West Bromwich Albion 2 - Swansea City 1

Summary:

Albion made it three wins out of the last four when they came from behind to beat Swansea for the first time in the Premiership. Romelu Lukaku was back in the side after missing out last week against his parent club while Billy Jones returned at right back.

Swansea looked the sharper team for most of the first half hour and took the lead just after through - well, it had to be, didn't it - former Albion striker Luke Moore with a far post header from a flick-on. But Lukaku levelled the scores just before half time when he put away a cross from Graham Dorrans.

Albion looked more in control for the second half, but were slightly lucky to take the lead when Gareth McAuley had a header cleared off the line straight at Jonathan de Guzman and back into the net. They should, however, already have been ahead by then when James Morrison was fouled in the box, but Lukaku's weak spot-kick was saved by Michel Vorm.

Swansea had less luck when a late goal was ruled out for offside despite the ball appearing to have come from McAuley. Albion return to seventh spot in the table by climbing over their visitors and over Liverpool, who didn't play today.

Yammess:

Well, how about that? Something swinging in our favour for a bloomin' change, eh? I'll take it! Positives were Dorrans and Rom's goal. Albeit from a 'hoof'. Or do we class a goalie's kick a 'hoof'? Brilliant, clinical finish. Class.

Penalty a disappointment, tho'. Weak and signalled. Poor. NOT class.

We got lucky again with some poor Swans' finishing. Glad about that, too.

And a nod to the 'nod' that rebounded. :-)) A smile as wide as a mile.

7th spot and a bit of momentum, now. The Potters wheel coming round, what a time to buck THAT trend.

David Allen:

A point of statistical symmetry (unless your records show otherwise), Lukaku appears to have scored 13 goals from 13 starts and 13 substitute appearances!

Bobby Hope:

Don't want to be known as a pedant but Luke Moore's goal was not a far post header, if anything it was slightly more near post BUT he should never have got a head to it! Yacob chickened out of any kind of challenge and the Albion reject scored. I like Yacob but that was disgraceful and could have cost us the match.

I thought at times that Swansea were going to be 3-0 by half time again. Morrison, although back to the role he has revelled in earlier in the season, was not very effective although can't fault his effort. Jones looked dangerous going forward but too many passes going astray early on and we struggled to get into the game. Brunt's shot, after a superbly flighted ball through from Lukaku, our first real effort in the game.

Very good finish by Lukaku for the first goal but he had to work so much harder without someone next to him.

Much better second half and after the penalty miss (which Vorm moved on very early) and the second goal, we looked in command. Until they came at us looking for the equaliser and we seemd to invite them on to us. Their disallowed goal should have been their equaliser, 100% goal, but that's the way it goes - swings and roundabouts.

Very subdued support in the first twenty minutes but things got better as the game went on.

So all in all good result from a decent performance and although many supporters will shout me down, this is about our limit - 7th in the Premier is something to be proud of given our resources and finances. We can always hope for more but shouldn't expect it. This will be a big summer for us with lots of comings and goings methinks - very interesting. I really hope we stuff Stoke! COYB!!