By Jemma Tappenden
January 16 2008

With three teams starting the day on the same points at the top of the table, West Bromwich Albion could use their late kick off verses Hull City to their advantage, knowing that a Watford defeat and a draw for Bristol City gave them the opportunity to establish a two point gap at the top of the table. Could Albion produce the goods in front of the Sky cameras?

Mowbray saw fit to make four first team changes from the side that held Charlton to a 1-1 draw in the 3^rd round of the FA Cup.  Teixeira, Cesar, Albrechtsen and Gera all dropped to the bench to be replaced with Phillips, Robison, Pele and Morrison.  Hull manager Phil Brown also made six changes to his side, including the return of 38 year old veteran Dean Windass. 

 

Albion reversed their fortunes from the previous weekend’s cup fixture, and instead of finding themselves a goal behind after two minutes, got off to a flying start to put themselves a goal in front after two minutes.  A quick ball from defence, where Hull felt they might have had a penalty, set Ishmael Miller free down the left.  He played in Chris Brunt who laid off the perfect pass for Phillips to slot home his sixth goal in six goals.

 

The early setback might have stunned Hull briefly, but they soon got into their own stride, letting the Baggies know that they were not in for an easy ride.  Two minutes after Phillips’ goal full back Ricketts fired in a telling cross which Hughes headed just over.  It was to signify the start of a series of dangerous crosses from Hull that would highlight the weaknesses of Albion’s defence.  In the 6^th minute Ashbee headed a ball into the box for waiting Windass, who forced a fine save from Dean Kiely.

 

Albion might have doubled their lead in the 15^th minute, Paul Robinson produced a near post header from a right wing cross that went just inches wide.  In a game that was producing end to end stuff the next significant chance fell for Hull.  Caleb Folen got onto the end of Garcia’s left wing cross in the 20^th minute.  But despite his cheeky back heel shot, Kiely was alert to the danger.  Just moments later the ball was up the other end of the park and Morrison pounced on a loose ball from a Brunt corner, but had his effort blocked by Michael Turner.

 

In the 24^th minute Paul Robison picked up a yellow card for a nasty challenge on Garcia.  The resulting free-kick caused trouble for the Albion defence, allowing Ashbee to get a head on the ball.  But he fired over from 12 yards despite being unmarked.  In the 26^th minute the Baggies had a golden opportunity to create a two goal advantage, a quickly taken free-kick from Phillips put Miller clean through on goal, although City keeper Boaz Myhill was alert to the danger and blocked.

 

Miller was thwarted by Myhill again just after the half hour mark, the keeper tipped his header from a Brunt left wing corner just over the bar.  But a minute later Albion grabbed their second goal.  First goal scorer Phillips produced a stunning defence splitting pass which Morrison controlled well, keeping his cool to slot home from 12 yards past keeper Myhill.

 

West Brom created their own problems just before half time, when a mix up between Pele and Kiely led to a goal mouth scramble.  Ashbee forced Kiely into a save when he picked up the loose ball in the area.  The rebound fell to Garcia, who fired in a ferocious shot which Chris Brunt was on call to clear off the line.  His follow up shot was saved by Kiely, who had done well to recover from his first save.

 

In a separate attack Hull went inches wide just on the stroke of half time when Folen headed wide from Delaney’s left wing cross.  The ref’s whistle signified a reprieve for the Baggies, who will have been glad to get to half time without conceding. 

 

Half Time: Hull City 0-2 West Bromwich Albion

 

Hull started the second half as they had finished the first, with a mad flurry on the Albion goal.  A long throw from Rickets was flicked on by Garcia, and it took a double block from Barnett to prevent Folan going clean through on goal.  In the 51^st minute Koren played Miller through clear to go one to one with Hull centre half Brown.  Miller powered up the field to tee up a cross for Phillips, who was denied by a fine Myhill save.

 

On 55 minutes Morrison broke down the right and set up Ishmael Miller, whose shot deflected off Ashbee to go out for a corner kick.  The corner, provided by Brunt found Jonathan Greening who got in a hard shot from close range.  Myhill did well to smother and hold the ball.

 

On the hour mark footballing veteran Windass was replaced with Barmby, who immediately got in on the action for Hull.  Folan headed the ball to Barmby near the far post, and it took a fast reaction and super save from Kiely to keep the Baggies two goal advantage.  Mowbray himself made a change in the 67^th minute when Gera replaced Brunt, which saw Morrison switch to the left.

 

A moment of controversy followed when Campbell went racing up the field for Hull in the 70^th minute.  Kiely came racing off his line and the two players collided as Campbell released a goal bound header.  Kiely managed to connect some part of his body to the ball and divert the danger, but the incident left home fans reeling and calling for a penalty.  Despite this, Hull did get their breakthrough two minutes later.  Garcia in acres of space on the edge of the penalty area drifted from one side to the other before releasing a beautifully crafted shot which sailed past Dean Kiely.

 

Just sixty seconds later Albion really were facing a rough final 15 minutes when defender Paul Robinson was given his marching orders after being shown a second yellow card.  Ref Colin Webster dismissed Robbo after he was judged to have fouled Campbell, despite TV replays clearly showing he got the ball.  The dismissal forced Mowbray into a double change, Phillips and Miller making way for Bednar and Cesar.

 

The final minutes were heart stopping at times for West Brom fans, and Kiely had to be at his best in the 86^th minute when a rare mistake from skipper Greening saw a clearance rebound of Garcia and back into the danger zone.  But Kiely smothered the ball preventing any further danger.  Despite the pressure Albion grabbed a third easy goal into injury time, sub Roman Bednar carrying the ball to the edge of the area and trying a shot which got the better of Myhill, when he could have headed for the corner flag.

 

The three points put Albion a clear two points at the top of the Championship table.

 

Full Time: Hull City 1-3 West Bromwich Albion

 

Phillips (2)

 

Morrison (32)

 

Bednar (90+4)

 

Garcia (72)

 

Attendance: 18,391