West Bromwich Albion 1 - Hull City 0

Didcot Baggie:

I'm sure that most Baggies fans will be celebrating this win and others saying that it vindicates the advent of Tracksuit Tony, but in reality this was a dreadful game between 2 poor teams. What Match of the Day "highlights" will be shown I don't know.

OK a win is a win and this is a game we needed to win but there was no real change to the quality of our creativity and finishing. Did anyone really expect there to be? Pulis gave Ideye a chance and he failed to grab it, missing a golden opportunity and driving Pulis spare with his lack of pressing of the Hull defence. I lost count of the number of times we passed backwards rather than forwards. Is Ben Foster the new key to opening defences?

On the plus side, Big Mac and Lescott looked solid and Wisdom played well defensively if not going forward. Not sure why Baird was preferred to Poc, but I'll guess its early days and Pulis is still trying to find his best 11. Radio interviews after the game suggested that the 11 will include some new players if he has his way. What he can spend and who will want to come remains to be seen. Clearly the summer signings excite him as much they did Irvine.

Tough tests ahead Baggies fans, but onwards and upwards!

Brendan Clegg:

It is only fair to judge this game, performance and team selection as I would any other. And although the positive result was paramount and critical, this really was as bad as it gets.

Does it matter? Is ongoing survival more important than being entertained? Is it too soon to judge? I don't know but under Irvine I witnessed the worst ever winning performance I have ever seen (away at Leicester) and this was nearly as bad.

To be fair to Pulis he's having to learn on the job quickly - learn pretty much what Irvine learned over his tenure and what most regular Albion fans, outlasting all of these coaches, know already both about our longer term players and recent recruits. Today was like going back two steps and yet somehow Pulis has a nack of getting results.

Baird over Poc? I cannot see that in a million years and although he does a dogged job defensively it completely nullifies the winger in front of him, the midfielder inside him and any support going forward. He has to go back inside to Lescott or back to Foster.

Varela not even in the squad? Again with what we have and how vital results and goals are, I can't see that.

Gamboa not in the squad? He has shown enough to suggest his pace is worth having as an option, even as a last roll of the dice with 10 to go on the wing if not at right back.

4-4-2? Even Woy gave up on that in the end. We just don't have good enough strikers or midfielders for that and not many teams outside the top 4 do these days.

I would for for an ugly back 4, Mulumbu/Gardner/Dorrans and Yacob holding behind Mozza and Berhino up front on his own with Sess and Varela wide in a 4-5-1 and only attacking with 3 all game. At least we'd keep possession, not hoof it and be easier on the eye.

We maybe had 4 or 5 moves all game that were any good. the rest of the match seemed to be about reducing the quality of the game as much as possible, percentages, hoofs and defending well.

I actually think today would have been one that an Irvine side would have won anyway because Hull were the dross we knew they would be, reduced further through early injuries.

I cant think of anything else to say - it was like the first 40 against Gateshead played over 90 with one bit of fortune for the free kick and one bit of quality from Berahino that won it for us - and I agree with everyone else who says that you don't get anywhere by selling your best players or strikers who score goals. It isn't what we can get for him, it's how much to replace him and how much relegation would cost as we'd surely go down without his goals. I think that makes him unsellable.

• Foster - 7 A noticeable improvement in concentration, handling and kicking. Looked solid.
• Wisdom - 7 Generally very strong, good defensively, tried to keep the ball and support attacks.
• McAuley - 8 Rock solid. If only he were 5 years younger. Strong, fit, no-risk.
• Lescott - 6 Looked as leggy as he ever has for us, did not look comfortable with Baird to his left, wary of lack of pace there.
• Baird - 6 Cannot fault him for honesty or effort, but baffled by his selection. Poc has been one of the few signings that actually looks a good deal.
• Brunt - 5 Lots of misplaced passes and not quick enough. That said, if he is going to play I think he is better on the right than the left at this level as he can often get crosses away or shots on goal - but then Mowbray arrived at this conclusion years ago.
• Yacob - 6 Did his solid job but worrying ponderous on the ball - his pace and mobility in a 4 is a worry.
• Morrison - 8 High mark for sheer effort really. Made plenty of mistakes but effort, energy and running drove us on and tried to pass it.
• Sess - 6 At the heart of our most creative moments first half but also struggles in a 4 man midfield and too often our service to him was really poor.
• Ideye - 5 And I'm probably being kind. Had to score the one clear-cut chance of the game. Just hasn't got it for this level - strength, pace or awareness. looks miles off but at the same time looks marginally our 2nd best striker, that's the problem.
• Berahino - 7 Fed on scraps but still did well and what a great finish. Connects with the ball so well. Needs help.

• Anichibe - 5 Looks the most unfit now he has ever been, carrying lots of weight. Is good for 20 minutes only max and only if it is played within 5 yards of him and he can back in.
• Gardner - 6 Got involved well and started move that led to goal.

Interesting times in the window - improving what we have wont come cheap.

oshawabaggie:

This was a dour display of 'safety first' football, but a win is a win and we'll take them any way they come. And anyway it would be churlish to level any criticism at Pulis and crew at this early stage, but I think we got a look at what we can expect in terms of tactics for the rest of the season. That is; set up not to lose and grab a win if we can. The 'no Ideye' experiment looks close to being condemned to the scrap heap. In fact I was surprised he got the call to start, but if Pulis needed any evidence why he has not been a regular starter, he got it near the end of the first half when the Expensive One scuffed his shot horribly wide when clean through.

For the first time in ages we didn't look like giving the lead away at the end and Pulis must take some credit for that.

Sorry for beating the same old drum, but why people are still talking of getting rid of Berahino defies common sense.

1. We have no other player within a million miles of his goal scoring capability.
2. There are no other proven goal scorers out there that we could attract to the Albion for the money we would get.
3. Goal scorers keep teams in the league (Odemwingie and Lukaku are proof of that).
4. Who cares if Berahino has a bad attitude and makes poor choices off the pitch as long as he keeps banging in goals? Ask Liverpool fans if they feel they got a good return on the Suarez money and whether they really cared if he sank his teeth into a juicy centre back once in a while.

If we want to stay up Berahino has to stay at least until the summer.

Cardiff Baggie:

Looking at the above, I would say they are a pretty fair reflections of the game overall. I have listened to what TP has said since he came in and looked at him yesterday as the match unfolded - I was (deliberately chosen) 14 rows back behind the Albion technical area. My thoughts are

1. TP is an excellent motivator. He stood for the whole game in the technical area giving instructions on his desired shape and movement/tactical stuff. When there was a break in play he would pause to consult his nr 2 Kempy and also Paul Jewell. At times he was very concerned, bordering on exasperation. He even showed written notes to Berahino. So for me he gets 9/10 immediately and is clearly more than a head coach!!!! At least the players will now know clearly what their jobs are and what is expected.
2. Berahino is the most gifted player Albion have, we cannot sell him before the end of the season, if we do where will the goals come from?
3. Brown Ideye missed an absolute sitter at the end of the first half, one on one with the keeper. I was waiting for the net to bulge!?!? He had some good touches but I cannot see why Albion paid £10m back in the summer, I would be very surprised if he gets many more chances at Albion before being sold. The defence isn't actually that bad, we do not leak shed loads of goals, our main problems are in the middle and front of the team.
4. TP has realised that keeping Albion up is a big job, very big. I think he is disappointed in the quality of the squad and realises that he needs (at least) a clever midfielder with a trick, a winger and another forward who can score when he gets a good chance. These players are needed on the next 3 weeks so watch this space, but they will not be cheap..
5. Albion have under performed since Roy left and the players brought in have mostly not been good enough to be in the first team every week. It could even be that Crystal Palace have a better squad. You have to ask how many that played yesterday would get into a team in the top half of the league every week. I would say Foster, Lescott, Berahino only, probably.
6. It was good to see a win but it should not be thought to cover up the underlying problems. Everyone needs to get behind the team and management and be as one.