West Ham United 1 - West Bromwich Albion 1

Mark Koppel:

Peace owed us a correct decision to justify his £1.3million salary after 3 years of really inappropriate appointments. So to be fair to him on this occasion he has got it right with Pulis.

Now if he can support him with a little in January that would be even better. The areas I think we need to strengthen in, and today's game did also demonstrate this, are:

1. New right back if Gamboa is really not good enough at defending.
2. A stronger, taller midfielder as we don't win any headers at all in this area.
3. Another striker to help Berahino.

Finally, I know at lot of Albion fans say sell him but I really think we should keep Berahino at all costs. Reasons being:

1. He is our best striker.
2. He will get even better under Pulis.
3. We would have lost again today without him.
4. Progressive Clubs do not sell their best striker. We have done this in the past and gone backwards.
5. Other clubs will not sell us a striker anywhere near as good as him, possession is 9 tenths of the law.
6. Good teams need 2 strikers who score goals. We only have him at the moment.

Player ratings today:

• Foster 7 - Not too much to do but looked more up for it today and came to get the ball more positively.
• Norman Wisdom 3 - Given the run around by both Downing and Jarvis. Again failed to block any crosses including the one for their goal, and wasted any opportunities to cross effectively when we were attacking. Number one area for Pulis to look at for me in January
• McAuley 7 - Think he did alright and kept Andy Carroll very quiet. Has a lot of extra work to do covering for Norman.
• Lescott 7 - Solid and pretty good distribution to the midfield.
• Baird 7 - Didn't think I would be saying this but played really well. Good distribution and fine, if not unorthodox technique, shot on target in the first half.
• Mulumbu 6 - Did alright first half but did start to give the ball away second half when he was running out of steam. Well spotted by Pulis to take him off
• Morrison 7 - Still cannot shoot like he used to but looked like the Morrison of old a few times running forward with the ball.
• Sess 7 - Would have got a higher mark if his shooting was not so poor again. But did cause West Ham a lot of problems when on the ball and linked up with Saido superbly for the goal.
• Dorans 5 - Feel a little sorry for him as he lacks confidence at the moment as shown by his reluctance to shoot. Might not be a Pulis type player.
• Brunt 6 - Tried without really being effective. Another dreadful free kick again in the first half from the same position as where Cresswell hit the post.
• Berahino 8 - Man of the match because his class was what made the difference. His natural ability got him the right place at the right time to score. Wrong to take him off (sorry My Pulis) and could have won the game for us in the last 5 minutes when the chances were there.

Subs:

• £10million Flop 2 - I think we could have won today if The Flop hadn't come on for England's Best Young Striker. Apart from committing two stupid fouls did nothing.
• Yacob 7 - Also thought I wouldn't be saying he did well. Normally needs to be 100% fit to keep up but today kept West Ham at bay.
• Varela 7 - Looks comfortable on the ball. Defended well in addition and got a shot on target at the death.

Actually looking forward to 2015 at the Baggies now.

Brendan Clegg:

A not too dissimilar performance from the QPR and Man City games (I can't speak for Stoke) where we were the better side for 65% of the game, played some decent stuff, didn't make the most of our chances and were punished for a rare defensive error again.

QPR we threw away through individual errors. As Burnley proved (despite creating nowhere near as good as ours), scoring against City rattles them so that was also a missed opportunity. This was a good point nonetheless.

With the lineup I was disappointed Varela wasn't in the team and frustrated that Baird retained his place at left back - as I have previously mentioned he does a decent job defensively but has no pace to get up the pitch and no left foot so our balance is horrid and he always has to come inside or backwards. If Poc is injured I'd still either put Brunt there or Gamboa who showed against Man City that his pace means he can still support attacks even if he has to cut inside.

Other than that, I believe with Poc at left back, Varela on the left and Sess on the right on a 4-5-1 defending/4-3-3 attacking this is our best team. Instead we played a sort of 4-4-1-1 and in the opening 10 minutes were quite dominant until West Ham scored with their first meaningful attack. We didn't deal with a scrappy ball, Morgan pounced and played a great pass to the (continually justified in this market) 7 million pound left back that we opted out of the bidding war for in the summer. Great ball, one-nil.

Dorrans went to sleep and left Cresswell a free run and Wisdom was a touch narrow (which worked well otherwise as the double team on Carroll where one challenged and the spare pounced and cleared the 2nd ball) - so avoidable. I think we were up at 60% possession in the stats when they scored.

Rather than collapse, we rallied well with Sess really pulling the strings, Morrison and Mulumbu working hard if not always with the best quality and Saido making good runs. We created the two best chances of the game with Sess and Mulumbu failing to hit the target or work the keeper from 8 yards despite quality build up play... same old same old.

Our reward was a really good counter attacking equaliser showing the best attributes of Saido and Sess. Perfect running, pace, movement and timing with a great finish.

Being a bit harsh - Brunt was a complete passenger, managing one poor effort on the spin all half and little else. I guess his height was useful from set plays but I don't think West Ham won a corner all game. I was genuinely astounded to read the official site give him "star man". Somebody was still drunk from last night I think. Sess was by some distance our best player.

After the break we began to struggle a bit, especially for a 10 minute period following the introduction of the more hardworking, direct and pacey Jarvis for the guile of Morgan. West Aim were now making the running and our collapse seemed inevitable.

I don't know whether it was Pulis from the stands or one of our coaches on the bench (or maybe even Peace himself), but we decided to get Yacob on and drop Sess to the wing in a 4-5-1. From then on in we looked more solid, Yacob did a great job and an injury to Dorrans meant somehow Brunt remained on the pitch in the centre and Varela went wide left.

For the last 15 minutes or so we were again the better side - defending deep in numbers but breaking well into dangerous situations with Varela and Sess from either flank and Morrison leading the charge from the centre.

The key to this I felt was Yacob - who intelligently sat on the toes of our centre backs, won the 2nd ball well but crucially released it quickly and incisively sideways or forwards into Albion players in space whereas a Mulumbu, Brunt or Gardner have this season elected to hoof, dribble into trouble, hold on too long or go back to Foster for a bigger hoof.

The one negative was the introduction of Ideye who weakened us - Berahino didn't look happy coming off and, although clearly might well be an arsehole, the kid has talent and threat and should be playing. We may well have nicked it with his quality in the final 3rd.

Give Ideye 60 minutes in the FA Cup to flat track bully and get some confidence, he's still some way off being ready for this level and for a team fighting for their life. Looks below Big Vic in the pecking order for the last 20. I'd also love to see Nabi given a game against Gateshead to see if he can make the step up like Saido.

We got a bit of luck when Cresswell's free kick hit the post but we've had our fair share of misfortune over the last few games so it's about time we had a small break. And going by the other unexpected results this was a crucial point. The Hull game is massive, we can't afford to lose it and really we have to win.

Not something I often do but I caught Allardyce's post match interview - I couldn't believe the arrogance of the man. Over the 2 games there has hardly been anything between us which sums the league up from the top 5 or 6 downwards yet he was there saying how superior they were and how we hadn't hurt them. In both games we had more possession, efforts on goal, corners, played the better football and restricted them to very little. Don't believe everything you see on Match of the Day, we were the better team again today overall.

• Foster - 6 Very little to do in truth, no chance with goal.
• Wisdom - 7 Another solid defensive performance against tricky opposition and used his height well.
• McAuley - 7 Didn't give Carroll a sniff
• Lescott - 7 Possibly could have done better for the goal but was left exposed on the channel and the delivery of the cross was good, otherwise also decent.
• Baird - 6 Defensively did a lot of good work.
• Dorrans - 5 Napping for the goal, industrious and hard working but struggled to create anything.
• Morrison - 7 Carried the ball well and covered the pitch as he does.
• Mulumbu - 6 Got through a lot of work, important interceptions but rusty on the ball.
• Brunt - 4 Genuinely did nothing of note for 70 minutes. Some good headers, hoofs and hacks when in the centre but also gave away dangerous free kicks.
• Sess - 8 A constant menace and the stand-out player on the pitch. Showed courage to continue to want the ball and carry it under pressure.
• Berahino - 7 Great finish to the move he started for the goal and decent showing throughout. Very surprised he was hooked.

• Yacob - 7 His best performance of the season in his favoured position as the pivot in a midfield 5. Might well be a Pulis type player.
• Varela - 6 Looked a threat and relieved pressure by holding the ball.
• Brown - 5 Looking better but still not strong enough with his back to goal or when receiving it under pressure. One or two good spin ins when released by Yacob but end product let him down.

oshawabaggie:

Despite being one of a small minority who wanted to give Irvine a longer run at it, I welcome Tony Pulis and wish him luck. I think we will need it.

A short rant before I talk about today's game. If Pulis manages to avoid relegation, many will attribute it to JP's courage in pulling the trigger on Irvine before it was too late and achieving a coup in attracting an experienced coach like Pulis. I say bullshit. JP has had various opportunities to hire an experienced coach/manager like Pulis over the last few years and has declined to do so in favor of maintaining his beloved system. Furthermore we are told that even though Pulis is on board, Albion will retain their 'continental' Technical director / Coach structure. I say bullshit. This was a panic measure by Peace and in practical terms, he has pretty well had to ditch his 'structure'. I have no problem with that, but just admit it. Furthermore, if I hear the term ' gardening leave' once more I will puke. It is a euphemism straight from the pen of George Orwell. Tell it like it is, Irvine was sacked.

Now for the game. Pulis must have been encouraged by;

1. the team spirit / effort after going a goal down
2. a solid central defense
3. the threat and creativity of Sessegnon
4. the cool finish of Berahino
5. some slick build up play in mid field.

He will have probably been disturbed by our slow pace at fullback and our lack of goal scoring punch. Overall we didn't look like a relegation side, but some decent looking teams have been relegated in the past. Let's get behind Pulis and the team and hope that JP and his 'technical group' are rendered irrelevant.

Paul Gainham:

Having had to run the 200m from Euston Square to Euston to get my train after the game, I can absolutely testify that pace dissolves with age.

And that's one of the biggest issues facing Pulis. Our 'Mowbray Midfield' now looks past its sell by date. If it were supermarket goods they would be priced to sell before finally ending up in the pig bin.

Dorrans and Brunt were mostly average at best, Mulumbu simply ran out of steam in the 2H after some occasional bright spots in the 1H. Morrison was the pick of the 4 even though at times he lacked a final pass of note.

Having said that, I am sure Pulis' primary observation would have been about the defence. Baird in fairness had a pretty good game but does not have a true left foot or the pace to get forwards. Wisdom was Wisdom, leaves lots of space behind him, cannot tackle and when he goes forward, quickly runs out of ideas. McCauley and Lescott were on the whole ok but tended to get pulled apart at times leaving gaps between them.

Up front, Sessegnon was excellent and showed what he can bring to the team. Yes his finishing can be woeful at times but he creates so much he needs to keep his place.

Berahino is a really good finisher and boy we need that at present. The goal was taken really well at the end of a nice flowing move.

3 key areas Pulis needs to prioritise IMO

1. A new striker. Ideye was yet again awful, he simply is NOT a PL player. What about an audacious attempt for Podolski at Arsenal?
2. New RB. Neither Wisdom or Gamboa are the answer.
3. Re-constituting our whole midfield beginning with a McInness type leader

WHU was a good point overall - Technically Pulis' first - let's hope it's a good omen for 2015.

Keith Pincher:

I wasn't there but I did manage to find Tom and the Bomber on the radio. I was delighted to hear them singing the praises of Chris Brunt after all the bad press he's had in this forum. They were constantly going on about the lovely crosses and timely tackles that he contributed and had him down as one of the best on the pitch. And then I read THIS. I must say I'm very disappointed in Bomber Brown. After all his wonderful years at the Baggies I expected him to be a better judge of a player.