Terry Wills talks about Albion’s win over Swansea.
Baggies 2 Swansea 1.
A result ending Baggies fans’ worrying thoughts of yet again not being capable of gaining a result against the Welsh team and instead providing ones of delight.
The man in black had blown for time. We’d won, leaving Swansea players wondering why the ball having been diverted via an Albion player, hadn’t been noticed by an assistant referee that led to our winning goal? (Still think of them as linesmen).
It hadn’t been one of our best performances and in the first-half the Swans had virtually dominated from the kick-off. Indeed until Romelu Lukaku equalised a goal from Luke Moore -remember me saying it would be a nightmare if he scored the winning goal? – the signs were far from promising.
What the apparently mild-mannered Steve Clarke said, or should I say barked,at them during the half-time break I have no idea but then…! A vast improvement. A controversial penalty award. Lukaku steps up to put us in front- oh no, he’s missed. Curses turned to cheers five minutes later as Gareth McAuley , with the aid of two deflections, saw his header nestling in the back of the net.
Swansea weren’t out of the game but minus the amount of space they’d enjoyed in the first half, due to closer marking and firmer tackling, an Albion win had looked the more likely.
So, three points closing the gap between the teams chasing a possible Europa League to a single point. Best players for me? Graham Dorrans, Youssouf Mulumbu Billy Jones and, of course, Romelu Lukarku.
This week a visit to Stoke City, the team that enjoy games against Albion whatever current form suggests. Tony Pullis has succeeded in one aspect whenever, and wherever, the teams clash. Stoke play ‘football’ that leaves opposition supporters condemning their style of play and as the old saying goes, if Stoke were playing in my back garden I wouldn’t open the curtains to watch them.
Hopefully this week we can return with a point (or whisper it quietly, three’) to stabilise our position but then it’s Stoke City at the Britannia so a positive result will be much appreciated.
Come on you Baggies.
