By Jemma Tappenden
January 3 2008

With an impressive nine goals scored in their last two games, the Baggies went into this fixture with Ipswich Town on impressive form. Going to Portman Road this season has been by no means a fearless task for any club, with only the Tractor Boys’ away form preventing them from being further up the table. The Baggies were victors by four goals to nil in this fixture at the Hawthorns.

Could they do what everyone else had failed to do this season at Portman Road so far?

Mowbray made once change to his side which banged five goals against Scunthorpe at the weekend.  Ishmael Miller was granted his first start since the local derby with Wolves, more than five weeks ago as in form Roman Bednar dropped to the bench carrying a slight knock.  With two high flying high scoring sides the game got off to its expected start, with a whole host of chances at either end.  But it was perhaps the Baggies who came the closest first, in the 12^th minute when Jonathan Greening caught the home defence napping and took a quick free kick to release Zoltan Gera down the right.  He provided a perfect cross to Kevin Phillips in the centre, who fired a volley into the ground from close range, allowing keeper Neil Alexander to tip the ball over. 

The Baggies had a big let off two minutes later as this time it was them caught napping, Counago allowed to play in Jonathan Walters, who left the Albion defence standing only to blaze his shot over from 15 yards.  In typical fashion the ball was down the other end of the park in no time at all, this time the danger man was Ishmael Miller, who very nearly got the better of De Vos and Alexander to connect with Robert Koren’s 17^th minute through ball.  But De Vos was alert, and got the first touch of the ball which was enough to allow Alex Bruce to clear. 

Ipswich exposed more weakness in the Albion defence in the 23^rd minute when Liam Trotter dragged a ball back to Walters.  Luckily for the Baggies Paul Robinson was on call to make a last ditch challenge to prevent the Town striker from getting a shot in on goal.  Albion then had what was probably the best chance of the half up until this point to take the lead when Gera picked out Koren on the right a few moments later.  Koren’s cross was inch perfect to Miller in every way, but the onloan striker from Manchester City wasted the chance to head into an open goal and placed his effort well over the crossbar. 

The end to end thriller continued, and it was Ipswich Town’s turn to waste glorious chances next, with two decent chances in as many minutes.  Walters dummied Counago’s ball in the box, which allowed Danny Haynes to strike on goal.  Dean Kiely did well to beat the ball away.  Then moments later in the 33^rd minute Counago drifted with ease past Pele on the left and unleashed a stinging curling shot right footed shot which had Kiely beat, but unfortunately not the post.  The Baggies breathed a sigh of relief as his effort rebound off the woodwork.   

But there are no prizes for hitting the woodwork as Albion found out to their own peril five minutes later.  This time 15 goal Phillips, who pounced on to Bruce’s clearing header smashed a 25 yard Volley off the crossbar with Alexander well beaten in the Ipswich goal.  Ipswich wrapped up the half’s chances  Gavin Williams chance, who fired a shot just inches past the left hand post from a Counago through ball. 

Half Time: Ipswich Town 0-0 West Bromwich Albion 

Albion had the first of the chances in the second half when Robinson made a blistering run to feed Miller, who in turn powered into the box to provide for Phillips.  But the Baggies leading scorer made a rare mistake and miss-shot the ball as he watched it float harmlessly onto the roof of the net.   

Ipswich attacked next, Counago on a powerful run to the Baggies penalty area where he found Danny Haynes.  Luckily for West Brom Bostjan Cesar was in place to make a full stretch near post clearance to prevent the ball falling to someone in a Blue shirt.  But seconds later the home side were threatening again, this time Trotter heading the ball down into the path of the waiting Counago, who looked odds on to score until Hungarian International Zoltan Gera appeared from nowhere to intercept and clear the danger. 

Albion were still creating chances of their own, and when Miller found Phillips in the box, who turned and cleared Alex Bruce well Baggies fans held their breath.  But his shot was held comfortably by Alexander, keeping the scores even.  In the 67^th minute Mowbray made a double change, Both Phillips and Miller making way for Beattie and Bednar.  Moments later Ipswich were granted a real chance to put their noses in front when Gera’s clearing header fell nicely for Trotter.  In space on the edge of the box Trotter unleashed a shot on the Albion goal, but saw his effort land safely into the hands of Dean Kiely.   

It was a small reprieve for Albion, who did find themselves a goal down a minute later.  Trotter broke free down the left and provided a cross which found Wright, who made a simple header inside the far post to put the Tractor Boys a goal up.  It could have very easily been two just two minutes later when Sito Castro broke into the Albion box and laid a perfect ball to Counago.  But the Spanish striker saw Kiely make a wonderful double save, firstly from his own eight yard strike, the secondly from team mate Castro’s follow up. 

Not content with a one nil lead over the division’s leaders, Ipswich made sure the points were going to them in the 84^th minute.  Williams provided the free kick, and De Vos, unmarked drifted in to net the Tractor Boy’s second goal at the far post.  This time all three points stayed in East Anglia, as Albion became yet another notch on the Portman Road post.  But it was the Midland’s boys who stayed top of the table – their superior goal difference serving as an extra point.  With both Watford and Bristol City joining them on the same points tally.

Full Time: Ipswich Town 2-0 West Bromwich Albion 

Wright (75) 

De Vos (84) 

Attendance: 24,000