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WBA 1 Wolves 1 25/10/2001 |
| Match Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Report by Fat Stat
Wolves came into this match on the back of two defeats and although Albion had lost their last match, history was on their side - certainly recent history. Early on the game was scrappy, with Branch's pace nearly troubling the Albion defence on a couple of occassions. At the other end Taylor was clean through from a simple flick on, but he hit his shot much too early and too wide. Our defence was looking nervous and seemed to be giving the ball away much to often. One time in particular Butler chested the ball down straight to Taylor who luckily wasted that chance. The Albion defence seemed to have a handle on both Kennedy and Newton, which meant that our best opportunities were either coming through the middle where Blake was winning some flick ons, or from Naylor on the overlap on the left wing. Blake and one of their defenders had a bit of "afters" and that's when I noticed that their defender Moore looks like "Big Dave" from the pot noodle adverts. I soon forgot that thought when - on twenty minutes - we went one nil up. A simple ball in was not cleared properly and Rae headed it back where Branch controlled it and stabbed it through to Blake who cooly slipped it past their goalie. YES!! "S%*t on the Albion tonight!". The game was being played at a frantic, frenetic, hectic pace - but Wolves were on the ascendency. Having said that Albion still looked capable of scoring, but it increasingly looked like if they got a goal it would come from a Wolves' mistake rather than any of their own work. Blake was guilty of giving the ball away to Dobie who nearly broke through the defence, but Butler stretched and just about knocked the ball back to Oakes. The last action of the first half nearly saw Wolves go two up. A Kennedy corner on the left wing went across all the way to Newton whose shot cannoned off the goalie's legs when it looked a certain goal. Half time with Wolves one-nil up and looking the more dangerous side. At the start of the first half Scott Dobie injured himself as he fell to the floor after jumping with Muscat for a header. Then Branch sent Kennedy clear who sent in a great cross which was just about cleared by the Albion defence, and a free kick was hit high into the box and fell to Blake whose shot was just wide. Despite these chances Albion were looking better in this half, especially for the introduction of Fox who was causing us some trouble especially down the right wing, where they were winning some free kicks. One of these free kicks went only just wide and should have been a warning to the Wolves. Some neat play by Albion led to Taylor shooting wide from inside the area, before some Kennedy trickery at the other end led to a weak shot easily saved by their goalkeeper. Then the turning point of the match when the ref gave a foul against Butler for what appeared to be absolutely nothing. The free kick was in a central position just outside the area. Clement hit a brilliant shot over the wall and seemingly straight through Muscat who was on the line. Taylor scored an offside goal straight after, which led to Albion cheering which was short-lived. "Yaaarrgghhhh". Although Albion were applying pressure they didn't really look like scoring - the best chances falling to Naylor (after brilliant build up play from Cameron, Kennedy and Blake) whose shot was blocked and a Cameron free kick which was inches wide. Then a strange passage of play where the ref gave a succession of free kicks to Albion in our left back area. He seemed determined to hand them a late winner, but it wasn't to be. After recent events, a draw was a good enough result especially as it sent us to the top of the table and kept the Tesco carrier bags out of the play-off spots. I haven't mentioned the violence because the stupid pillocks - on both sides - who cause it shouldn't be given the publicity. Attendance: 26,143
Goals: Wolves: Blake (22 mins) WBA: Clement (69 mins)
Best Player : Cameron (2 votes) Lescott (1 vote) Butler (1 vote)
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| Average player ratings are taken from a number of newspapers, magazines and web-sites ...more.... |
| 2001 - 2002 |
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