West Bromwich Albion 1 - Newcastle United 0

Summary:

If Swansea away was the chalk then this performance was the cheese as Albion recorded their first win in six games thanks to a late goal by Darren Fletcher.

Newcastle were forced to give a debut to their third choice keeper, Karl Darlow, after illness forced Rob Elliot to drop to the bench. Despite rumours that Saido Berahino might return to the starting lineup, Tony Pulis said before the game that he was lucky to make the bench after everything that had been going on behind the scenes, and Victor Anichebe made a rare start up front in a formation that seems to have been described as almost every possible set of numbers according to where you read it. The TVs inside the ground showed it as a 3-4-2-1 with Gareth McAuley, Jonny Evans and Jonas Olsson as the back line, but this lasted only fifteen minutes as Olsson had to go off with a strained hamstring. But rather than bring on an £8 million centre half as a direct replacement, Albion brought on Craig Gardner and reshuffled the pack.

Both sides hit the woodwork, with Anichebe and Stephane Sessegnon both playing good attacking football and the goal came when Sessegnon played the ball back to Claudio Yacob to cross for Fletcher to head past Darlow, though a more experienced keeper may well have smothered the shot better.

The win keeps Albion in 13th place, a spot they seem to be making their own.

Johno:

What a relief. No only 3 points but a good constructive performance. Please TP no more 'parking the bus' against opposition no better that us. Our players are better than that.

More of the same please.

oshawabaggie:

Night and day difference from the last two games. We started with intensity. We were intent on going forward - can't remember more than two back passes to Myhill all game. Throw ins didn't take the usual five minutes per. Every man played ten yards further up the pitch. Consequently the midfield were in position to help the front man. And talking of front man, that was the best game I've seen out of Anichebe or any Albion front man for a long time. He was awesome and deserved at least a goal for his efforts.

Sess was brilliant too and it makes you wonder how two players like thst could spend so much time on the bench. Although both have tended to be flakey in the past when given the chance. Let's hope the big man is not too badly hurt.

TP can we please start games with that kind of intensity and attacking intent every game? OK we will lose some, but that was much more enjoyable than the usual 'five passes along the back line before Myhill hoofs out for a throw' kind of performance. A word of praise too for Fletcher who had his best game in an Albion shirt. Much happier.

Brendan Clegg:

That was a hundred times better.

I think most people were surprised to see Big Vic start and he gave probably his best performance in a blue and white shirt. What surprised me most was the hunger and effort he showed, and the duration which he managed to continue it. He played like Rondon although arguably he used the ball better and was more effective. I have been arguing that he's a better impact option than Lambert but if he played like this every week he'd be a serious contender. History tells you he can't but he deserved his standing ovation.

But he's not become a different player overnight - he's simply never been picked apart from ludicrously in the holding role in the cup.

In midfield we had a right go and pressed high with Mozza getting right up there and Sess was absolutely brilliant. A reminder that all three of these are out of contract at the end of the season.

I think that although we were great, Newcastle are very poor - their defensive shape was good and they got lots of blocks in but other than that they were rubbish.

And despite our domination of play this was another very marginal victory - they could easily have nicked a goal and we relied upon a goalkeeping error to win it, so I'm not getting too carried away.

Regarding Pulis - I'm really not sure what Gardner gave us that McManaman wouldn't have again. Indeed I thought we needed him on anyway to try and break Newcastle down.

So although I was delighted with the approach, performance and result I see this as another false dawn. I still wouldn't trust Pulis with any more money and this game demonstrated was that we should play this way every game, apart from maybe the top 4 or 5 clubs away. Are we really going to do that under Pulis?

I think Moyes would be a perfect fit if we could tempt him - and I don't think it's out of the question he'd come to rebuild his career.

• Myhill - 6 not much to do but did OK when called upon.
• McAuley - 7 Really good - a brilliant recovery tackle in the first half belied is age. Whatever he drinks, I want some.
• Evans - 7 Good game but got away with a cynical foul in the box that might have cost us.
• Olsson - 6 Was looking good until his injury, hope it isn't too bad.
• Dawson - 7 Was really brave playing high up the pitch and crucially found Sess a lot, also offered lots of decoy runs.
• Yacob - 6 Usual solid play.
• Fletcher - 6 I didn't think it was the captain marvel performance I've read about elsewhere - I think the goal might have influenced many. Worked hard, kept going and pressed high but was caught out a fair bit.
• Brunt - 6 Looked better when we went to a more flat back 4.
• Sess - 8 A constant menace, went past players for fun and created lots of space for others.
• Morrison - 6 Looks so much better when we play this way, high up the pitch. I wouldn't have subbed him.
• Anichebe - 8 Strong, ran his socks off, held it up and linked play brilliantly, battled for everything like a monster, deserved a goal.

• Gardner - 5 Made one important tackle late on but otherwise was a passenger out left.
• Saido - 6 Looked a threat and lively - forced their keeper into a rare save.
• Lambert - Did a job.

If Saido has been an idiot in training I've no problem with him being dropped from the squad and us giving Nabi or Leko a place on the bench.

The same goes for McManaman - discipline is critical but I don't see the point in sitting the both on the bench game after game without using them.

Peter Wall:

If you compare the first 30 minutes of the Bournemouth game (i.e. before the crazy assault by McClean) with the first 30 minutes of the Newcastle game, you can hardly believe it is the same Club in the same season. Suddenly there is intensity, we are moving around and constantly going forward. It seemed as though Christmas had finally arrived. Those 3 points were crucial.

Thanks for all the reports from Baggie Fans more expert than me.