What an edge of the seat game at the Hawthorns yesterday! The gripping contest ended all square at 2-2 but that only told part of the story. All in all, a point at home to championship challengers Arsenal is a reasonable result, but is a little bitter sweet when you're two up in the last twenty minutes.
In hindsight, the point was critical when you consider the other results which saw Wolves win at Villa, West Ham draw at Spurs, Wigan closing the gap by edging Blues and Blackpool sharing the spoils with Blackburn. The bottom of the league is ridiculously tight but is proving to be incredibly exciting. The good thing is that we're unbeaten since di Matteo's removal and Roy Hodgson has instilled a desire to battle that is being rewarded by a constant trickle of points.
Yesterday's defensive performance against Arsenal saw vital contributions not only from the back five of Carson, Meite, Olssen, Shorey and Reid but an all round team desire to track back, close down and battle. More of this is needed in the final eight games starting in two weeks time with the visit of our Premier League nemesis, Liverpool. No goals in nine games and countless conceded. So as we enter the crucial month of April, we are really none the wiser about whether we are staying up or returning to the second tier of English football.
The positives are centered around the fact that we are very much alive and kicking. A similar feeling exists at Molyneux, Upton Park and to a lesser extent, the DW Stadium. Can the same be said at Villa Park, St. Andrews and Ewood Park? Let's not forget Blackpool, Fulham, Stoke and Newcastle, who are also very much in the mix. Log in for the next update in two week's time.
Sunday 20 March 2011
Sunday 6 March 2011
Vital Away Points
A critical week has seen the Baggies remain unbeaten on their travels and keep their survival hopes well on track. The point at Stoke was most welcome as the infamous record of not winning there since 1982 is probably our most notorious bogey streak alongside our Villa victory drought. In the end our trip to the Britannia could even have yielded three points thanks to our added-on time rally.
If you were able to choose to play the normal solid Birmingham City, five days into their Carling Cup victory hangover would be an ideal opportunity and this is what turned out to be the case. A more organised defensive performance coupled with a trio of clinical second half strikes saw the Baggies claim three very valuable points in a three-one success. The lacklustre Blues display played a small part in our win but you can only beat what's put in front of you. Although goalscorers, Morrison, Mulumbu and Sharner, got the plaudits, it was the overall team display that pleased Roy Hodgson especially as the tougher challenges of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham fill four of the next five games.
So we now sit on 32 points with 9 games to play. Safety is in our grasp and a string of performances similar to those put in this week will give us a good chance of survival but it will be tough. While Wigan seem to be faltering, West Ham and Wolves are fighting hard and the gradual points accumulation from three of the four 'W's is putting the three 'B's under pressure in Birmingham, Blackpool and Blackburn. It's going to be close but it's still very much in our hands. A two week break is now in place before our next scheduled game against Arsenal, so join this blog in a couple of weeks to get a further update on our Survival Campaign 2011.
If you were able to choose to play the normal solid Birmingham City, five days into their Carling Cup victory hangover would be an ideal opportunity and this is what turned out to be the case. A more organised defensive performance coupled with a trio of clinical second half strikes saw the Baggies claim three very valuable points in a three-one success. The lacklustre Blues display played a small part in our win but you can only beat what's put in front of you. Although goalscorers, Morrison, Mulumbu and Sharner, got the plaudits, it was the overall team display that pleased Roy Hodgson especially as the tougher challenges of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham fill four of the next five games.
So we now sit on 32 points with 9 games to play. Safety is in our grasp and a string of performances similar to those put in this week will give us a good chance of survival but it will be tough. While Wigan seem to be faltering, West Ham and Wolves are fighting hard and the gradual points accumulation from three of the four 'W's is putting the three 'B's under pressure in Birmingham, Blackpool and Blackburn. It's going to be close but it's still very much in our hands. A two week break is now in place before our next scheduled game against Arsenal, so join this blog in a couple of weeks to get a further update on our Survival Campaign 2011.
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