nobody gets you closer

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

5 day forecast


Sheffield Wednesday 0 Albion 4

Sheffield Wednesday 0 Albion 4

wednesday2Simon Cox struck twice as a first-half blitz by Albion handed them a fourth successive victory.

The striker took his tally to four goals in as many games and Jerome Thomas struck his fifth of the season, as the Baggies fan riot before the break with Chris Brunt adding a fourth late on.

Wednesday turned in a woeful display, but Roberto Di Matteo’s side took ruthless advantage and could have scored several more before the break.

The game petered out after the interval, but Brunt still added to the misery of his former club with five minutes left.

Both sides struggled to find any rhythm early on but Wednesday’s Lee Grant was the first goalkeeper called into action, tipping a 20-yard half-volley over the bar.

But, after a lacklustre opening from both sides, it was Albion who went ahead on 23 minutes asLuke Moore and Thomas combined to win a corner with Graham Dorrans’ flag-kick turned in from close range by the unmarked Cox.

From there Albion took control as the home side imploded.

It was 2-0 on the half-hour, as a fine pass by Thomas fed Chris Brunt and his cross found its way across the goalmouth, where Cox was again unattended to score from close in.

Moore then missed an open goal with a wild swung and on the edge of the six-yard box from Gianni Zuiverloon’s cross, before Cox was left screaming for a penalty after seizing on Tommy Spurr’s slip only to be dragged down by the Owls captain.

It was 3-0 on 38 minutes as Albion broke down the left again and caught Wednesday in a mess. Thomas played a simple one-two with Moore and was in the clear to sweep home a right-footed shot.

The game died on its feet in the second half with Albion becoming a touch sloppy and Wednesday too shell-shocked to take advantage.

Moore went closest after racing onto a deflection but fired a cross-shot just wide, while Cox saw a lob drift just wide after a smart turn took him away from Richard Hinds.

Dorrans tested Grant with two shots from the edge the box and even a flap by goalkeeper Scott Carson could not hand his former club a way back, as former Wolves player Michael Gray fired over.

Late on Cox turned on the edge of the box and fired just over in the search for his hat-trick.

Brunt made it 4-0 on 85 minutes, seizing on a crossfield ball from Chris Wood and scoring right-footed, before refusing to celebrate out of respect for his old club.

There was still time for Albion’s England under-17 international George Thorne to make his debut.

At 16 years and 10 months, the teenager is the club’s youngest senior player since Charlie Wilson in 1921.

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  1. 1
    Happy_baggie

    after reading the above report – struggled for rythem , lacklustre, sloppy, moore missing open goals, carson flapping… I’m amazed we managed to hang on !!!

    Oh, and nice of the paper to keep reminding us how Newcastle kept ahead of us on the updates page.

    Nice of the daily dingle to let LW write all the reports this week.

    Can’t wait till tomorrow to read how wolves finish 2nd against the blouses after we can only finish last but one today !!

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  2. 2
    WORCESTER BAGGIE

    where have ya got 1-4 from,,e&s cant never get things right,,great performance again from the boys,,this young squad is really looking the bizz..and coxy will score for fun now his settled..all we want now is the blues to turn over the dingles for a great weekend..lovely..GOING UP IN STYLE THE DI MATTEO WAY,,OOOOOOOOOOOOH YES..

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  3. 3
    brummie roader ryan

    great performance today. i think we have got the strongest team in the league,
    we also have a quality bench, we still have miller and morrison to come back and they will be like new signings, starting to wonder if morrison will get back in the team though if thomas and brunt keep playing well.
    up the baggies!
    boing boing!

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  4. 4
    preston baggie

    just got back from sheffield what a performance this team is better than when mowbray was in charge dorrens is a 15 million pound player jt awesome cox lead the line well even luke looked intrested solid at back with olli we willgo up and stay up this time boing boing

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  5. 5
    LondonBaggie

    Hahaha look who scored two, now surely is the week for NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS (except wulfs)! BOING BOING

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  6. 6
    Cyril Randle

    Roberto, we promise not to get used to it, but 15 goals in 4 games takes some getting used to anyway. What pleases me most is we seem to have our ‘poacher’ in Cox, a young Kevin Phillips in the making maybe. Then there’s the meanness at the back which is relatively new, the football at times scintillating, other times just fast and effective. We know there will be days, teams and referees who will spoil the festival, but for now it’s pure delight to be a Baggie.

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  7. 7
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    ive just bin over wulverhamptun,cant believe the crowds n the traffic round by the footie ground whos idea was it to build an asda there,AYE BOING BOING

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  8. 8
    elaine

    anyone out there missing sidepass greening

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  9. 9
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    dingles one down they aint touched the ball yet lololololololol aye boing boing

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  10. 10
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    1 Happy.
    You missed the fact that according to para 2 there was a ‘Baggies fan riot’ as well.

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  11. 11
    John Moscoso

    was at sheffield yesterday i dont see how we struggled? even before we got the goals we were all of them really cud of had more goals on another day aswell shud of had a penalty moore and cox cud have scored more too second was a penalty not sure about first not moaning 4 goals a clean sheet and 3 pts does me nicely great bday present for me as my bday today :) boing boing (L)

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  12. 12
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    the wikend just gets better aye boing boing

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  13. 13
    Shropshirebaggie

    Went up to Sheffield yesterday and I have to say it was a really classy performance. The one thing that always strikes me about the Albion at the moment is how slick the passing is. We had Wednesday simply chasing shadows at one point, and when we didn’t have the ball, we hunted in packs and soon won it back.

    I’m also glad Cox has found his scoring boots, hopefully he’ll go on a scoring run now.

    6 points clear of 3rd now, if we carry on this run we could really create a gap from the chasing pack. Its ours to throw away now.

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  14. 14
    Happy_baggie

    TRBH – missed that one…. must be having trouble with my feading and frighting.

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  15. 15
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    i hope we get an easy cup draw wolves or villa wud be nice aye boing boing

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  16. 16
    WORCESTER BAGGIE

    what a great weekend ,we stuff sheff wed and the dingles are losing patheticly,,at least we looked like a prem team last season,the dingles are worse than derby,soooooooooo pathetic a embarrassment for midlands football…….HAPPY DAYS, GOING UP IN STYLE THE DI MATTEO WAY,,OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YES..

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  17. 17
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    Just saw Laughing Wolf taking his dog Shadrag for a walk. Shadrag was juggling a ball on his nose.
    When I questioned this he said, ‘he does that when the Wolves lose, when they draw he does handstands.
    ‘What does he do when they win?’ I asked.
    He looked sheepish. ‘I don’t know, I’ve only had him a few months.’

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  18. 18
    NYBaggie

    We’re absolutely class at the moment and scoring for fun. I really think we have the best squad in the Championship and will overhaul Newcastle in the long run. This is a better team than we had under TM because it’s more complete i.e. we can defend, the goals come from everywhere, we have pace out wide and toughness in the middle of the park. Plus we’re doing all this with a team that has an average age of 23. I’ve not been this excited about an Albion team for a long time. A lot of credit to RDM and co, Peace and Ashworth. Well done lads.

    Also, with our goal difference being so good we’re really 7 points ahead of third place (as it’s worth an extra point) which is three games.

    The futures bright, it’s blue and white.

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  19. 19
    Happy_baggie

    It wouldn’t be the worst thing to actually go up in second place this season….. I think the way we won the championship last time put a lot of pressure on the team – and also on TM, to continue with the flowing style of football.

    Also going up as champs allowed the fans (me included) to get a bit carried away.

    I think if/when we go up, going up in second would diffuse a lot of that pressure and allow RDM the time to suss things out.

    I think our style, and the first game being at Arsenal set a trend of “beautiful football” that we never tried to get away from.

    That said, I really hope we go up as champs as RDM seems far more pragmatic than TM.

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  20. 20
    seattlebaggy

    dingles pages are the best laugh i’ve had for many years…..

    I even hope Mugson beats them

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  21. 21
    Fox in a Box

    Wot? no laughinwolf on here telling us where we are going wrong!!!!

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    20.
    Great danger that it could go into meltdown.
    Don’t panic Mr McCarthy!!!!!

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  23. 23
    scorin4fun

    Former Quinton Baggie. Just about the best month we’ve had for ages 15 goals and 2 against. Can’t wait for Saturday to come now. 3scorinbaggies

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  24. 24
    Cyril Randle

    Happy, make your mind up mate! Who ever remembers the team that finishes second? If we can win this Division, let’s win it. It’s great for a player to have a Winner’s medal even if it is Division 2.
    It’s a long haul anyway, too soon to count chickens and that’s NOT being negative. Enjoy it as it happens. We have a man in charge who has addressed the issues we could all see but fate sometimes takes a hand in either direction. I hope Jarrod doesn’t think I’m getting negative too. Just cautious mates, but at present deliriously happy!

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  25. 25
    Ant Lowe

    A very happy Baggie!!!!!!!!!!!

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  26. 26
    Happy_baggie

    Hi Cyril. Yeah I can’t make my mind up on this one. Naturally I wanna win the division – but I look at how teams like Stoke & Hull have gone up without the pressure of being champions and wonder if it would help us too.

    Yes its a long haul, and I’m certainly not counting chickens – just trying to take a bit of pressure off !!

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  27. 27
    Happy_baggie

    At the time of writing there are 223 comments on the wolves/blues post – 222 of which are fed up and want changes. Guess who wrote the one post calling for everyone to get behind MM….. yep, laughingwolf.

    Either he dosent understand the whole win/lose thing or he is actually a baggie operating deep undercover – in which case we owe him a huge apology.

    I agree with LW – keep MM in place…. in my opinion he is perfect for the wolves !!!

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  28. 28
    Wbaforever

    Great win and superb performance.

    One of the most pleasing aspects for me is the emergance of Simon Cox, the goals aside, his effort, awareness, his movement and desire were first class…….DLB, who`s next for your special treatment ?

    I must say though, i am astonished at our elevated position, after all we dont have a shirt sponsor.
    We need one urgently or we cannot possibly win many more games.

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  29. 29
    laughingwolf

    27. Happy, I must say why are you back on here? I thought that you made a big announcement that you were never going to come on here again?

    After watching blues recently I think they will be clear of relegation trouble, there results at Liverpool and losing narrowly to Arsenal and Spurs away. Wolves were awful yesterday but I do not turn on my own club or players when we have a few bad results, this is of course the Premier league and Albion know better than anyone its difficult after finishing rock bottom last season. That was a frustrating result as were the Albions at wigan last season but nobody turns on our own players like Albion fans did to Robbo last season, Kiely the season before that and Olsson this season when you are 2nd! We are the champions of your league and trying to establish oursevles with a young squad, we have had the worst injury problems in the division. WE ARE WOLVES.

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  30. 30
    Happy_baggie

    LW – thats it mate… keep the disguise going.

    we all know that only a moron would really be backing MM at this stage having won 4 of 51 prem games….

    p.s – don’t forget to mention the sponsor and better ground again – keep em off the scent.

    Over & out.

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  31. 31
    Happy_baggie

    LW – “but nobody turns on our own players like Albion fans did to Robbo last season”.

    Steady on Agent LW…. try for a bit of realism, you are blowing your cover.

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  32. 32
    Fox in a Box

    29) So over 200 Wolves fans on your pages wrong then and your right, dreamland or what, although I for one agree with you and I am praying you keep Mick, laughin, you really are a joke.

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  33. 33
    Warren

    laughing- I wonder what Andy Keogh makes of your assertion that Wolves fans never turn on their own players…….

    Nothing to add than what’s already been said about Saturday. Very professional and classy performance.

    Are we starting to expect a bit too much though? The away end seemed slightly subdued at times given we were 4-0 up, 10 years ago there’d have been a party going on. Maybe it comes with the territory of having such an impressive side!

    A word for George Thorne too, great to see the much-spoken about academy starting to produce a player or two. Hopefully we’ll hear more from him over time……

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  34. 34
    Wbaforever

    LW

    Are you an E&S moderator ? because is appears you can infest our pages under your several guises and spout any claptrap you desire, and yet i have tried to volley back this morning………not printed, it would seem freedom of speech is a nonsencical ideal.

    I`ll try again, but i dont expect this to be printed either.

    I was amazed at your fit of pique about tescos on your boards, when you spend more time on ours than ANY Baggie fan.
    Are you for real ?

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  35. 35
    Nedball

    29 – Shadrag said; ‘nobody turns on our own players like Albion fans did to Robbo last season’.

    2 words – Andy Keogh!!

    Also, I seem to remember our fans being voted as the best in the league, so keep typing the drivel Shadrag! Apparantly, if there are 1000 of you, eventually you’ll type the full works of Shakespeare one day.

    Love you Shadrag xxxx

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  36. 36
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    29 Shadrag.
    A few memory slips on your part.
    ‘Blues will avoid relegation.’
    Is that the same Blues that were far inferior to Wolves and would finish below you, along with Wigan, Fulham, Bolton, Burnley, Hull and one or two others including Portsmouth who are only 3 points behind you.
    Along similar lines, was that the same Scott Dann withstanding your sides bombardment, that in your words after refusing to sign for the Wolves, was ’slow, poor in the air and might have been a decent squad player.’
    As for turning on your own team. Others have already pointed out that you might try casting your eye over your own pages. Wonderful example of getting behind your lads when they’re down.
    Best get back on in your Baggie Bob, Brummierdwes, boing boing guises. You have more credibility in those.

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  37. 37
    Happy_baggie

    wbaforever – I’m thinking the same thing. I’ve posted one on their page earlier – but never got published.

    So not only does LW write the reports but he moderates the responses too…. you would think given all that experience he could come up with ONE decent post on either the albion or wolves sites.

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  38. 38
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    29.
    PS Shadrag. Two more words to add to Warren and Ned’s ‘Andy Keogh.’ Greg Halford. Cheers from the faithfull when he was taken off after half an hour. Great support. We still love you though. xxx.

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  39. 39
    laughingwolf

    Greg Halford? Mick took him off as a tactical change the fans didnt do anything?

    Hey Ned, were you one of those who nearly had a fight with Paul Robinson? no? Jonas Olsson? No? Dean Kiely? no? Karl Hoefkens?

    Yeah you all brought Tony Mowbray masks when you were relegated and he left you for Celtic, quality!

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  40. 40
    Happy_baggie

    39 – can’t believe you have the nerve mate – Banners, spitting at your owner (who kept you afloat), voted worst fans in the league, reviled and ridiculed across the country (even Norwich have a song called “We only hate Ipswich & Wolves)”

    You talk about managers – MM goes from magic to muppett so fast I’m suprised you don’t all wear neck braces.

    Bottom line is you only got promoted in the two seasons you didn’t play us, Albion are praised for the quality of football and the loyalty of the fans. We beat you in the league, the cup and the playoffs – we came to “fortress molinuex and took the points.

    You have been sold a pipe dream by an owner who supports another club and a manager with a top flight record that makes Phil Brown look like Jose Mouriniho – everyone else has woken up but you refuse to believe your eyes.

    Joke team, and with fans like you, joke club !!

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  41. 41
    Baggie_One

    happy, glad to see you back……..271 comments on the dog heads page now…..lol…….keep pressing “refresh”…….

    Report abuse

  42. 42
    Wbaforever

    LW

    Very good point Re: Mowbray

    Over the years we have had bosses poached,

    Ardilles, Atkinson, Mowbray, and in future possibly Di Matteo too, time will tell.

    It tells you that we get bosses that are deemed as successful……..When was the last time someone tried to lure away one of your bosses ?

    And if you want to talk about “quality”……..

    I thought you said Mancienne was the final part of your jigsaw ?

    To be honest i feel for fans like Malvern & Filton (where are they bytheway) but in your case!!!!

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  43. 43
    Happy_baggie

    wbaforever – agree about the genuine fans like filton – thats why I made the point that its fans like LW who are turning their club into a joke.

    Point 40 said all I have to say about wolves and I prefer to focus on the great job RDM and the boys are doing…. really pleased for Simon Cox, and his link up play with Thomas & Brunt is something we have missed since KP.

    Long way to go – but feeling confident for the second half of the season.

    LOVIN IT !!!!!!

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  44. 44
    Baggie9

    I did leave a comment on sunday,which was deleted with regards this newspaper getting the headline score wrong.Another great display from the GOAL MACHINE. We also finished the game with a 16 year old,well done George Thorne,and Chriss Wood.I bet the dingles are glad they didnt draw us un the cup.BOING BOING.

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  45. 45
    Nedball

    39 – My dearest Shadrag, it seems like someone’s not liking the boot being on the other foot are they?!

    I have met only Dean Kiely and Paul Robinson personally of the 4 players you have mentioned there, and I have not actually tried to fight either of them, no. Who knows, if I meet Jonas Olsson or Carl Hoefkens, I may wish to fight them…..but I doubt it.

    I didn’t buy a TM mask, none of us did. They were handed out for free (like a pie and a pint you may remember fondly) but yes, he did leave, well noticed.

    God loves a trier, and we all know you’re trying Shadrag.

    I love you xxxxxxxxxx

    P.s. As a bit of a kick start, I thought I’d remind you of some of your favourite topics to have a go at again:
    1 – We haven’t got a sponsor
    2 – We have made our stadium capacity smaller (like you have this season I notice)

    Report abuse

  46. 46
    Nedball

    P.s. Shadrag, if Halford wasn’t jeered off when he was subbed, then why this DerbyWolf post this:

    ‘Halford is a waste of space and money and i thought he thoroughly deserved to be jeered off (And i would never usually condone that).’

    He must have the wrong end of the stick hadn’t he Shadrag….that wasn’t the Wolves fans turning on their own player, it was them getting behind him and supporting him!!

    Love you Shadrag xxxx

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  47. 47
    Happy Clapper

    Nedball.45 LOL …. made my day…

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  48. 48
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    45 Ned.
    To complete your analogy. Sporting Bet have Wolves as favourites to go down and are currently examining the small print on the sponsorship contract for a way out.

    Report abuse

  49. 49
    Shropshirebaggie

    LW – Same tired old argument from a fan getting increasingly desperate as the weeks go by. Sunshine, if I were you I’d be more worried about the next few games i.e after Bolton and Burnley. Spurs, Liverpool et al. Already 4 points adrift of saftey I think aren’t you??

    Back to more important matters, a fantastic performance from a quality side. To go away form home and win that convincingly is testament to the confidence we are playing with at the moment and long may it continue. If Miller and Morrison to regain their fitness, they might have trouble getting back in the side!!

    UP THE BAGGIES, LOVING IT!!!!!!

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  50. 50
    spud4wba

    heard brunt and thomas are having a goal race, the way this is going we’ll smash 100 goals by march and with cox, and miller in the new year, will be champions league soon while dingles are playing kiddy harriers. BOING BOING here’s to Di Matteo, BAGGIES FANS DYU REALISE WHAT WE GOT HERE!

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