It took less than a minute for the Baggies to go a goal behind, as Danek's first real piece of senior action was to collect the ball from the back of his own net.  Centre half Youssef Mohamad made a searching pass from defence which found Vicicevic.  Paul Robinson failed to deal with the danger as Vicicevic cut in from the left and fired a low 20 yard shot into the corner of the Albion net.

In the 4th minute Luke Moore tried his luck from a similar position, but his effort was wide of the left post.  Ishmael Miller went closer in the 11th minute, his right footed shot was well saved by keeper Faryd Mondragon after the striker had done well to shrug off the efforts of two defenders.

FC Koln could have doubled their lead in the 13th minute, Vicicevic made a clever exchange with Roda Antar who was clear in the box.  But an excellent stop from Danek kept the score at 1-0.  Vicicevic then wasted the rebound from 12 yards.

In the 22nd minute Albion had another close shave when a 25 yard shot from Mohamad took a nasty deflection.  But Danek was on call to make the save and held the ball well.  Moments later Mohamad was called into action defensively as Paul Robinson took his chance with a hard shot from a corner.

But just three minutes later the Baggies conceded a second goal when Ehret's inch perfect cross allowed Novakovic to rise highest in the box and head past a stranded Danek.

Albion might have had a goal of their own just a minute later.  Kim Do-Heon placed an impressive effort from 25 yards, and when the rebound fell nicely for James Morrison he made no mistake in slotting the ball home, only for his effort to be adjudged offside.

In the 27th minute, just two minutes after going two goals up, FC Koln found a third.  Miso Brecko fired in a freekick from the left flank which flew through the six yard box with pace.  The goal was accredited to Antar, although it appeared as though Roman Bednar was the last man to touch the ball.

Albion had failed to trouble the FC Koln keeper too much, although Bednar did produce a save out of Mondragon in the 37th minute when he connected with Clement's diagonal ball into the box.

But the chance was incidental, and the 38th minute brought yet more woe for the Baggies as they conceded a fourth goal.  In an attempt to clear a cross from Brecko, Leon Barnett placed the ball into the path of Ehret, who fired the ball past Danek from 15 yards.  It was the last significant action of the half, with Mowbray's men looking decisively glad to hear the half time whistle.

Half Time: FC Koln 4-0 West Bromwich Albion

Mowbray made six changes during the break, with Luke Daniels, Pele, Worrall, Dorrans and Brunt replacing Danek, Clement, Greening, Miller, Moore and Bednar.

The second half was dull and slow in comparison with the first.  The brightest spark of action came when Daniel superbly turned Koln sub Adil Chihi's fierce left footed drive round the edge of his post.  Albion chances were also limited, with Dorrans and Morrison both trying their luck from range but neither troubling Mondragon in goal.

In the 62nd minute FC Koln made an astonishing 10 substitutions, undoubtedly the most exciting action of the half until Albion pulled a goal back 14 minutes from time. 

Worrall found Beattie with a defence splitting pass, and the Scottish striker did well to hold off a challenge from Aleksander Mitreski before firing home past substitute goalkeeper Thomas Kessler.

In the 70th minute Slusarski had a testing volley well saved by Kessler from a superb Dorrans cross.  But it was to be Albion's last action of the game.  FC Koln had one final chance in the last minute of time as sub Taner Yalcin hit the post with a freekick.

Full Time: FC Koln 4-1 West Bromwich Albion

Beattie (76)

Vicicevic (1)

Novakovic (25)

Ehret (27, 38)

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