Terry Wills revels in a memorable Albion win.
At last! Young Baggies supporters can celebrate after watching what for them was a unique event – sending Manchester United back to Old Trafford thanks to a well-taken winning goal from the ever-improving Salomon Rondon. Together with Saido Berahino Salomon looked as if having someone to take the burden of being a lone striker allowed him to show why Tony Pulis had bought him to the Hawthorns.
That wasn’t the sole reason for an all round impressive performance- far from it. A solid defence restricted United too such an extent that Ben Foster didn’t have to make a serious save while in midfield Claudio Yacob stood out, small in stature while large in performance. Darren Fletcher again displayed his unquestionable ability. Cool, calm, composed – what more can you ask from an inspirational captain?
As expected Louis van Gal claimed that the dismissal of Juan Mata had cost the game. Nonsense – apart from glimpses of attractive passing football United looked a million miles away from a team harbouring hopes of challenging for a Champions League spot.
Despite this win and Albion’s strengening league position the debate over the style of football adopted by Tony Pulis rumbles on. Radio WM and Free Radio, on their respective phone in programmes, continue to receive heated opinions for and against as to whether he should be in charge next season.
Some claim that if he is they won’t renew their season ticket contrary to the many, like me, who say that it’s results that count not how they’re achieved. Naturally, flowing, attacking, passing football is what every supporter would love to see but the truth is that Tony Pulis is working miracles with the players at his disposal, has guided the club to mid-table safety, and could possibly see us with our best ever Greed League points total.
No game this week due to Arsenal’s involvement in the FA Cup, which begs the question iF Albion HAD played with the current freedom at Reading and won, would it have been Baggies supporters still on the Wembley trail?
