By Stuart Kidson
January 4 2003

Transfer listed Danny Dichio lifted the spirits of Baggies fans everywhere with a stunning hat-trick inside of 18 minutes at the Hawthorns. West Bromwich Albion v Bradford City (F.A. Cup, 3rd Round)
Saturday 4th January 2003

Transfer listed Danny Dichio lifted the spirits of Baggies fans everywhere with a stunning hat-trick inside of 18 minutes at the Hawthorns. The first hat-trick of the season, and also the first in the F.A. Cup for the Baggies since Kevin Donovan's trio against non-league Aylesbury, came during a period of total domination by the Baggies that highlighted just how far the Albion have progressed since the last meeting between these teams in April 2002.

Comments made by Bradford manager, Nicky Law, when the draw was announced, that he wished they had drew a big team were used by Gary Megson to provide the motivation for his Stars in Stripes, and by the 18 minute they had had the desired effect. Albion started with the same team that had faced Charlton a week previously and from the start they attacked the Bradford defence with a purpose. After 3 minutes Adam Chambers found himself with space on the right and delivered a wonderful cross that fell just right for the unmarked Dichio to head past a stranded Davison in the Bradford goal. Just two minutes later Jason Roberts, still looking for the goal that will break his lean period, was again on the wrong end of a referees decision. Despite protestations from Roberts, Mr. David Elleray deemed the player to have taken a dive and reached for his cards much to the derision of the home fans.

Bradford, who have won 3 of their last 4 matches including a 2 - 1 win over the Dingles, looked at odds with each other and the Baggies doubled their lead just 7 minutes later when a Jason Koumas cross from the left again fell to the unmarked Dichio. His downward header beating Davison and taking his goal tally for the season to 5. The home crowd had just enough time to sit down after their now trademark 'Boing Boing' chant when Roberts was up and running at the panic sticken Bradford defence. His pass was perfectly weighted for Dichio to run onto and calmly slip past Davison into the Smethwick End goal.

The travelling support in the Smethwick End, had little to cheer about for the majority of the first half, and when they won their first corner of the game a sarcastic cheer went up from the few fans who had made their way down the M1. Russell Hoult was untroubled by the threat to the Baggies goal as Claus Jorgensen's shot sailed over the bar into the Brummie Road Stand. Roberts was again a problem for the defence but was ruled offside.

The second half saw two changes to the Baggies side with Scott Dobie and Phil Gilchrist replacing Jason Roberts and Sean Gregan respectively. Bradford's beleagured defenders must have taken a collective sigh of relief when they saw that Roberts had remained in the Halfords Lane stand for the second half, but any relief was short lived when Scott Dobie raced past Mark Bower into the Woodman Corner and sent over a cross which Dichio and Johnson failed to convert.

Bradford's first real foray into the Albion half came about when Jason Koumas lost possesion on the halfway line by Andy Gray, but the ever reliable Darren Moore was their to clear away the ball. The Baggies then had two chances wasted when Andy Johnson shot wide after some quality play between Ronnie Wallwork and Danny Dichio, and then Scott Dobie nudged the ball wide from a certain scoring position following up a Neil Clement cross.

Bradford never looked like threatening to score and it was typical of their luck when their first real chance of the game fell to Mark Danks, on for Juanjo, whose shot had Hoult beaten for the first time during the game only for it to roll wide of the goalmouth.

Bradford's consolation goal came with 12 minutes left to play when Jorgensen's 25 yard shot came back out off the crossbar and fell invitingly for Mark Danks to nod into the empty Baggies net. To their credit the Bradford faithful immediately sang 'We're Going To Win 4 - 3', but the game was already won. Albion never clicked into top gear and for the majority of the game it looked as if they were playing in a practice match. The game displayed just how wide a gap it is between the bottom of the Premiership and the bottom of the Nationwide First Division.

Team Russell Hoult, Larus Sigurdsson, Darren Moore, Sean Gregan (45), Adam Chambers, Jason Koumas, Ronnie Wallwork(80), Andy Johnson (Capt), Neil Clement, Jason Roberts (45), Danny Dichio

Subs Brian Jensen, Igor Balis (80), Phil Gilchrist (45), Scott Dobie (45), James Chambers

Man of the Match selected by Mr. Stephen McNally of Oldbury

Danny Dichio