West Bromwich Albion 2 - Swansea City 0

Date: Tuesday 10th February 2015 
Competition: Barclays Premier League
WBA:
7.1
Foster 6.5, Dawson 6.5, McAuley 6.8, Lescott 7.1, Brunt 6.2, McManaman 6.2 (Sessegnon, 57 6.4), Yacob 6.9, Fletcher 6.9, Morrison 7.1 (Gardner, 85 6.0), Berahino 7.3, Ideye 8.3
Unused subs: Myhill, Wisdom, Olsson, Pocognoli, Baird
Manager: Tony Pulis 7.2
Swansea City:
5.1
Scorers: Ideye (60), Berahino (75)
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire) 4.5
Attendance: 23,516   Home Fans 7.0   Away Fans 4.9

oshawabaggie:

Ten million quid? I always said he was a bargain. Joking aside, Brown (great) Ideye was a revelation. What a difference a dose of confidence makes. He hardly put a foot wrong all game, scoring one, setting one up, holding the ball and laying it off accurately, putting himself about - in short, being the target man we have been searching for since Lukaku. Most impressively, his interaction with Billy BK was so crisp. Both goals were well taken. It actually looked like they were having fun playing together. Now there's a novelty.

To be fair though, this was the first game in ages where the front men actually got some decent support. Mozza worked his arse off. Like everyone else I was gloomy after the Burnley game, but this was a much better team effort. We challenged further up the pitch and despite a fairly drab first half, I felt we could get a win as long as Swansea didn't take advantage of our plodding fullbacks. Somehow we managed to paper over the cracks. In fact I have to give Brunt and Dawson credit for being willing to play out of position. Their distribution was awful though. I still think Poco or our other International fullbacks should be given a run out, maybe against West Ham? Feeling much better after this really good effort by everyone.

Brendan Clegg:

Well a long way off from good but miles better.

I was worried about the lineup again when I saw the team - mainly the fullbacks - but I thought they both were resolute if low on quality and Morrison and McManaman then Sess did really well defensively in front of them. They were exposed a couple of times but we got enough bodies in the centre to just about get away with a couple of scrambles.

I was surprised by how poor Swansea were - like many others on the train home. They kept the ball badly, Gomis was awful and gave them nothing to build on and really poor on quality when they did wriggle free out wide. Perhaps we didn't allow them to settle. Perhaps they had a bad night. Probably a bit of both.

For me most strikingly we came out and pressed high from the off with high tempo. We kept it up and deserved the win - albeit this was a close to a gimme as you get in this league.

Again having a natural left footer at left back was progress and we kept the ball slightly better as a result.

The players who typified the performance were Ideye - again masquerading as a half decent player from the Twighlight Zone. Bags of effort, strength, hard work, making nuisance of himself and fighting for everything. He earned his goal for this even if the quality was lacking. Huge improvement.

And the second was Morrison for his chasing, running, hassling - often drifting centrally to help the mobility of Yacob and Fletcher but also tracking back.

Plenty of others had admirable games without getting carried away - fulfilling their individual jobs well.

A massive 3 points - I think 3 more wins and a draw or 2 will just about see us right but it's probably the toughest league I can remember. Villa are dross but Lambert is gone now and they surely have the squad for an attack minded coach to come in, have a go and take them to safety. We've dragged Sunderland back into it. More the merrier.

Would love to see some players who deserve minutes play on Saturday - especially some fullbacks!

  • Foster - 6 Not a lot to do but looks far meaner and more solid under Pulis.
  • Dawson - 6 Can't knock a guy being played out of position. Kept at it and asked to do as little on the ball as possible which suited him. Got good feet in when necessary.
  • McAuley - 7 Generally the usual Mr Reliable. Dealt with everything.
  • Lescott - 7 Strong, composed, comfortable, classy.
  • Brunt - 6 I'm his biggest critic but worked hard and did a job for us. A couple of horrendous crosses that had to be seen to be believed, but he did seem to get forward more than when he plays on the wing.
  • McManaman - 5 Pacey and gave us an outlet but a bit predicable and one-trick pony. For all his effort, Sess's quality was more effective although he was key in setting the high tempo.
  • Yacob - 7 As per. Shielded us well, a couple of times he was cheap on the ball.
  • Fletcher - 5 Was far better when he didn't go for Hollywood passes and kept the ball. Has quality for sure but the legs are suspect - stretched for and missed a number of balls he should have taken in his stride, but drove us on well overall.
  • Mozza - 7 Deserved the standing ovation. Great overall performance.
  • Saido - 7 The partnership with Ideye showed real promise from the off and the finish was a sublime, world class one hit take as good as you'll see.
  • Ideye - 8 A remarkable turn around in the last two games and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Earning it through effort. Seems to have been on the weights a bit too.
  • Sess - 7 I think his introduction just swung this in our favour when the game was there to be done. His first piece of invention after a few minutes resulted in the first goal after releasing Saido.
  • Others were not really on long enough.

Mark Koppel:

Pulis got the tactics totally correct tonight. Just like against Swansea away second half last year, you need to push them further up the pitch. An Alan Irvine Team I fear would have sat back and let them play.

I actually thought we played ok first half as well and laid the platform to go on to win. At half time I was cautiously confident we would do it.

As far as Pulis and man-management is concerned massive credit to him about his pre-match comments on Saido. As he said this kid comes from a broken family, lost his Dad when young, and needs guidance. Unless you want to drive our most naturally talent player out the Club, we should support him rather than abusing him.

Player ratings today:

  • Foster 7 - Did he have to make a save?
  • Dawson 6 - Not a natural full back and this showed at times. Got better as the game went on and did make timely tackles. Did venture forward as a wing back in the second half but crossing isn't his game.
  • McAuley 6 - An out and out defender. Didn't lump it as much today but when he did it went to a Swansea player.
  • Lescott 7 - Much better at Centre Back. Strong in all his challenges.
  • Brunt 6 - Did ok considering he was up against an orthodox winger. Got forward alright as well but why why why does he have to hit his crosses so hard?
  • Yacob 7 - At first the game was passing him by but then started to put in good timely challenges and disposessed Swansea several times.
  • Morrison 7 - Still my favourite West Brom midfielder. Ran direct at the opposition like the Morrison of old which did cause them problems. Also not averse to getting stuck in nowadays.
  • Mac 5 - Not there yet is he? Plenty of energy and I think he will improve.
  • Fletcher 7 - His experience and reassurance was crucial today, and was instrumental in stopping Swansea getting back into the game. Never panicked in possession and always found a West Brom player when passing.
  • Saido 7 - Quiet for first 15 mins but as soon as he got on the ball looked dangerous. Brilliant strike for his goal that only a naturally gifted player can achieve. Naturally gifted strikers often are difficult to manage but if you want his goals, as Pulis has already shown, the kid needs support not name calling.
  • Ideye 8 - Came on against Burnley like a man possessed and his turnaround continued today. Both he and Saido showed they can play together with a goal and assist each. Just worried he will fail some performance enhancing drug test soon!

Subs

  • Gardner 5 - Not on for long, little impact.
  • Sess 6 - Helped to set the second goal but what was he doing playing the ball across his box to a Swansea player that could have got them back into the game?