By Jemma Tappenden
January 20 2008

Albion fans have become more than accustomed to witnessing lots of goals over the last season and a half, but this time they had to settle for a share in the goal spoils in a heated 3-3 draw against Cardiff City at the Hawthorns, which saw the Baggies make an amazing comeback to snatch a point, and most importantly keep their place at the top of the table.

Mowbray, as expected made three changes to the side that had started against Charlton in the cup midweek.  16 goal hero Kevin Phillips was welcomed back to the starting line-up after his midweek rest, and Robert Koren and Chris Brunt started in midfield, seeing Gera, Morrison and Bednar settling for places on the bench. 

The game got off to an incredible start as somehow the Baggies found themselves a goal down after only 29 seconds of play.  Parry went for goal from 20 yards, his shot taking an awkward deflection which was enough to Kiely stranded and only able to watch as the ball flew into the net over his head. 

To say the early goal unsettled Albion is somewhat of an understatement.  They struggled to find any kind of momentum in the ten minutes which followed the goal, and could not produce anything of any meaning in front of the goal.  This allowed Dave Jones’ side to take complete advantage of the divisions leaders, and on 13 minutes they suffered a crushing blow when their second leading striker Ishmael Miller was withdrawn from play after picking up a hamstring injury.   

One on-loan super striker was replaced with another, as Czech forward Roman Bednar came on, scorer himself of nine goals in eleven games.  Finally with 17 minutes of play elapsed Albion produced a meaningful attack when Teixeira displayed a touch of magic to leave Tony Capaldi for dead.  But Loovens was on hand to prevent Teixeira from getting away a shot on goal with a crucial last ditch challenge. 

In the 25^th minute a freekick led to a great chance for Albion when Koren squared for Phillips on the edge of the area.  He let rip a stunning shot which looked a certainty for the top left corner, bus somehow ex-Wolves keeper Michael Oakes made the save.  Cardiff were forced to make their own change in the 32^nd minute when Kevin McNaughton was injured in a challenge with Bednar.  He was replaced by Darcy Blake.   

Even with 33 minutes played it was clear that Albion were still struggling to get a real foothold in the game, and things went from bad to worse when Cardiff doubled their lead.  Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink flicked on Blake’s long ball to Parry, who got the better of Pele for pace before slotting home the Bluebirds second goal from a tight angle.   

This time Albion provided a quick response, and just a minute later they had pulled a goal back.  Pele floated a freekick into the back post where Bednar was waiting to hit home with a simple header.  On 40 minutes Hoefkens controlled well with his chest and cut inside Capaldi to unleash a swerving right footed volley.  But he could only watch as his effort flew just inches of the post. 

At last Albion appeared to have found some direction and purpose, and should have gone into the break on level terms with a superb effort just three minutes before the half time whistle.  Bednar picked up the ball on the left and provided a perfect cross to the waiting Hoefkens, but his goal bound header was well blocked by Capaldi. 

That being said, Albion could have gone into half time with red faces when a mix up 3 minutes into stoppage time could have allowed City to increase their lead.  In a rare mistake, skipper Jonathan Greening headed back towards his own goal, which allowed Peter Whittingham to steal in.  Fortunately for Greening team mate Albrechtsen was on hand to make a vital touch to prevent Whittingham from having the shot, and Parry skied the rebound high into the stand. 

Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Cardiff City 

Albion started the second half with much more character than he first and immediately set about finding an equaliser.  Three minutes into the half Brunt provided a low cutting cross into the box, which Phillips looked certain to tuck away until Johnson made c crucial interception for Cardiff.  Seconds later a corner from Teixeira was nodded down by Pele into the path of Phillips, but the 16 goal striker just could not force the ball home, with Capaldi and Oakes thwarting his efforts. 

But despite the bright start Cardiff opened up another two goal advantage in the 52^nd minute.  A quickly taken Brunt freekick suddenly turned into a Bluebirds attack and Parry neatly picked out Joe Ledley who was able slot the ball past Kiely and into the bottom right corner. 

Five minutes later, with his team starring defeat in the face, Mowbray made a double change.  Gera and Morrison came on in place of Koren and Pele.  In the 64^th minute home supporters were on their feet in celebration as Morrison nodded the ball over the line after Bednar had flicked on a Hoefkens throw from the right.  But the linesman had his flag up and the effort was ruled out for offside. 

Bednar was granted two stunning chances in the following five minutes, one header he flicked just wide from a Hoefkens cross, and minutes later a leftwing cross this time from Brunt gifted him another header, which went just inches wide of the right upright.  Albion were now pressing Cardiff with a huge amount of urgency.   

In the 72^nd minute Phillips had a stunning header cleared off the line by Oakes after he had connected with a Brunt leftwing corner.  Unable to hold on to the ball, Morrison picked the loose ball up and directed a cross into the box which Albrechtsen was able to convert from 12 yards to make in 2-3 with just over 15 minutes left to play. 

The Baggies threw everything at Cardiff in the final third of the half; Teixeira forced his way into the box with ten minutes left on the clock, but could not find the target.  Five minutes later Bednar miscued a shot from a Greening pass, and then in the 86^th minute substitute Gera stole in at the post to connect with a Morrison leftwing corner, only to head straight into the arms of keeper Oakes. 

With 3 minutes left to play the Albion pressure paid off, although with unfortunate consequences for Cardiff.  Beginning to think they would leave the Hawthorns with all three points Bluebirds fans watched in horror as Gera played the ball in and one of their own players, Johnson provided the final touch that looped the ball over Oakes’ head and into the goal for the Albion equaliser. 

Gera might have grabbed all three points for the Baggies just before time, but his powerful angled volley was just inches wide of the left post with Oakes well and truly beaten.  It was to be the last action of the game.  But with Watford only gaining a point in their match also, the well earned point here at the Hawthorns was enough for Albion to stay top, with a three point advantage over the second placed Hornets.   

Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 3-3 Cardiff City 

Bednar (34) 

Albrechtsen (72) 

Johnson OG (87) 

Parry (1 + 33) 

Ledley (52) 

Attendance: 22,325