West Bromwich Albion 2 - Aston Villa 2

Date:	Monday 25th November 2013
Competition:	Barclays Premier League
WBA: 6.0	(4-2-3-1) Myhill 6.7, Reid 5.9, McAuley 6.7, Olsson 6.4, Popov 3.4 (Anichebe, 82 4.6), Yacob 6.0, Mulumbu 8.2, Amalfitano 6.0, Sessegnon 3.9 (Morrison, 83 5.6), Brunt 6.1, Long 8.7 Unused subs: Daniels, Vydra, Dawson, Berahino, Anelka Manager: Steve Clarke 4.8
Villa: 5.8
Scorers:	Long (11, 3)
Referee:	Michael Oliver (Northumberland) 7.0
Attendance:	24,902 Home Fans 6.5 Away Fans 5.8

Summary:

Just as at Stamford Bridge, Albion led the match but had to settle for a draw. Unlike that game, however, they couldn't point any fingers at bad refereeing decisions because the fault lay entirely with their own failure to clear their lines and make the most of their chances.

Goran Popov made a rare start in place of the injured Liam Ridgewell, and Steven Reid continued at right back in place of Billy Jones. The match got off to a dream start when Shane Long controlled a long ball in the third minute and fired past Brad Guzan, and turned to delirium nine minutes later when he latched onto a bad backpass and chipped Guzan to double the lead. But Stephane Sessegnon wasted a glorious chance to volley home a third ten minutes later.

Paul Lambert made a triple substitution just before the hour mark, bringing on Agbonlahor, Weimann and Delph, and Villa began to put serious pressure on the home side. Ten minutes later, El Ahmadi got past Popov and pulled one goal back, and after another ten minutes Popov headed the ball into the middle for Ashley Westwood to level the scores with an excellent strike.

Clarke brought on Victor Anichebe for Popov and switched Brunt to left back, but to no avail. Albion hold on to 11th spot in the table, one place above Villa on goal difference.

Mike D:

Schoolboy stuff. Defenders heading clearances back to the centre of the field, midfield players passing across the field and back when unsighted in their own half. 6m pound players not hitting the target from 6m... come on!

Did we throw this game, or was it incompetence? Anyone make much from the draw? Long stopped this being an embarrassment.

oshawabaggie:

Yet another draw which tasted very much like a defeat. I am afraid SC got out-coached tonight. After bossing the game and squandering two golden chances to go 4-0 up, we had already started to lose the initiative when Lambert went 'all in' and brought on three attacking players in one bold move. What did we do to counter? Errrm, nothing. Having lost our attacking momentum, giving up a goal seemed inevitable. Sadly, we then gave up a second. By the time SC reacted it was too late and Villa were able to fend off our spirited late attempts.

It is evident that the two players most likely to get us goals have been on staff all along - Long and Berahino. Long is uncertain of his future at the Albion and, incredibly, we don't seem to be doing much to keep him. Berahino, despite tearing it up in an England (and Baggies) shirt, can't even get a look in as a sub, not to mention the painfully drawn out negotiation to improve his contract. The tea lady is earning more than him FFS. I wouldn't be surprised if we lost them both. I am gobsmacked.

Popov the Albion man is not the answer at left back no matter how much spinach they feed him.

On the issue of refs and video replays, I watched a couple of Rugby Union games at the weekend. How refreshing it is to see any contentious decisions reviewed by the video judge, at the request of the ref. There is very little delay in the game and the players are happy there has been a fair review, as are coaches and fans. There is no jostling of the ref, nor swearing at the touch judges. Simulation is able to be punished. In the event the review is inconclusive, the ref's orginal decision on the pitch stands, so he remains ultimately in control and he explains his decisions as he goes. Look how video has cleaned up tenis and ice hockey too. BUT the neanderthals who run football will never go for it - it makes way too much sense.

Still angry.

Paul Gainham:

The most accurate statement covering last night?s game was when the Vile fans sung ?2-0 and you f***** it up. Never a truer word said.

How could we capitulate from such a strong position? 2-0 up after 10 mins and Villa were rocking, the most shocking defence I have seen this season. Sessegnon?s miss did not help but apart from that it turned into a quite bizarre first half where we ceded possession way too often to Villa who although they did not really trouble us, you sensed they were slowly building towards a better second half, mostly because they could not get any worse.

My guess overall is the official stats would show Vile had the majority of possession which if true is a travesty ? they are the poorest Villa team I have seen in a generation and yet particularly in the 2nd half they had us rocking.

How did that happen? Lambert spotted our weakness ? we don?t like being pressed hard at the back, particularly when we have no creative outlet which was sadly lacking all night. So his triple substitution was his ace and it worked perfectly. They pushed on us much higher, we kept giving the ball away and it was simply a matter of time before they scored.

What did our coach do? Replace Sessegnon 20 mins too late, he was woeful and should have been subbed at HT and replaced Popov with Anichebe ? why of who oh why do that when what we needed was some craft and pace out wide ? Berahino would have been perfect for this game and yet he brings on the lump of Anichebe who did nothing, absolutely nothing. Somebody commented on the radio that Anichebe did not warm up at all as a sub which I think was correct, i don?t remember seeing him and yet Berahino, Vydra, Morrison and Dawson all did.

I think what last night showed was the reality of where our expectations should be this year. Many people have commented on what a poor start Villa have had, how Lambert is under pressure etc. and yet they looked the more likely team to win last night, they are on the same points as us and finally how bereft of ideas we looked against a poor Villa side.

A really poor night all round after such a bright start

Player Marks

Myhill 8 Couple of really good reaction saves. Blameless for the goals
Reid 5 Slow, weak and often out of position. Jones cant come back quickly enough
Popov 4 Poor, laid the ball up nicely for their second goal
Olsson 6 Struggled at times against Benteke
McCauley 6 Ditto Olsson
Mulumbu 7 The pick of the midfield for his drive and coverage of the midfield area
Yacob 5 Slow and poor distribution. Caught in possession too often
Sessegnon 3 Worst performance to date. Missed two really good chances and seemed out of it
Brunt 5 Did not use the wide position to much effect
Amalfitano 6 Couple of flashes, but overall, poor
Long 9 Two great goals, worked the Vile defense hard. We could and should have used him more but failed to.

Subs

Morrison 6 No real impact
Anichebe 3 OK, only had 10 mins but this guy simply is not a footballer

Clarke 3 Failed to react when Villa stepped up, wrong substitutions as well

Referee 8 Ran the game well

Bobby Hope:

OMG! I have been crying out for Ridgewell to be dropped and for Popov to be given a chance but I take it all back! What a terrible performance from him - absolutely awful. I won't go into detail as I would be still be going tomorrow but woeful. Come back Liam all is forgiven - or maybe Statham could be dragged out of The Coach & Horses and get his boots on! Sess is clearly an emotional, moody type of player that SC treats with kid gloves but he deserves to be dropped I'm afraid. Long was immense and I'm really pleased for him. Mulumbu again was terrific. Fair play to Lambert with the substitutions but WTF was Popeye doing!!?? He could have chested it down and played it down the line, he could have headed out towards the line (not back into the middle just outside the box!!) or he could have just left it and it would have gone for a throw.

Two points thrown away. Very annoying.

COUCHCRITIC:

After a dream start against the Villa with Long proving yet again that he is our essential striker (remember he was nearly insanely offloaded in the summer!), the game proved the limitations of our squad when 1st choice players are unavailable. Anichebe was a useless purchase (we might as well have kept Fortune) so why he got the nod over Berahino is beyond me. Popov is nowhere near a Premiership defender and we've no-one to cover the trickery of Sessegnon when he goes missing.

Unless we offload some of the dross and replace them with quality cover I have serious doubts about our season.

Didcot Baggie:

Others have said most of it really - a draw that tastes like a defeat. A real 5 out of 10 performance at best. Only Mulumbu, Long, McAuley and Myhill emerge with any credit. I really wanted Popov to have a killer game (after all "he hates the Villa") but he was poor. But not the only one who needs lessons in how to clear a ball (Olson, Yacob...)

Sess had a poor game, but he is the sort of player who this is going to happen with from time to time - simply goes missing. But when he's on fire he's great. SC should have dragged him off at half time and give Saido a run out. Long was knackered for the last 20 (not surprisingly) - why did SC leave him on?

Lots of questions and no easy answers. Thank goodness it didn't end 2-3.

Glos.Baggie:

All of the previous comments pretty much sum the game up. A game of two managers who knew how to turn a match which paid off for Villa, they went for win or bust. SC should have replicated by bringing on Berahino with some pace to get amongst their fragile defence. Sess should also have come off sooner. Popov not up to the job, cost us 2 points at Chelsea and another 2 last night. Basic schoolboy defending, don't head the ball back to goal.