 success. Over the years we?ve generally had the better of games at The Hawthorns, although not recently, this was our fourth consecutive home match without a victory.

ALBION FORMRATE: POOR

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: GRAHAM DORRANS

Albion slip to second, two points behind Newcastle United. This is no longer our best start to a campaign, but we?re still better off than in any of our recent successful Championship seasons.

Brendan Clegg:

First time I've had chance to do a report for the season.

I think we've been pretty average this year so far and have benefitted from this league being as poor as I have ever seen it.

Perhaps that is a reflection on the economy; clubs being unable to pay wages to keep decent players or big enough squads to cope with the games in this league.

Perhaps it's just that, having yo-yo'd between the Premier league and this division now several times, and without ever having to sell everyone we've just amassed a player roster stronger and of greater depth than most sides we are competing with.

Our play under RDM has certainly been more direct, although it's more long pass than long ball, and we have been able to remain undefeated so far due mostly to the inability of most sides in this league to defend set pieces or from open play or, more often, because 8 of our players in any given game have been a class above the opposition and we have overwhelmed them.

Today was interesting in that we were missing a few players and so was a bit of a test for us. I was frankly amazed to see our new Chilean international on the right wing at kick off - what kind of a message can that have sent to Tex after he had, by all accounts, a positive game in midweek? I mean, Joleon Lescott can play right across the back four but when does Moyes ever stick him on the right wing? Ludicrous.

Also, we were playing Crystal Palace at home and the other 3 in midfield were not the most creative.

I thought we were pretty poor for most of the first half, the odd decent move resulting in Luke Moore either missing a sitter on the deck or allowing someone to prevent an open goal header by failing to even stand his ground and thus losing out on a 70-30 header at the back post.

Palace had a tricky winger who was skinning the Loon and our Chile bloke, after a couple of deft touches and a defenders attempt at goal when squaring the ball would have resulted in a goal, switched with him so the Loon then played right mid; a position you could argue he has occupied with Chris Brunt for most of this season.

The switch had little impact and it was the turn of our new fullback to get skinned regularly - thankfully nothing came of it apart from a strong looking penalty appeal.

Half time and I was sure RDM would change it having watched that dross and I also hoped he would put a rocket up the arse of 6 or 7 players who were still living off the Borough win and arrogantly strolling around without any real guts, effort or tempo.

Wrong. We started the 2nd half much as the first and were still pretty poor. We managed one decent move which culminated in the Loon doing really well to get down the right on to a decent pass and then squaring perfectly for Moore who missed the easiest chance of the game from about 10 yards.

RDM had seen enough although the subs weakened us - Reid came on for Loon and Cox for Moore.

Shortly after a hopeful punt up the pitch and Ollie lost the first ball, Martis seemed to win the second before having the ball taken away from him by the arm of the giant palace midfielder who then demonstrated to Moore how to finish without pissing around.

The officials, who had managed to spot every other minor infringement throughout the whole game and bore us to death with their policing of them, didn't spot the handball and the goal stood despite player protests.

We now had the problem of only being able to bring on 1 of our 2 best players on the bench (having brought on arguably our 2 worst) and we huffed and puffed before Wood was introduced and we went 4-3-3, carelessly giving the ball away and allowing Palace to pass around us.

A final decent move enabled Reid to hide wide from a really good position (his only contribution to the game) before the result was confirmed.

So a result you could probably see coming - Palace were actually able to defend set plays and played a high line all game knowing that we didn't have the pace to hurt them and it worked, aided in my opinion by the barmy managerial decisions and lazy/flat performance of a lot of our players.

Marks -

• Carson - 6 A couple of mental moments throwing or kicking the ball either directly to them or to players with 3 Palace men standing around them.
• Loon - 5 He was getting murdered defensively but was OK going forward.
• Martis - 6 Decent enough for most of the game apart from a couple of poor passes when nobody could be arsed to make themselves available anyway.
• Ollie - 7 Our MOM by a mile but should have done better with first header for goal.
• Mattock - 4 Across the tannoy he was given our sponsor's MOM. Was the sponsor his Dad? Couldn't control the ball, awful positioning and awareness, only really knows how to hoof it down the line and got megged and skinned with ease on several occasions. The only thing I can say positive of him that I have seen this season is that he can put the odd decent cross in and he tries to compete.
• Our Chilean - 6 Being kind given that he is new and was played somewhere I doubt he has ever played before for the first 30 minutes. Hardly set the world alight and also got skinned regularly.
• Mulumbu - 4 Ball winner my arse. At one point he tried to meg their midfielder on the halfway line and lost the ball. Has decent energy but has loads to learn before he'll be any good and never will be if he believes his own hype. Also lost the ball in possession regularly.
• Dorrans - 6 Patchy game - some great stuff but went anonymous for long periods and set plays were not up to his normally high standards.
• Koren - 5 Also in and out but he is not a left sided midfielder. We miss his energy in the middle and to be honest I don't think we need to have a 'ball winning' midfielder in every game we play this year - would like to see him and Dorrans in the centre.
• Moore - 4 You could argue that he got in the positions. You could also argue that he is fortunate enough to be playing in one of the best squads in the division, will get chances in most games simply by turning up and yet still isn't doing it.
• Bednar - 5 Another player he looked to be giving around 80% although without a winger playing he went out there to do the job himself for must of the game.

Subs -

• Reid - 4 Zero impact. I don't think he's got it at this level.
• Cox - 5 Zero impact. I am surprised by how slow he is and how deep he plays.
• Wood - 5 Zero impact, but our shape disappeared when he came on.

All in all, I'd say that was probably the worst performance at home since Robson was in charge - At least under TM the brand of football we tried to play meant we were entertained. I'm all for effective winning football if that what it takes but this serves s a reminder of what you are left with when you don't win going down that route.

Plenty of work to do - Am I the only person concerned that the RDM signings (are they even his or are they ones we have 'identified for him?) appear to have either been no better than what we already have or actually worse than what we had with the exception of Thomas?

Cox looks no better than Beattie (Slower, less work ethic, in the end Beattie's goal ration wasn't that bad)

Reid looks no better than Macdonald (Can't get into games, inferior technique, looks out of his depth at this level)

Mattock is making Paul Robinson look like Paulo Maldini.

Let's hope this was just a clich?d bad day at the office.

WBAlex:

This was the first time I've seen Albion live this season, and the main difference from last year is that the defence seems alot more disciplined and organised.

The main weakness in the Albion team was the lack of width and this is where they were unlucky having Brunt, Thomas and Cech all unavailable. The problem, certainly in the first half, is that the attacks were too bunched in the middle. Players who did go wide were being dragged out of position and therefore the team had a poor shape. Mattock was doing the job of two players, maybe explaining why he got Man of the Match.

Palace played a very risky offside strategy high up the park and they were lucky on several occasions when a linesman gave them the benefit of the doubt,as that would have left the Albion forward in a one-on-one with their keeper.

One thing RDM has to get sorted is the distribution from the back. Some of the crowd were getting annoyed that Carson wasn't punting it forward, like most British crowds do, but RDM is probably trying to hold possession. Trouble is you need good distributors, and I don't think that would be from Martis, yet he was doing most of it. Jara looks like he has a very decent firm pass, which may suggest he would be a better central defender.

Generally, I think Albion have a good mixture of ball winners and creative players in the middle of the park. Koren's vision and flair are vital but today he needed another player who could create alongside him, and in my view, someone who could play wide left. Generally, I'm not too unhappy as I think when the missing players are available again, RDM will have enough options.

Moore is looking alot more lively than last season, although he will need to take more of his chances. Cox looks like he will be able to give him some competition, as he was also lively today. Bednar is a different type of player who is needed to give a physical presence at the point of the attack, but he has to become more disciplined as otherwise we are going to see a string of yellow cards.

Overall, I think Albion will win alot more than they lose this season.

smethwick batman:

After The Lord Mayor's Show

A headline I could have written before the kick off came sadly true this afternoon as the marvels of Riverside stadium came crashing back to reality with another drab display to match most of the fare we have served up this season so far by my reckoning, top of the table or not.

Discussing the match beforehand in the Vine, the general concensus was that we would either batter Palace out of sight and push on from here or slip on the banana skin again cos, er, that's what following the Baggies is like.

Cue the bloody banana as Colin W****r dropped it right under our noses tactically and our lacklustre players (and "head coach" on this showing) walked right onto it hook, line and billy big knobs sinker.

For the first fifteen minutes we had a right old go against an Eagles side that looked, frankly, scared to death due no doubt to the result the week before and if we had scored then I think it would have been an avalanche of goals and the nailed on result everyone expected.

But we didn't.

And from then on the Palace players, inspired by the bloke with the dreadlocks in midfield, seemed to get a grip on Warnock's simple and rather obvious gameplan - stay up the pitch and defend on the half way line in numbers - and, while they barely threatened, our lot seemed, once again, to believe all the hype about themselves and rarely created anything clear cut either.

Moore had a couple of gilt edged chances which he failed to capitalise on (the one a brilliant set up through The Loon and Jara which he blazed hopelessly over the bar).

There was plenty of pointless "hoof" at Bednar and Moore (except for Carson who was hoofing at Gera on the wing. He's left us mate, ain't you noticed?) but absolutely no width in our game or anybody running through midfield (the only way to defeat Warnock's tactic as any five year old knows).

RDM had already intrigued us all with the line up ("injured" Buttock back at left back and new bloke right side of a four man midfield but no Tex despite scintillating display at Arsenal in midweek) and as Palace grew in confidence, there left wiger skinned Zoovi twice before him and Jara (it seemed to me!) decided to swap positions of their own accord.

That didn't work anyway although we stayed like that second half too, clearly with RDM consent. As the first half drew closer to the goalless end, Jara was also skinned a couple of times and on the second occasion The Loon charged back and concded what looked to us a stonewall penalty but the ref thankfully ignored the appeal.

We had been crying out for a change of tactic and style and surely the introduction of Tex. No such chance!

Second half we lined up the same, played the same paceless, thoughtless rubbish ("oh don't worry, our lot are too good, somebody will do something clever in a minute, hammer home a blinder or we'll score from a set piece". Players thoughts, not mine).

Only change of tactic was a bizarre and clear instruction to Carson to pass the ball out, no matter what the circumstance and to stop hoofing it.

The "captain" did exactly as he was told (the game was crying out for somebody in midfield to be captain not the goalkeeper and get the players on the pitch motivated and MOVING ABOUT) and on one occasion we tip-tapped the ball from keeper to all four defenders and back to the keeper again who passed it to Martis who hoofed it!

Would have been bad enough at the increasingly obvious 0-0 stalemate but this was 15 minutes from the end when we had gone a goal down five minutes earlier!

Almost inevitably (this is the Albion after all!) we had conceded a scruffy goal to Palace's only clear cut chance of the game. It was an obvious hand ball to set it up but the ref and lino both missed it (we had a clear view full on from up the Smethwick) and the lambs to the slaughter at 3pm were suddenly holding the axe and looking good for 3 points.

Moore missed an absolute sitter after a great charge forward and cross by the Loon but other than that our "superstars" were increasingly resorting to shooting at blocking legs and, frankly, panicking.

RDM finally changed it twice but still no Texeira! Why? First of all the one dimensional and cumbersome Reid was brought on on the right and then Cox and poor young Woods given ten minutes to somehow rescue the game in a three pronged "attack" that never received a single cross from out wide.

Poor display and no better or worse than a lot we've seen this season if we're honest with ourselves except this time we didn't come close to scoring with a set piece, a defensive blunder from the opposition (there weren't any to be fair to Palace thought they were a bit rough and tumble and got away with it, particularly on Bednar) or a bit of brilliance from our clearly superior but believing their own hype players.

Marks

• Colin Farrell 6 Not troubled much all game again but never make a goalkeeper a captain when you need a leader on the pitch.
• Buttock 6 Better today than I've seen so far but if that's his best why did we pay etc. etc. Can't control a ball or get wide.
• Ollssen 7 Solid as ever. One of only three who can hold their heads up today. Same old, same old - which is pretty good.
• Martis 7 Ditto as above. Distribution not the best at times but not his fault if people keep giving him the responsibility!
• Jara 6 You can see a good footballer in there and needs time to settle where he feels comfortable. RDM seems to think he's bought a centre half who can be Carlos Alberto on the plane over, Roberto Carlos on Tuesday and Nobby Solano on Saturday. Unfair.
• The Loon 5 Apart from one great run and cross each half, didn't aid our penetration and is never a full back.
• Mulumbu 6 No sign of domination we have come to expect and lacked energy.
• Koren 4 Awful again. Am I alone in wondering what the hell has happened to this bloke no matter where we ask him to play (which was on the left today and he didn't anyway, wandering aimlessly all over the place).
• Dorrans 7 The other one who escapes criticism for me. Had a lot of the ball, tried his best to get us going, some rash passing and crossing at times but all action energy display again.
• Bednar 6 Charged about a lot, subjected to some terrible punishment presumably on Warnock's orders but fell for the old three card trick and kept argung with the ref even after he was booked. Has yet to get his head on a decent cross from either side this season cos, er, there aren't any! Poor sod must be knackered.
• Moore 4 You've had three gilt edged chances at this level son today and done nothing with them again. What you're paid for.

Subs

• Reid 4 Yes, hmmmm, I don't get it.
• Cox 5 Poor close control and positional sense, lacks pace. Apart from that he looks a great signing.
• Wood N/A Again, too late to mark
• Texeira 10 Warmest bum in the ground today. Lovely tan. Well it was a lovely sunny afternoon.