Albion continued their unbeaten start to the new season by fighting out a well earned draw with promotion contenders Southampton at St Mary`s Stadium.
Albion`s starting line up remained unchanged for the third successive game with the only alteration being on the bench with new boy Luke Steele replacing Russell Hoult as reserve keeper.
West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2)
Zuberbuhler, Watson, C Davies, Perry, Robinson, Gera, Wallwork (Chaplow 71), Quashie, Greening (Inamoto 71), Hartson, Ellington (Carter 26).
Subs not used: Steele (GK), Albrechtsen
Southampton (4-4-2)
K Davis, Ostlund, Baird, Pele, Bale, Wright, Belmadi, Viafara, Skacel (Surman 57), Wright-Phillips, Rasiak (Jones 83)
Suns not used: Poke (GK), Cranie, Dyer.
Booked: Albion – Hartson (Foul 11), Quashie (Foul 33). Southampton – Belmadi (Ungentlemanly Conduct 35)
Referee: S Tanner (Avon)
First Half
3 games, 5 points – 2 of those collected on the road against teams that will undoubtedly challenging for at least a play off place. Not a bad return but we could have had more if it wasn`t for former Wimbledon, Ipswich and Sunderland Keeper, Kelvin Davis`s fine save as early as the 3rd minute to deny John Hartson his 3rd goal of the season from a powerful header place low down to Davis`s left.
From this moment on the game was largely played in the Midfield area with very few meaningful chances being created. Southampton`s first chance of the afternoon came on 5 minutes when Rasiak headed Bales cross back across goal to Bradley Wright-Phillips who blazed an over head kick high into the stand.
On 11 Minutes John Hartson went for a high ball on the half way line with his leg and caught Alexander Ostlund straight in the face, to Ostlund`s credit he got straight up, adjusted his nose and got on with the game. Hartson was lucky to escape with a booking although replays suggest that he had his eye on the ball at all times and there was no intent. Albion breathed a sigh of relief.
Saints had the ball in the net on 23 minutes when Bradley Wright-Phillips tapped in Belmadi`s deflected shot although he was clearly offside.
On 26 Minutes Albion were dealt a major blow when the clearly unfit Ellington picked up yet another knock and had to be substituted, Darren Carter was brought on and Zoltan Gera was pushed up to support John Hartson. This yet again outlined how desperate we are for reinforcements in this area; we cannot mount a serious promotion push with only 2 strikers in the squad. This must be addressed this week.
After Carter came close with his first touch Southampton took control of the game and had their best chances. The much improved Zubi turned a shot round the post for a corner and Wright-Phillips shot wide from the resulting corner. Southampton came close in the final minute of the first half through a Rasiak over head kick which fortunately landed safely in the arms of Pascal ‘Zubi` Zuberbuhler.
Second Half
Following a bizarre half time bout of “Portsmouth bashing” from the St Mary`s PA announcer who seemed blissfully ignorant to Pompey`s Premiership status and made Malcolm Boyden sound calm and impartial Southampton started the second half brightest.
A long ball over the tope forced Curtis Davies into an uncharacteristic error when he headed back to Zubi only to fall short and let Rasiak in 20 yards out, luckily Rasiak panicked and shot straight at Zuberbuhler. Southampton again came within a whisker of taking the lead when Ostlund drove low and hard across the goal leaving Wright-Phillips with an open goal, fortunately he couldn`t quite stretch enough to redirect the ball into the net. In the 67th minute the lively Wright-Phillips collected a pass from Rasiak and shot narrowly wide of Zubi`s goal.
At this point Bryan Robson decided to make a double substitution and brought Richard Chaplow and Junichi Inamoto on for the ineffective Ronnie Wallwork and Jonathan Greening in order to try and inject some energy into fading Albion`s play.
On 78 minutes Curtis Davies fouled Rasiak 20 yards out for a Saints free kick which promising 17 year old left back Bale stepped up to take. He hit the free kick perfectly; the ball curled around the Albion wall and hit the left hand post leaving Curtis Davies to clear.
The Substitutions seemed to liven up Albion who went on the offensive in the final ten minutes with the lively Darren Carter doing some good work down the right hand side. On 85 minutes Steve Watson surged down the right and delivered a good ball into Zoltan Gera who`s scissor kick went just wide of the angle. Richard Chaplow broke down the same side shortly after and managed to cut into the Saints box however his shot was poor.
Substitute Kenwyne Jones had the final Saints chance in injury time only to have his shot well blocked by Curtis Davies.
Overall most Baggies will be happy with 2 points from 2 of the tougher away games we will have this season. Our defence looks solid and youngsters like Darren Carter and Richard Chaplow are finally giving Robson a selection headache in Midfield. Two Strikers this week and we will be in very good shape
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