Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Albion 2 Tottenham 0 – verdict
Sunday 28th December 2008, 4:00PM GMT.
Albion climbed off the foot of the Premier League after a late show against 10-man Tottenham at the Hawthorns.
Roman Bednar goal with seven minutes to go finally turned the tide in the Baggies favour, with sub Craig Beattie adding the all important second in stoppage time to ensure three points.
Tottenham were down to 10 men and up against it from the 34th minute, when Benoit Assou-Ekotto saw red for a stamp on Gianni Zuiverloon.
But it was not until the 83rd minute that Albion started to make sure three points was the correct return.
It was Bednar, the match winner against Manchester City seven days earlier, that fittingly made the breakthrough.
He was first to Marek Cech’s ball and managed to power past Michael Dawson to head the ball into the net.
As is the case with Albion, one goal may never be enough, so it was up to Beattie to make sure of all three points. He latched onto James Morrison’s through ball and made no mistake.
Sponsored Links
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Well Done Albionn
In Bednar We Trust :D
Great Escapee Is Onn
Report abuse
Wolvess Aree Goingg To Mess Up Ahaaa
Report abuse
Wolves Rubbish , They Finished 7th In A League We Finished 1St
God Help Thm If They Go Up
Report abuse
Love the article about Bednar “powering past Dawson” to everyone else(except the ref) it is known as a blatant push. Whilst I would say Spurs were not worthy of winning the game the ref certainly helped the Baggies Cause…
Report abuse
We’ve done it before, we’ll do it again.
Report abuse
Ok so its a win still second from bottom!!! I cant wait to see all the post’s from the fans that slated your performance against chelsea, bad mouthed Mowbray… Merry Christmas
Report abuse
WEVE DONE IT BEFORE WE LL DO IT AGAIN! well done YOU BAGGIES and Baggie 9 takes more money off the bookies.BELEAVE WE ARE STOPPING UP.
Report abuse
A result that has gone your way at last.
Fair play the results have been harsh for you, now the goals need to come!
This result has dragged Tottingham back towards you keep after them.
Up The Wolves
Report abuse
Come on you Baggies,thats what we wanted,lets keep our heads up and pull off thr great escape 2.Well done boys….
Report abuse
We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again, we’ve done it before and we’ll do it again!
Get your spades out lads its time to dig a tunnel… it’s time for the GREAT ESCAPE PART 2!
DO YOU REMEMBER THE HOW IT GO’S!
Report abuse
An excellent result seeing as we were clearly playing against both them and the ref on more than one occasion! Come on you Baggies, the Great Escape part deux has begun!! Boing boing
Report abuse
Off the bottom at last! Hopefully we can keep it that way from now on.
Report abuse
Great result today, nice to see christmas and the year out with 6 points out of 9.
Heres to a good 2009
boing boing
Report abuse
A great result just keep it going boys. Marek Chec was outstanding and as I have been saying for months is a proper fullback who knows his job. Hopefully its the last we see of Robinson barring injury or suspension. Zuvi looked better hyn he has done for weeks but we looked even better when the Hoff came on. Credit too to Bednar and Moore who worked their socks off. Finally well done to Leon Barnett he is without doubt our best defender and he was awsome today winning everthing in the air and putting it into touch when necessary. Onwards and upwards lads, maybe this is the turning point for us.
Report abuse
Great performance. Can’t fault any of them. Marek Cech deserved his man of the match. Staying up!!
Report abuse
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT BRING ON THE VILE AYE BOING BOING DONK ME N WORCESTER SING THIS SUNG
BEDNAR IS THE KING
BEDNAR IS THE KING
ME N WORCESTER SING THIS SUNG
BEDNAR IS THE KING STAYING UP IN STYLE THE BEDNAR WAY OH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Report abuse
weve done it before and we,ll do it agen,weve done it before and we,ll do it agen, weve done it before n we,ll do it agen,great escape 2 the albion way IN STYLE OH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Report abuse
looks like sir tony mowbury was rite agen,aye boing boing donk
Report abuse
im guin to vile on the coach weem puttin the dingles beaten the baggiz dvd on to watch on the way i hope its long enuff aye boing boing donk
Report abuse
Well done Albion! A wins a win! Which is more than we managed to do.
Report abuse
Yess he (tony mowbray) was right when he said keep the faith and get behind the lads (he just knows more than anyone what he’s working with). On what i’ve seen today we have a squad more than capable of playing entertaining fast football at this level. Keeping our foot to the ground as well as believing are going to be the two main reasons why the baggies will stay in the premiership. Today they showed Tottenhan they can play football, attractive football especially in the second period and at times i tought that on our day we could beat anyone. Now lets keep the faith and believe in our lads.
Report abuse
I see on other pages Redknapp is ranting against the ref. Frankly I was appalled by Spurs cynical time-wasting approach even with 11 men and their ‘Ring-a-Ring-of-Roses, we all fall down’ was a slur on their good football name of days gone by. I felt sorry for their supporters, all that way and nothing to cheer. It’s players who cheat, not the ref. Redknapp must have instructed his men to break up the game at every opportunity. It was THAT obvious. They got what they deserved…nothing!
How are the mighty fallen?
Report abuse
weve done it before and will do it again
weve done it before and will do it again
boing boing
Report abuse
Well done you Braggies, keep up the good work.
Report abuse
we deserved that win we worked really hard for it marek cehc looks good hope he gets more games now robbo might struggle to get back in after that preformance lovely touch lovely bit of skill in the first half to .come on you baggies
Report abuse
new roman bednar song to the tune of the conga dadada super roman bednar
hope this catches on few of us song it in ther smethwick
Report abuse
may i be first to say BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING
Report abuse
Good result. I thought Cech and Dorrans were very impressive and look forward to seeing more of them. Bedner doesnt stop going and shows the fight we need to stay up. Olsson is by far our best defender and TM’s best signing to date. Well done lads.
Report abuse
Terry, Happy, Sutton, Forever and all my other Baggie mates….you must be absolutely delerious after this. Congratulations on 3 points that it sounds you thoroughly deserved !! Could the Great Escape Part 2 really be on ? – Hope so.
Hope you all had a great Christmas and Happy New Year to you all !!
Report abuse
‘We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again!!’
First half was poor, second half was one way traffic though, and thoroughly deserved these 3 points.
Dorrans, Cech and Beattie to definitely get a run out against Peterborough and see if they can force themselves into the 1st team for me.
Report abuse
Nice to see the strikers scoring since the Manager stated he’s 100% bringing in new strikers, they’ve responded to that well. We were better when Dorrans came on, as he looked to attack people, and get the ball into the box with both feet (take note Chrissy Brunt).
Valero didn’t have much of an impact again did he? Got himself in some great positions, but couldn’t pick a killer pass, or convince himself to shoot.
Hoff did a good job when he came on, especially as a cheerleader for the Brummie Road!!
Report abuse
2 and 3 Sam Long… Where on earth did that come from. WHy the rant about the Wolves ? I take it that you weren’t there to enjoy your win over Spurs otherwise you would have been singing the praises of your time not worrying about what we have done or are doing. Grow up my friend !!
Report abuse
29,filton how are you my friend did you have a good christmas,i sure was delerious made up for the chelsea debacle its put a whole new outlook on things now another 7 wins i think will be enough and looking at remaining home fixtures that shouldent be a problem,aye boing boing donk
Report abuse
31,ned i think your being abit hard on valero i thought he put himself about well,i think robbo ewill struggle to get his place back,well done to dorrens played well when he came on,aye boing boing donk
Report abuse
Lady luck is shining on the albion at the mo. The spurs player should never of been sent off, if he did the albion player should of gone too as he went in showing studs aswell. I agree with what mowbray did resting players against chelsea.
Report abuse
Hope we join* you guys in the promised land
*Would love baggies to stay up so that everyone gets to see the best derby game in the country!!
Report abuse
2 – you had a good result why are you so botherd about us? i hope you do stay up with us & blues going up aswell.
Report abuse
Boing Boing what a result most of the players put in a excellent performance apart from Brunty who was awful Praise goes to Smethwick for the spot on chanting of Bentley and Modric (when they were subbed) “what a waste of money” but in fairness to Spurs(Sheff Utd (Brammall Lane) Gomes made some really good saves
The Great Escape is on !
Boing Boing
Report abuse
I call Spurs. Sheff Utd because of that infamous match where all the Sheff Utd players fell over.
Report abuse
I’m glad youu got the points but I am sick of games being decided on poor referee decisions. It was a push and this meant that Spurs had to come out and attack and that is when you got the second. Till then you were less than penetrative.
Never mind, get a few players and with them coming into a more confident side and I’m sure you’ll get the points needed to stay up. Every team needs luck but these continual bad decisions are undermining the game.
Report abuse
Ist time I ever said a bad word about the BAGGIES,no pies before the match someone forgot to put the oven on.Mr Peece will after sighn the worlds best pieman JEZZ MOXEY.
Report abuse
34 – Terry me old cocker, you’re probably right.
I probably am being harsh on Valero, but he’s frustrating me because I can see he can pick a pass, beat players for fun and get in excellent finishing positions, but he’s not quite doing it yet is he?
He put himself about well, but when we went a bit more direct we got the results and that’s probably tainting my view on Valero’s input.
Report abuse
35 – Shadrag, possibly for the first time ever I’m going to agree with you on something. TM was right to rest players against Chelsea!!
We were not going to win that match and we had a winnable match 2 days later, use the resources wisely.
However, you are wrong about the tackle, it was 100% a red card as it was late, high and dangerous. Love you Shadrag xx
Report abuse
Seasons greetings to all.
Filton et al, I’m with you here. Its mean spirited to bitch about others, so let’s focus on the Baggies.
In keeping with the Xmas sprit, who do I want to see in the Premiership next year?
W.B.A. – Wolves, Blues & Albion :-)
Have a great one to all …
Report abuse
35,shadrag,you want to stop listening to hansen on motd,your letting him do your thinking for you,it was a red card and it wornt a shove for the goal aye boing boing donk,I LOVE YOU TOO XXXXXX
Report abuse
The Real Nedball
Valero is still suffering from flu so give the
guy a break.
Thought we wasn`t at our best today but we got
the result which is all that matters,Mowbray was
also missing key players.
Marek Cech had a good game but I cant see POKER
FACE! dropping Paul Robinson for him.
MY WESTBROMWICH ALBION TEAM FOR VILLA:
Carson,Zuiverloon,Meite,Olsson,Robinson,
Greening,Valero,Koren,Morrison,Simpson,Bednar.
Also Bednars goal was not a foul!
TYPICAL COCKNY SAW LOOSERS!
And Matt la tit` thinks the Albion are going
down after watching 1 baggies game!
WHAT DOES THAT BENT NOSE KNOW!
WHERE THE HELL ARE SOUTHAMPTON?
IN THE DINGLES LEAGUE,THATS WHERE!
Report abuse
46 – VLB. I understand that, and like I said in my later post, I can see he’s a bloody good player with all of the attributes anyone could want. HOWEVER, he’s not quite doing yet (not just the last few matches, but this season) and I still think that the midfield doesn’t quite work as well with him AND Greening together……yet!!
All I want is for the Albion to stay up and improve as a club. I think Valero can help us to do that, but he’s got to have some belief in himself to finish off moves when he’s done all the hard work and got into goalscoring positions.
That’s just my opinion though mate.
Report abuse
33. Terry…had a very good Christmas thanks mate – over too quick though !! Take care my friend and have a great New Year as well
44. Music – thanks for the support my friend. Don’t mind people bitchin’ when they’ve got something constructive to say but 2 & 3 were just childish abuse for no reason !! Seasons greetings to you as well mate !
Report abuse
Did we win on Sunday or something?o,h yeahh.Good result lads but its still going to be a hard task to stay up.There are an awfull lot of clubs down there at the moment.Lets hope we can break away from the pack and then we can all relax a bit.Keep Cech in, he looked good,Dorrans a breath of fresh air,he looks like a throw back to the old type WBA player,may i mention Graham ,that sought of player.A few more like him and we,ll be o.k.Take another look north of the border Tone.
Report abuse
I should have said Graham Lovett,sorry lads and lassies.
Report abuse
Hope everyone had a merry crimbo – the 3 points were a very welcome late prezzy.
Ive pointed out before that sunderland stayed up last season cos they got so many points late on in games – and now thats 2 wins out of 3 with goals after 85 minutes. Its still a long way to go but at last we are getting some reward for our good football.
Happy New Year to all my regular mates on here from both sides of the A41 – dare we dream of the derby on MOTD next season ??
LOVIN IT (never stopped…)
Report abuse
Ive been saying for ages that Graham Dorrans,
Luke Moore,and Marek Cech should be in our first
11, if POKER FACE! had played Moore and Bednar
from the start of the season then I garantee the
Albion would not be in the mess they are now.
Once POKER FACE! gets his best 11 out on the feild then performances will be even better
MY WESTBROMWICH ALBION 11 FOR FA CUP GAME:
Kiely,Hoefkens,Donk,Barnett,Robinson,
Cech,Valero,Koren,Dorrans,Simpson,Moore.
Report abuse
great result sunday. Cech and bednar were awesome, dorrans looked great, i think we lack a big striker to get onto bruntys crosses and thats why he is struggling. beattie did well, glad to have him back and think he could be the answer up front, he’s never really had a chance, shoulod have 2 goal to his name coz that goal against man city should have bin given.
we are back with the pack now 9 points seperate us and hull in 8th. a result against villa 3 points against boro and Hull and we could be within 2 or 3 points on them mid table!! COME oN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE’VE DONE IT BEFORE, WE’LL DO IT AGAIN…..
GREAT ESCAPE PART 2 IS ON!!!!
COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report abuse
great result yesterday now Mr Peace time for you to back the manager up in the transfer market please
Report abuse
2 WINS FROM 3…..WORLD CLASS BAGGIES, WHERE ARE YOU NOW DINGLES??????? HA HA HA HA
Report abuse
Im not counting the chickens yet, if we play well against the Villa then we can say we will avoid the drop and all sing WE DONE IT ONCE AND WE WILL DO IT AGAIN
Report abuse