After a welcomed international break, Albion were backed by a sell-out away end as Albion Travelled to Upton Park for a mid-week fixture against West Ham United. Jason Roberts (Pictured bottom left) gave Albion the lead after 28 minutes after a great through ball by Wallwork. A second successive victory for Albion celebrated Jason Roberts’ contract extension but the victory had to be credited Russell Hoult who kept out a number of West Ham shots to keep a clean sheet.
A 40 yard punt for Sean Gregan gave Albion a lead in only his second game for Albion as former Wolves keeper Paul Jones lost the ball in the air and made a howler as Albion won the game with 10 minutes to go against strugglers Southampton. A Hat-trick of 1-0 wins lifted Albion back up the Premiership table to 7th.
As Albion were reduced to 10 men for the second time in the season, Joe Murphy
came on for the dismissed
Russel Hoult and made his first
touch as an Albion player by
saving a Michael Owen penalty.
Albion couldn’t hold out though
as goals from Baros and Riise
settled the match.
Albion had their first taste of
Monday night football live on
Sky at they entertained Blackburn
at The Hawthorns where a
questionable penalty where
Ronnie Wallwork fouled Damian
Duff outside the area meant that
Dwight Yorke changed the game
from the spot. A quick-fire goal
from Damian Duff condemned
Albion to back-to-back defeats.
Albion failed to make the most of the Worthington Cup as future Baggie Nathan Ellington scored a hat-trick and Lee Hughes scored a conciliation late on to get off the mark for the season.
Albion were on the end of controversy as they travelled to Newcastle. Igor Balis gave Albion the lead as he beat Given at his front post on the 27th minute. The goal scorer was then deemed to have guilty of a back pass as it bounced off the defenders shin to Joe Murphy. The contentious indirect free-kick was finished by Alan Shearer from 8 yards out. The English striker settled the tie later on in the second half with a close range volley.
A first midlands derby as a Premiership club was left late to be settled as Albion drew to 10-man Birmingham at home. Darren Moore put the fixture in doubt as a Birmingham cross bounced Darren Moore via the post into an open net on the 86th minute. Jason Roberts equalised the game late one with a cool right-footed finish past Nico Vaeson just one minute later.
As Albion played host to Chelsea, Hasslebaink and Le Saux goals gave Albion a 4th defeat in 5 games and sent Albion down to 18th position as Albion came close to goals on several occasions but couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.
Albion entertained fellow promotion rivals Manchester City but City broke the deadlock
through future Baggie flop
Nicolas Anelka. Neil Clement
levelled the tie with his first
goal of the season with a
powerful low free-kick. Albion
lost when City's Shaun Goater
slotted home after some neat
play by Anelka.
A classy Scott Dobie 14-yard
half-volley put Albion in front
at the Reebok Stadium. The
game looked to swing in
Albion’s favour when Bruno
N’Gotty was given his marching
orders after he elbowed Jason
Roberts. Albion conceded late
to slump Albion to no wins in 7
Premiership games.
Albion’s next game was their second Midlands derby at The Hawthorns when another questionable decision from Darren Moore’s challenge on Gareth Barry gave Villa a penalty. An undeserved victory looked likely for Villa when Dion Dublin stepped up to take the penalty but a good Russell Hoult saved meant the teams shared the spoils in the derby.
Albion failed to pick off where they left off as they lost 1-0 away to Everton, despite having their chances, to a 35th minute Thomas Radzinski goal to leave Albion without a win in 9 Premiership games.
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