By Jemma Tappenden
March 9 2008

With Cardiff knocking Middlesbrough out of the cup with a comfortable 2-0 victory earlier in the day, it was left to West Brom to break the trend of underdog victories over the Quarter Finals weekend. Mowbray was forced to make three changes to his midweek side, with Hoefkens failing a late fitness test there was a starting place for Jared Hodgkiss. An injured Teixeira missed out entirely.

Morrison replaced Gera in midfield, the Hungarian International settling for a place on the bench.  There was no starting place however for Kevin Phillips, with Bednar and Miller starting up front. 

On a less than perfect pitch it was the home side that settled first.  Albion dealt well with a Rovers free kick in the 3^rd minute, but the resulting cross from the rebound ball left holes exposed in the Baggies defence.  The shot however was well off course.  In the 8^th minute January signing Ishmael Miller powered his way through a crowd on the edge of the box to produce Albion’s first shot on goal, but his effort lacked any real punch and deflected out for a corner. 

In the 11^th minute the Baggies produced the games real chance, Chris Brunt broke away down the left and centred the ball to Roman Bednar who connected with the ball, but not well enough to cause any significant trouble for Rovers Keeper Phillips. In the 13^th minute a cross by Disley from the right had the Albion defence at sixes and sevens, but Lambert who was waiting in the centre could not edge far enough ahead to make contact. 

A minute later Miller looked to be through on goal from a looping midfield pass, but Phillips was first to the ball.  Amazing Phillips pulled off a double save as the rebound fell to Greening, whose shot looked to be on target from 25 yards. 

Just sixty seconds later another superb cross from Brunt on the left found Bednar again, but the 16 goal striker could only fire his shot at the Bristol keeper.  This time however the rebound fell to Morrison, who clear of his defender was able to blast the ball home to put the Baggies a goal up. 

In the 19^th minute a bit of a goal mouth scramble almost resulted in a Bristol Rovers equaliser.  The initial shot from Lambert somehow being deflected out to the wing, where the follow up shot was well held by Kiely.  And moments later Rovers players held their hands up for a penalty believing that Lambert had been shrugged off the ball in the box by Brunt. 

In the 25^th minute Miller breaking down the left centred for Bednar, beaten to the ball by the Rovers defence, the resulting corner was played over the heads of everyone by Greening.  This allowed Bristol a chance to attack the Baggies on the break, Lambert with a golden opportunity to pull his side level, but his weak toe poke from 5 yards was well held by Kiely. 

The state of the pitch and heavy winds was certainly contributing to what had quickly become a scrappy game.  But in the 30^th minute Albion had doubled their lead.  A beautiful diagonal ball from Greening in defence found Miller on the right, who turned his marksman beautifully on the edge of the box to place the ball into the top left hand corner of the net. 

A minute later however Rovers were back into it and suddenly the game was back on.  Albion who had looked shaky at the back from the start failed to deal with a Campbell corner, allowing Coles to tower above the Baggies defence to head past Kiely from a neat flick on from Disley. 

The half was turning scrappy, and with a series of half chances for both sides the next real chance did not come until the 42^nd minute when Campbell for Bristol Rovers took his chance with a solo effort from the edge of the area.  He had the Baggies defence well beat, but Kiely looked to have his space covered, although the shot was wide of the target. 

In the 44^th minute Lambert flicked a ball on into the penalty area, but Jared Hodgkiss making his first start in 19 games was on call to punt the ball out for a throw in.  In first half stoppage time a throw in by Robinson found Koren who laid a beautiful through ball to Miller who looked clear on goal.  Miller rounded keeper Phillips, but lost his footing in the box.  Albion fans called for a penalty, although the referee Mark Clattenburg’s decision to wave away penalty claims was later shown to be correct as replays showed that Miller had slipped. 

Half Time: Bristol Rovers 1-2 West Bromwich Albion 

In the 47^th minute another superb diagonal ball from Greening found Morrison on the right, his inch perfect cross found Bednar in the middle, who connected well to head the ball goal bound.  It was a let off indeed for the Pirates, their keeper Phillips preventing the Baggies opening up another 2 goal gap early in the second half.   

A minute later Miller might have done better with his head after Robinson had fired the ball into the box.  The opening minutes of the half were all Albion, and they were soon back on the attack.  Koren in the middle passed wide left to Miller, who fired his shot well over from 18 yards out from the left.   

In the 55^th minute Bristol Rovers made a substitution, Chris Lines being replaced by Lewis Haldane.  Within seconds of coming on the pitch he had a chance to bring Rovers level, when Pipes broke free down the right.  His cross was just inches in front of Haldane, with Lambert racing in alongside him.  A 57^th minute corner for Rovers was well cleared by Albion, allowing them to break up field.   

In the 59^th minute Haldane broke free down the left.  The pacey winger struggled to centre the ball, but the Baggies defence still managed to stumble over their clearance.  Clever back tracking by Koren eventually got the ball clear, after a dangerous rebound off Barnett had the whole defence confused. 

A series of goal mouth scrambles showed that the Baggies defence was feeling the pressure as Rovers pressed for an equaliser.  In the 63^rd minute an anxious looking Mowbray made a double substitution, 18 goal man Phillips and Zoltan Gera on, replacing Roman Bednar and Chris Brunt respectively.   

In the 64^th minute a foul by Danny Coles on Miller resulted in an Albion free kick.  Greening fired a right wing kick towards the area, but Disley was on call to clear any danger for a throw in.  But in the 69^th minute Albion extended their lead to 3-1 in a bizarre goal which looked to be offside.  Punted up field from the middle, a flick on from a Rovers defender played Miller in on goal who slotted home coolly with his left foot from 12 yards. 

The goal took away any momentum Rovers had notched up, and in the 73^rd minute Kevin Phillips hit his 19^th goal of the season to make it 4. Superb work from Koren in the centre resulted in a beautiful through ball to a waiting Miller and Phillips, the later being the first to the ball as the 34 year old striker showed his true professionalism to slot into the bottom right hand corner from12 yards. 

The three goal advantage allowed Albion to relax for the first time in the duration of the game, Rovers seemingly deflated by the 4^th goal.  But proving that they were still in it a powerful shot by Haldane in the 80^th minute rocked the woodwork   In the 82^nd minute Albrechtsen fired in a shot from 25 yards which was wide of the left upright. 

The killer blow arrived in the 85^th minute when Ishmael Miller completed his hatrick.  Substitute Zoltan Gera  crossed to Miller in the centre who made no mistake of converting with his left foot from 18 yards. 

With 5 minutes left to play it was game set and match to Albion.  A  5-1 victory Albion see themselves in Monday’s draw for the semi finals at Wembley.  A total of 15 goals scored in the cup so far, and a semi final draw which guarantees the appearance of at least one Championship side at Wembley for the Final. 

Full Time: Bristol Rovers 1-5 West Bromwich Albion 

Morrison (16) 

Miller (30, 69, 85) 

Phillips (73) 

Coles (31) 

Attendance: 12,011

FA Cup: Bristol Rovers 1-5 West Bromwich Albion

Discussion started by West Brom (IP Logged), 09/03/2008 19:55

West Brom
09/03/2008 19:55

FA Cup: Bristol Rovers 1-5 West Bromwich Albion

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Lifes Little Jem
09/03/2008 20:16

Told you I'd be quick!

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

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Ivybridge Wolf
09/03/2008 20:19

Well done Jem. Will you be as quick with your renewal? Remember the 'early bird' catches the worm - or the slug as the case maybe.

Seriously, have you and your Dad decided yet?

PS Well done WBA

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Lifes Little Jem
09/03/2008 20:23

Yep. Have decided, and the decision is that we are not renewing.

It was a toughie, and until Tuesday versus Southampton I think my Dad was still 50 50%.

But not any more.

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

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Ivybridge Wolf
09/03/2008 20:41

Thanks. Interesting - but totally understandible.

I remain in the undecided camp, but with another 2 matches to get to in midweek this season, ie WBA and now Cardiff, I am seriously beginning to wonder whether I need to review my relationship with the M5.

Let me know if you change your mind back (it's allowed you know), and anyway we can always buy them back for an additional £80 each at the end of the season! Great value.

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Lifes Little Jem
09/03/2008 20:45

I will miss it - I got to be honest. And It feels very much like I'm becoming a fair weather supporter. But with my mortgage etc I would have to borrow the money off my Dad.

I have got to the point where I can't be bothered to go, especially midweek - they often clash with parents evenings etc. I know that sounds awful only living 7 miles up the road, but I'm hoping I might get a bit of passion back if I only pick and choose the games.

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

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Ivybridge Wolf
09/03/2008 20:54

Jem, I think you're right - absence makes the heart grow stronger! Trouble is, I'm having a real crisis of thought process. It feels like abandonment on my part. Terrible mixed feelings. Like I said I still might renew, but perhaps picking and choosing is the way to get the passion back? this season has been as dire as last season was great ... and that don't help matters. Dan also may well be leaving the Walsall area too.

I have a good mate who lives in Paignton who was a Baggies STH until 3 years ago. Since then he travels up to the matches when he's able, picks and chooses, and he prefers it that way. He thoroughly recommends it to me! We'll see.

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Lifes Little Jem
09/03/2008 20:59

Having a season ticket has its advantages. Ticket priority etc - Wouldn't get any Play off final tickets or anything IF we were to be in that position. But shouldn't struggle with much else. Have always got Tony Tickets for the Albion game at Molineux when they go on general sale so.

I know what you mean about abandonment - but I also feel so angry when I look at how we are treated. We're meant to be pleased the ticket prices are frozen for a forth year - but they re still Premier League prices. At least Albion and other sides are giving something to their fans, Wolves just seem to be getting greedier and greedier.

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

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Ivybridge Wolf
09/03/2008 21:08

I agree. There's a culture of bleed 'um dry from the Wolves board. When they don't increase prices for the 4th year we are supposed to tip our cap and proclaim our grateful thanks when the reality is that Wolves are and have been (for years) totally overpriced. I think our standard ST prices should be what the early birds are and the early bird birds should be about £60-70 cheaper than that.

Another way is what the Albion have done - reduce prices even more. I tell ya, never at Wolves, not with Moxey there.

One more side to the debate - I just got a new car today (2nd hand). It's a diesel C4 and does 56-60 mpg (compared to my current Vectra 38 mpg). I bought it just because of all the miles I do. Now that tells you how mixed up I am!!

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Lifes Little Jem
09/03/2008 23:28

Well on the diesel Car front, I can say that I swapped to diesel in 2003 and have never looked back. The fuel is a bit more expensive, and they cost a bit more to get serviced, but the mpg makes up for that. Mine is super economical even on local journeys.

In fact me and Tony took it Bournemouth yesterday and got there on half a tank used (Costs between £40-£45 to fill) I'm assured that this is cheap, and I'm assuming Tony knows as he's done the journey many times in a petrol BMW!!

£299 for a season ticket at Albion - and they get semi finals and actually score goals.
Says it all - we're paying £469. Where's the value?

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

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