By Sadie
February 18 2007

Sadie (Shady Blue Lady) gives Singing The Blues her own unique look at Town’s game against West Brom yesterday.

The Tractor Boys last game of 2006 was a trip to the Hawthorns to try to regain some respect from the Albions visit to Portman Rd producing a humiliating 1 – 5 defeat earlier in the season.

 

The weather was dull only highlighting further the bright pink coats worn by some of the stewards and the pre-match entertainment came as the wind kept blowing off the hats of a steward in front.

 

The team is announced as I try to get a fruit pastille out of my teeth; the squad is unchanged from Boxing Day at Coventry with Price in goal, Bruce, Naylor, De Vos, Harding in defence. Williams, Garvan, Legwinski, Roberts in midfield, and Macken and Lee partnering in attack. On the subs bench were Supple, Richards, Walton, Haynes & Clarke.

 

One minute into the game Bruce falls over then in the 2nd minute Williams throws away a good opportunity as he is standing in line with the centre of goal but decides to pass out wide.

 

In the 4th minute it’s the turn of Albion keeper Russell Hoult to fall over.

 

Another good opportunity is passed for town in the 7th minute, Macken passes the ball out to Roberts on the left wing who crosses the ball back into the box, the ball keeps rolling until it finds Williams then Bruce takes the ball back into the box only for Macken to kick out for a goal kick. Sound exciting? Well it wasn’t.

 

Up to the other end Kevin Phillips is offside for the Baggies.

 

In the 9th minute Lee is being lazy and Macken is being useless- so things are the norm for the tractor boys.

 

In the 11th minute of this game so cold that it’s hand numbing and so boring that it’s mind numbing, Garvan puts a good ball out to Roberts who crosses it all the way over to Williams on the right wing, but Williams was also feeling the effects of the mind numbing ness by the looks of it, soon after Naylor has to put his defending skills into practice and the Baggies Darren Carter is sliding around, play again quickly switches ends as town attack again, Roberts has a try on goal but it is straight to the arms of Hoult.

 

Lee manages to stay on his feet in the 13th minute, surely we deserve all 3 points just for that, it counts for nothing in the end though as Garvan is caught offside.

 

On 15 minutes there are 24 screens making up Albions TV screen opposite.

 

Onto 18 minutes a break from Hartson is unsuccessful but then the Baggies win a free kick for something or other but Hartson hits it over.

 

Carter and Koumas are both attacking Price’s goal on 19 minutes, Price pulls off a brilliant save with the ball very obviously changing direction but no corner is given, all I have to say is haha.

 

Referee Mr. C. Penton gives a corner when Roberts is taken down in the box, which sparks rage in the visiting fans then the corner by Williams is so crap it fuels the fire further. Phillips then breaks away before simply giving the ball to Price, Price then sends play back up for Town and from a Town free kick Roberts starts being silly (Roberts you are not Lampard) The Baggies regain possession and Price’s clearance is a poor one but the midfield recover, play turns attacking for Town but not for long Lee is offside.

 

A ball comes in from Clement on 29 minutes but Bruce defends with a solid head, there is a bit of a slide around in this mud bath then the Baggies have a free kick, they hit it straight against the Town wall giving themselves a throw in.

 

In the 31st minute De Vos produces a bad clearance, no that’s unfair- a diabolical clearance which gives WBA the upper hand and they win a corner, this time De Vos heads clear but out for another corner, De Vos’ involvement continues as he heads the ball straight towards his own net forcing a quick reaction save from Price which Harding helps clear, another corner comes in and the Tractor boys are lucky their current first choice goalkeeper is alert and on form.

 

Carter is talked to for a tackle on Williams in the 36th minute and apparently ra ra ra…

Then in the 37th minute Kamara is caught offside.

 

In the 40th minute Bruce is defending, I thought that was worth a mention as nothing else was happening and on 42 minutes Earnshaw is still an Alien.

 

1 minute time is added with an Albion free kick, Garvan keeps the score at half time 0-0.

 

The 2nd half got off t a slow start with a crowd of 20, 328 then on 49 minutes Price pulled off a fantastic save from a 2 on 1 with the final shot coming from an energetic Phillips.

 

On 50 minutes West Brom win a penalty from a Legwinski hand ball for which he receives a booking. Price dives the right way to block the ball only for Kamara to follow up and knock the rebound in, the home team are a goal up.

 

56 minutes into the match instead f seeing green Lee is working hard to try and make things right, my personal opinion is that his inspiration came from the pitch being so muddy that it would ruin his hair, but apparently mud is good for the complexion, well I’ve never seen a pig with zits, Williams shots wide for Town and the left side of the pitch is not working for the Tractor Boys.

 

In the 62nd minute Walton replaces Bruce, yes Walton is playing in right back position.

 

Harding is fouled, this is noticed by the linesman but not the referee then in the 63rd minute Town’s man of the match Price pulls off another quick save.

 

On 64 minutes Harding breaks the Carling board and on 65, well ra ra ra.

 

It’s the 66th minute and the Albion are attacking up field, un-hassled, Koumas gets the ball into the box and with a super strike makes it 2-0.

 

A double substitution is made for Town on 69 minutes with Clarke and Haynes replacing Macken and Roberts, then on 72 minutes the Baggies fans finally wake up.

 

In the 73rd minute, I’m not watching- I’m busy eating a fruit pastille, a blackcurrant one.

 

74 minutes gone Clarke makes a run but with no strength or speed the ball is taken from him.

 

The best chance of the match came from Alan Lee on 75 minutes but he hits over, then further opportunities from Walton and Clarke are denied by the Albion defence.

 

On 79 minutes both Clarke and Haynes are having trouble with the concept of foot meeting ball then 80 minutes sees Chaplow replace Gera for the Baggies.

 

In the 83rd minutes Naylor handles the ball receiving a yellow and conceding a free kick in a dangerous position, the ball is again smacked into the Town wall and goes no further. In both the 84th and 85th minute of play the ball is taken from Haynes’ feet as he tries to be Ronaldo, then West Brom attack but the Town defence is solid and someone is booked for something or other.

 

Onto 88 minutes Phillips gets around Price but then Price finds his way back to the goal and nothing else happens.

 

Goalscorer Kamara goes off on 89 minutes to be replaced by Steve Watson as 4 minutes are added.

 

Lee is booked during injury time, I don’t know why- maybe he threw his handbag.

 

Well that’s it 2006 over, I think we can all be thankful for that, and for those who stayed to applaud the tractor boys saw a united team standing before them with the inclusion of Magilton coming over to acknowledge the travelling fans.

 

I have to mention, the West Brom No. 1 whom did not play whose mane is spelt Zuberbuhler… yeah have fun with that, I know we did.

 

And although funky sock competition was forgotten about thank you Aston for your efforts, they were truly funky socks (Not quite as funky as mine though I’m afraid)

            Happy new year x

 

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