Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Swansea 0 Albion 2
Tuesday 16th March 2010, 9:55PM GMT.
Graham Dorrans and Ishmael Miller struck late on to give Albion a vital win away at promotion rivals Swansea.
Dorrans struck home a hotly-disputed penalty on 79 minutes, after a foul by Angel Rangel on Giles Barnes.
Then substitute Miller ran clear to beat goalkeeper Dorus De Vries for a second goal that takes the Baggies within a point of Newcastle at the top of the table.
The Swans almost claimed a bizarre opener when Nathan Dyer beat Jonas Olsson on the left and his mis-hit cross hit the left-hand post of Scott Carson’s goal.
Albion could have paid the price for the wasteful passing that blighted them before the interval.
Swansea had the better of the chances and Mark Gower almost created a goal with a cross that just evaded Dyer in the box. Gower then went close himself with a free-kick that flew just off target.
The Baggies had the opening chance of the second-half when a skilful burst from Graham Dorrans through the centre allowed him to release Luke Moore.
Moore hit the target from a tight angle but De Vries made a pretty comfortable save to his right.
The game remained extremely tight in the second-half, but it was still the home side who threatened most. Both Alan Tate and Dyer tried long-range shots but both flew straight at Carson.
But the game changed in the final 11 minutes, in Albion’s favour.
First sub Barnes was adjudged to have been fouled by Angel Rangel and Dorrans scored the penalty, despite furious protests from the Swans.
Then the Scot released Miller in the final minute who scored his second goal in as many games, rounding De Vries and finishing from a yard.
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Fantastic result lads. Probably the best result of our season so far (including Middlesboro away) when you consider what was at stake and Swansea’s home / defensive record.
Sounds like Miller and Barnes did very well but credit to all the players tonight and RDM for getting the tactics and substitutions absolutely spot on. Brilliant.
I have the same feeling I did after we beat Wolves 1-0 two seasons ago at their place when Gera scored; we can almost touch it. Can’t get too complacent though, let’s keep piling it on.
Keep up the tremendous work lads.
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Absoloutely superb result against a very good side. To put that in perspective, Swansea had lost just 2 games at home before tonight, so to go there and win so comfortably is a great effort.
Lets keep pushing now and finish the job off.
BOING BOING!!!!
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Fantastic win after a hard fought battle.Dorrans was ice cool to score the disputed penalty,but the referee was right up with play.What a resplendent goal Ish scored,the way he twisted and turned,for a big guy.Barnes is like quick-silver the way he moves.keep playing like that
and he will soon be noticed by England.Our defence
deserved their clean sheet for working hard and keeping their shape.Everybody earned our praise.
Well done you BAGGIES.
*******S in |||||||s
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Fantastic result, and with Teixeira and Barnsley doing us a massive favour against Forest, it was a great night indeed!!
I’ll freely admit that I was only hopeful of 3 points last night and more expectant of a defeat, but thank God I was wrong!!
With the goal difference we’re basically 9 points clear of 3rd place now with only 9 to play……I think we’d all take that wouldn’t we?!
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It all sounded very dull on Beacon, sideways, backwards, slow-slow-quick-quick-slow, a la Victor Sylvester dance band back in the days of steam radio. Tom and Bomber said their crowd were so lulled into a stupor they even cheered a foul! Have Swansea really only scored 9 goals at home? PLEASE God, don’t ever let us play like that at The Hawthorns. I can put up with individual errors as long as we go all out to WIN, WIN, WIN. I like it best when the Albion kitchen sink is the most battered piece of culinary ware in the country, because we chuck it at every team we play. Dorrans’ penalty hit the post and in, Miller did a Tango around their defence before a quick entrechats, glissé and tap into the corner. Ballet good in fact.
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Incredible, i would have taken a point gladly but all three, wow christmas came early. Its not done yet , but its hard not to get excited, with two home games coming up, its looking great. I think a special mention for R.D.M, as he obviously went with a plan and it worked. The players stuck to it religiously, i think he came of age last night and maybe gave us some confidence for the future. good old Tex, he played a massive part last night, good to see Earnie giving the penalty away. Cany wait for Saturday
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Cyril,
You ought to be a judge on strictly mate!!!!
I admit I was a bit worried about last nights game but the lads did a professional job. Forest losing was a bonus too.
I Hope we get there now without any drama, but this is the Albion and when have we ever made things easy?
Another three points on Saturday and the prize is nearly ours.
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The next two games are crucial, must win both I think as I expect forest to beat Peterborough and Palace at home.
Then Forest head to Newcastle and Bristol City, the way there away form has gone I don’t expect them to get any more than a point from both games so by 3rd April we could very nearly be there!!! Great result last night!!!! Boing Boing
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What a great night,great result,bet the geordies are looking over there shoulders now,maximum points from next two homes games and weem almost there,well done lads aye boing boing
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Cyril me ole pal,i noticed in earlier post that you said youd have liked to have gone to swansea,why couldent you.aye boing boing
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EARNIE EARNIE GIV US A WAVE EARNIE GIV US A WAVE,EARNIE IS A BAGGIZ FAN EARNIE IS A BAGGIZ FAN LA LA LA LA LA LA EARNIE IS A BAGGIZ FAN AYE BOING BOING
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What a great result although it was a little tarnished for me by the blatant dive by Barnes that got the penalty. Good to see Ish on the score sheet again, it just shows what we’ve been missing all season. Let’s kick on now and finish the job off, it’s within touching distance now.
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I’ve said to my Forest mate that I was surprised that Earnie had tracked back that far!
Last week they were a point clear of us. What a difference a week can make. It should be that statistic that RDM uses to warn our lot that nothing is done yet.
I think Ben Watson deserves a mention. I like Cyrille had Bomber on the radio commentry last night and it was impressive to note how many of Swansea’s moves Watson broke down. What’s also reassuring to see is that Nouble was sent back to West Ham and not used and yet Reid and Watson are being given a good chance – clearly RDM sees these two as potential signings in the summer ?
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With apologies to Ian Dury, Reasons to be Cheerful 123.
1. A Chairman that didn’t panic and spend the transfer kitty on overpriced players in the winter window when we didn’t know what division we were planning for.
2. A management team that have done all the right things. Tightened up the defence without drastically changing our attacking style. Not paniced when things have gone wrong. Taken players out of the firing line at the right times.
3. A scouting system that’s given us an excellent young squad and will hopefully add to it in the close season.
Hope I’m not being premature but I think the last three results show that the players have got the bit between their teeth. Realistically we need to lose three more games than any of the chasing pack. As Hilltop says ‘it’s hard not to start getting at least a little bit excited.
PS. Just read Sousa’s rant about the penalty and other bad decisions Swansea have suffered. Can’t help thinking it might be a good thing if he doesn’t get into the Prem, he’d have a heart attack. I’m sure our friends from down the road would agree about PL refereeing now that they’vs experienced it at long last.
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Swansea’s Manager is upset because he says decisions keep going against them.It seems to me that they like to play safe,negative football,trying to kill the opposition’s threat,then nick 1-0 wins,even at home.It must be boring for their fans,and if they do concede a goal,like last night,they are in trouble.Instead of moaning,maybe he should concentrate on changing the way they play.
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I bet Victor Moses is glad he went to Wigan
where he cant even get a game,Albion have got
the better player in Giles Barnes and cost us
absolutly nothing.
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Great result and unexpected three points! The penalty was a “professional” piece of football as Andy Gray would argue. If a foot comes out and you go over it, the ref has to make a decision. How much contact and its impact is always the debate to be had.
Steve Madeley says Ish took an age to slot home, however, I see this as a positive sign of maturity as it would’ve been easy to smash the ball against a defender in a moment of panic. Full marks Ish.
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I think you are wrong Baggie Ed it was a foul on Barnes irrespective of how Barnes fell. It’s good to see RDM getting the praise he deserves. To my mind he’s done a great job since he’s been here and maintains a calm dignity when dealing with disputes within the club. I just home that he stays with the club and that Chelsea don’t come calling. Ancelloti is not a young man and Abramavitch will not be happy after last night.
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Sir Tel. Don’t drive long distances any more if I don’t have to and Swansea is a long way hey mate? It was there back in 1947 I had my first ever glimpse of the sea, at 3 Cliffs Bay
with The Boys Brigade in West Brom. A week under canvas in gorgeous weather, swimming, cricket, beautiful local brown maidens running around shoeless and I was scared to death of them! I couldn’t make up my mind whether Barnes is so slippery quick that the defender fouled him or if he did go to ground like a hunted fox. There again,Sky Sports News is a small picture, especially on a 14ins bedroom set. That’s two he’s done for Dorrans in just 3 days.
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TRBH – totally agree. I’d also add:
1) We also made some very astute loan signings when we needed too (Watson and Reid in particular). See how Billy Davies is now moaning about his own board.
2) Our medical/sports science team must also be applauded. Look what they’ve done for Barnes and Miller in particular. We were not afraid to take a chance on Thomas in the summer either. Sousa basically admitted that when we brought on Barnes and Miller last night they couldn’t defend the pace and power.
3) Last night’s fantastic result was achieved without Jara, Bednar, Thomas or any playing time from Morrison. When fully fit, those boys walk into any starting XI in the Championship and a few Premiership teams.
I still believe we can catch Newcastle over the remaining 9 games.
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I’d give my right arm for Newcastle’s two games in hand to come out as a draw and a defeat.
Well, someone’s right arm.
It’d certainly put the cat among the pigeons, wouldn’t it?
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Well done lads…we’ll need to keep the effort up.
How about this for a chilling nightmare scenario from Billy Davies in the Nottingham press today:
“I am telling you, over the next few weeks, things will happen. That eight-point gap could be reduced to five.
“Then it could be reduced to two and then, on the last day of the season, you could sneak over the finishing line.”
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Great result lads! see you next year in the prem :-)
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eh up wakey baggie. Glad to know there may be two of us enjoying the westgate wobble from time to time!!!
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What a result! Im still buzzing, We are so close now!
I haven’t been able toget the chant
” Da da da da… Ishmael Miller!!” out of my head all day :)
And Dorrans a class act again, the reason other clubs are taking notice is not only because of his talent but also the simple fact he is a penalty king! That on its own is enough to raise heads and get clubs interested. You very rarely get a player at any level that can do that on a regular basis. You can always rely on him nearly every single time to keep his cool and score from the spot which is astonishing! Thats something thats hard to find. And thats not even mentioning his other huge contributions to the game… We need to keep Dorrans at all costs!
This ranks as one of the best results of the season and we will look back at this game as the key stage of the season and with good memories.
With Forest losing again, made it extra special. They have it all to do now and with their away form collapsing further every week I am now confident of automatic promotion.
While at the same time we directly got rid of Swansea in the auto-promotion race and anyone else for that matter who can now say goodbye to any outside hopes of a top 2 finish.
Now all we need to do is continue our form and end the season the way we started… and take Newcastle to the wire. They have got to lose sometime and while they have had their odd wobbles they have yet to have a bad run… which EVERY team has to have. Its all coming together nicely. The timing is perfect :) Boing Boing up the Baggieeesss!
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Brierly Hill, sadly for Billy Davies nobody at the Albion thinks the job is done. Perhaps if his players did their talking on the pitch like we are, instead of in the newspapers, they wouldn’t be 8 points behind us.
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[post 15]
CR 78,
IT’s no good bemoaning bad luck when a head coaches tactics are “park the bus”.O,K,his two banks of four will break up attacks,but when they
cock up it is big time,as they have to come forward and their defence is realy found out.
Ask the Dingles.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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AMS. Spot on. We already have a Nouble. He`s called Luke Moore.
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