Terry Wills on an incredible afternoon at the Hawthorns.
I saw it, still can’t believe it, and doubt if anyone there, or watching it later on TV, could feel any different.
A game against the team with the worst away record in the Greed League and favourites for relegation, after being 2-0 down in ten minutes (it should have been three) allowed toescape with a precious point in a truly bizarre fashion.
Delirium as Morgan Amalfitano clearly decided that anything Wayne Rooney could do he could do better! A magnificent looping shot that left watching pundits astounded to it’ quality…1-0. Graham Dorrans, subsequently declared Man of the Match, netted the second and surely that meant Cardiff would be returning home a further three points adrift of a rejuvenated Baggies?
But it’s West Bromwich Albion I’m talking about, and if any team could throw away a 2-0 lead for a third time then Pepe Mel’s saide have to be declared undisputed champions. The all out attacking game was replaced. Drop back, play deep, we’ve done enough. Unfortunately Cardiff didn’t agree. They battled away, began to dominate possession and via a 35th minute goal left the field at half-time just one down.
The sense of frustration among the fans was clear. I had the uneasy feeling we could pay for the errors, and oh, to have been proved wrong. The Bluebirds – in their all red strip -dug deep, defended well, and it was debatable which team looked more capable of netting what could have been a vital relegation -saving goal.
Albion fans, biting nails, were despondent until in the fourth added-on minute, Saido Berahino sprinted down the wing, crossed the ball …unrestrained joy as Thievy Bifouma bundled home what had to be the winner. 3-2.
Hero to villain in seconds. Berahino gathered the ball but instead of taking it into the corner to run down the clock, he attempted a cross only to see it gathered by the opposition. Supporters were screaming “Time’s up ref, blow your whistle” but he didn’t and following an almighty close scramble in Albion’s goal mouth the ball was bundled home. 3-3, two points thrown away and Baggies distraught fans booing and jeering as the players left the field.
Pepe Mel, previously celebrating the ‘winning’ goal, had an unbelievable look on his face, as did Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, for different reasons. Too make this season even worse, if possible, it was later revealed that a dressing room bust up occurred which apparently left Berahino nursing a minor head injury after being blamed by his team-mates for the error that had cost them what would have been a priceless victory. Hardly the manner to encourage team spirit, is it?
Back to the game and there WERE plus points, namely Liam Ridgewell and Graham Dorrans, the energetic probing of Stephane Sessegnon, and the promise of Matej Vydra. But again, failing to to keep a clean sheet was a major weakness although in Mel’s defence (pardon the pun) due to injuries, and Jonas Olsson’s suspension, this was a handicap. Possible relegation is the sole topic of conversation among supporters and due to those clubs around us conveniently dropping points (bless them) not much has changed, West Ham’s win at Sunderland being especially welcome.
On to fellow strugglers Norwich, a team that will also be desperate to record a win, and possessing a useful home record. Prospects? Sorry, but I reluctantly feel a point would be more than useful,
with the Canaries more the likely to be chirping at the final whistle than a present
gathering of down in the dumps Throstles.
We can but hope.
Come on you Baggies.