By Jemma Tappenden
December 5 2007

Albion had another chance to go top of the table last night if they could pull off a result against Coventry City, and Watford crashed away to Colchester. With a formidable home record this season and already having swept aside Coventry once in the last few weeks, confidence was rightly high. Coventry also had off pitch problems to consider.

Coventry City have filed for administration this week, but there was some confidence in seeing the return of Misfud, Coventry’s top goal scorer this season with eleven strikes.  The striker has not featured for the sky blues since his sending off at the Ricoh Arena in the first fixture with the Baggies just over three weeks ago.

 

Albion named the same side that had already taken points from Plymouth and Crystal Palace in the last two fixtures.  In typical Albion style it took them only 3 minutes to create a real chance.  Bednar disposing City defender Elliot Ward with superb skill managed to play in Gera.  Gera’s first touch was not perfect, but despite this he still forced a fine save from Sky Blues keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos.  The next few minutes were taken up by 3 consecutive Albion corners, and inside the first five minutes the visitors had barely been out their own half.

 

Yet despite the early pressure, the Baggies found themselves trailing by a goal after 6 minutes.  A rare mistake from Cesar saw him misjudge a long ball from Ben Turner.  Before he could react Best had muscled in on the ball to lob Kiely and put Coventry in front.

 

Stunned by a first goal, Baggies fans were left opened mouthed as a second Coventry goal arrived just 5 minutes after the first.  Some lack lust defending allowed Tabb to force the ball to the wing, where a grateful McKenzie was waiting to place a perfect cross to an unmarked Misfud in the 6 yard box.  Misfud made no mistake in converting to double Coventry’s lead.

 

A minute later Albion might have found themselves three goals down.  As the Sky Blues forwards paced forwards the Albion defence was slow to react.  Misfud provided the cross this time, but Doyle fired wide from 15 yards after an unmarked McKenzie fluffed his shot.

 

West Brom struggled to get any foothold in the game.  Greening and Teixeira had half chanced which never really troubled the City keeper, and it was Koren who came closest with a 20 yard piledriver which landed on the roof of the net after a rebound on one of City’s defenders.

 

Coventry were well organised and continued to look dangerous.  Doyle firing in a shot straight at Kiely for their next effort.  Despite seeing more of the ball as the half drew to a close, Albion struggled to create anything, and it was Gera who had their best chance with a long range effort just before the break.

 

Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 0-2 Coventry City

 

At the break Mowbray made two changes, Gera and Cesar made way for MacDonald and Hodgkiss.  A major fight back was required if Albion were to take anything from the game.

 

In the 51^st minute Albion clawed a goal back, Robinson found Bednar after greening had controlled the ball well to pick out the ex-captain.  The Czech international wasted no time in heading home to halve City’s lead.

 

With renewed vigour the Baggies bombarded the Coventry goal, and picked up a well deserved equaliser in the 64^th minute.  Bednar played a beautiful ball into the path of Chris Brunt, the strike come cross from Brunt needed only the slightest of touches from Bednar to bring the Baggies back to level terms.

 

After working so hard to get themselves back in the game, Albion suffered a setback 20 minutes from time when Robinson received a second yellow card, the latter of which for a foul on Misfud, and was dismissed from the field of play.  His first yellow had been for kicking the ball away in frustration.  So ten men Albion had a nervy end in store.

 

It was poor defending, not lack of effort which allowed Coventry to retake the lead in the 83^rd minute.  Losing possession a scramble allowed Best to convert for his second of the game.  Controversially, there is some dispute as to whether the ball actually crossed the line or not, but the ref awarded the goal.  Two minutes later Coventry restored their 2 goal advantage with a second goal for Misfud.  It was a simple tap in for the striker after Best had drawn Kiely away from goal to leave the pathway open.

 

A first defeat at home in ten for the Baggies may well leave them feeling like they have had the stuffing knocked out of them, but other results in the table meant that Albion retained their second place standing.

 

Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 2-4 Coventry City

 

Bednar (51 & 64)

 

Best (6 & 83)

 

Misfud (11 & 85)

 

Attendance: 20,641