West Brom 0 Manchester City 0
Monday 26th December 2011, 5:10PM GMT.
West Brom claimed a superb point against Manchester City in a Christmas cracker at the Hawthorns.
The Baggies became the first team this season to stop City scoring but were unable to find the net themselves.
However, despite a lack of goals, the Hawthorns witnessed a fabulous Boxing Day spectacle and home fans celebrated raucously at the final whistle, as Roy Hodgson’s men followed up back-to-back away wins with a fine home point.
Both sides hit the woodwork in a scintillating second half, Mario Balotelli striking the bar for City before Jerome Thomas was denied by the post for the Baggies.
West Brom made a bright start and went close in the third minute, after an excellent build-up through midfield.
Jerome Thomas fed Chris Brunt on the edge of the box and the Baggies captain turned and lashed a 20-yard shot just wide with his left foot.
But the visitors also had an opening when the ball fell for Sergio Aguero just inside the West Brom box, but the Argentine hit his shot straight at defender Jonas Olsson
The Baggies went close again when a low, skidding shot by Paul Scharner was turned around the base of the post by the scrambling Joe Hart in the City goal.
But the hosts should have been behind on 25 minutes when City attacked on the break and Aguero squared for David Silva, only for the Spaniard to fire over from eight yards out.
Mario Balotelli had the ball in the net for City 10 minutes before the interval but the ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside.
Vincent Kompany then had to make a crucial far-post interception to cut out a Chris Brunt cross, with Shane Long waiting to turn it home.
As the second-half wore on, the Baggies grew in confidence and the game became a fabulous spectacle.
But it was City who shook the woodwork first, as Balotelli looped a shot from 30 yards over goalkeeper Ben Foster and off the crossbar.
Aguero then sprang the offside trap for City and Gareth McAuley had to make a vital interception to turn his shot behind for a corner.
At the other end, City half-cleared a Baggies free-kick and the ball broke for Thomas, who drilled a 25-yard shot against the base of the post with Hart beaten.
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absolutly chuffed to bits ! another superb performance. defended like trojans and a threat up front, cant ask any more than that, spot on tactics by roy, well done lads thanks for a great xmas.
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Well done albion.
As one of the few clubs that have managed to beat the zillionaires, i know how you must be feeling.
Although Wolves actually beat em, while you Only managed a draw, i know how you must be feeling.
Im from Manchester, and some of the chaps were billing this one as “the prince and the paupers”…How wrong they were!
There is no way they should called princes.
Live the dream, you deserve it.
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What a point! the team were tremendous today, defended well and looked like a real “unit” – the celebartions at the end amongst the players told you how much it meant to them as well as the fans.
No reason we cant beat Everton now and start the new year inside the top 10?
Don’t want to be controversial, but Odemwingie drives me nuts – on the shoulder of the last man he is frighteningly good, and always looks dangerous..but playing this “link up” striker he never seems to know where to stand/run…he never seems able to pick up the ball from Longs good work?
Im sure more intelligent positional play would bring him (and us) great rewards? Having said that, it always look easy from high up in the stands!
Very proud to be a Baggie!! Thought Mcauley and Jones were terrifc all game, and JT had a great second half.
Merry christmas everyone!
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Fantastic defensive display today brilliant team performance also,
And we could of snatched a win toward’s the end with cracking long ranger from JT.
WELL DONE BAGGIES!!
Boing! Boing!
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what a point lads and could have been three fantastic performance every player showed there worth today top notch from start to finish can not praise the lads enough today you were brillllllll boing boing
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A brilliant result for you guys – well done!
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2. Lone when did you beat city?????? it wasnt’t this season, yes you beat them last season but so did we, so i dont know what the point of your comment was?
City are a different side this season as you know they have beaten you twice on the other hand we get a great point and we stopped them scoring for the 1st time this season.
To be honest we are in a different league to the wol*es and they know it hence silly comments.
Top 10 finish on the cards and thanks WBA for a great xmas.
In Roy we trust boing boing
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I’m so proud of the team, they make my heart beat with pride. To all the regular contributors on here keep up the good blogs because you make an old baggie very very happy. Happy New year to one and All. Boing Boing
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Was our back 4 Scrooge in disguise! Havent seen an Albion Defence so dominant since John Wile & Ally Rob played. Fantastic & what a midfield – Mulumbu back to his best & was that really Jerome Thomas. Roy has finally got it right Brunty left & Thomas on that form right, though Mozza must come into the picture on his recent performances. Well done boys and we can go into 2012 with great heart. One final plea sow up Roy for another couple of years. Happy New Year everyone.
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Excellent write up E&S. Said it all really.
Our crossbar rattled, the shot went over. Their upright rattled, the shot came out. The difference about 6 inches and 3 inches respectively. Their possession play is quite frightening in its smoothness, but we were worthy of a point because of tenacity and determination not to lose. It was a ‘game’ though, not a ‘match’. The unbalance between the rich and poor has spread to football. How sad. We met a lot of Man. City supporters in The Vine which was heaving in a way I’ve never seen before. They were a decent set of people so good luck to them.
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What a game, may of only been a draw but what a draw. Number 3 I agree Odemwingie doesn’t link up very well with long, but what the hell bring on the Toffee’s.
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One word MAGNIFICENT!! That was a real blood, sweat and tears performance. Players throwing their bodies in the way of shots, man of the match Billy Jones made one stunning tackle near the end that had me on my feet (if anyone’s seen me down the Albion, that’s a rare occurrence!) Harrying the opposition and getting in their faces. Man City had no time to settle and that was the key aspect to the display today, plus the fact that we had a go instead of just sitting back.
Please can we keep this up lads!!
Boing Boing!!
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If he goes on to manage england he goes with my blessing, but at this moment lets enjoy.
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Tied up with the family gathering so unable to comment on the game, but according to these posts our defence was tighter than a ducks whatsit. This squad is blooming by the minute under the guidance of that master tactician Roy Hodgson who out foxed Roberto Mancinni. Playing the way we have over the last three games, we need fear no-one, as Ben Foster has already stated. What a great holiday we have had and it is still ongoing. See the jealous Dingle is on here with his latest chunk of tripe. This is the cleanest sheet I’ve ever seen. Thanks lads for another tremendous point.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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well done albion what a great result,money bags city are flying and you just bought em back down to earth with a team performance to be proud of,i just wish wolves could do the same but youve got a top manager who understands the game and sadly we aint,so good luck for the rest of the season and lets hope we can both stay up,/\_/\ WE ARE WOLVES,IN MAD MICK WE DONT TRUST /\_/\
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what a christmas !!!! superb thats all i can say. could never be a dingle with the way the lads have preformed , keep it going lads where all behind you… boing boing!!!!!
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When the game ended,I could only think of two things-
when before did I ever feel so happy about us getting a goalless draw?,
and when was the last time I felt so proud of such an heroic display by the Baggies?
Later,I watched the highlights of the game on Sky match choice,and at the end,the commentator said-
‘we’ve just seen a masterclass of defending by West Brom’.
Not a comment you’d expect to hear in the past few years,is it?
Anyway,a superb performance,and all the more sweet because two of the outstanding players on the pitch were Billy Jones and Gareth McAuley,who cost us,in total,not an English penny to buy,unlike the hundreds of millions splashed out on City’s ‘superstars’.
Needless to say,I’m quite happy this evening……….
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football never ceases to amaze me of all the teams to get a clean sheet against City it’s us
I actually said in my comments last week thought we would get something out of City i have thought it for a few weeks i always felt our style off play would give them problems.
That said they probably shaded it but we deserved a point we defended very well with two lines of four and when they finally got through Mcauly made a great last ditch stop
We had our chances to and JT’s shot at the end had Hart beaten all ends up
So a great day in our house as my lad is a United fan
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Just two quick things-
Warren (wherever you are)-
last week you said that,living in Manchester, the City ‘fans’ you know don’t actually go to the games-
well I think I met the same guys earlier,because there were hundreds of ‘em in The Vine,and I think most of them probably stayed there during the game,because they were drinkin’ our Bathams and eating all the Chicken Tikka.
Also,does anyone know if Mallorca Kev managed to get his custom-made,high quality cardboard megaphone into the BRE?
If so,how many times did he sing about ‘Shane Long being born in Tipperary’………..?
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What a result!, what a Xmas!, first Prem team to keep a clean sheet against City this season, cant be bad, last team that managed a clean sheet against them all competitions was Bayern Munich, so we must be do something right, bring on the Toffees!
2) Lone I remember when you beat City, it was when they were going through a slump, and had lost their best striker in Tevez to injury, correct? unlike the full strength, table topping team they had out today, that’s right isn’t it?
Ah, when I think back how the Wulfies used to bang on about our lack of clean sheets, and the fact we only signed “lower league and freebies” like McAuley and Jones. Wish we had had the foresight to spend millions on a defender like Roger Johnston, ah well, we bow to their greater football know how yet again! Its funny, but for all their boasts of having a superior, more astute, and knowledgeable management and team, they don’t half spend a lot of time staring up the league table at us, its certainly a puzzler???
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What a performance. What a Christmas! Some good comments on here too. A few points from me. Lone I will not have a go at your for complimenting us. We are more like Wolves than Man City after all.You’re clearly in awe of what we did yesterday. Everton on new years day if you fancy it but you’ll have to get a ticket quick!
Odemwingie and Long will need time to gel; don’t have a go at them today when last week at Newcastle they were starting to show a good understanding. Not sure how many games they have played together.
Cyril your comment 10 reads like a Stuart Hall summary – wonderful stuff.
If we can keep the momentum going, we will be more than safe. As Roy is looking upwards and onwards; I hope JP can match Roy’s ambition and get Roy to extend his deal. Sooner rather than later.
Boing Boing and Happy New Year.
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Fantastic!!!!!!
Top half of the table and looking like a very good team. If we can keep playing as we have last 3 games this is going to be a great season.
As I live up here, been getting congratulations txts from City fans (and Utd…)
Happy new year.
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This is definitely the best christmas we’ve ever had in the premier league – and it’s not over yet.
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Like I said before WBA have a small ground
but GIANTS in all other senses probably the only team the west midlands we can all be proud of, baggies are beautiful next door neighbours
NO numpties in sight
COME ON WOLVES >>TRY AND CATCH THEM UP PLEASE
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Can someone please wake me up, I’ve just had a wonderful dream. I dreamt we held City to a goalless draw a with a wonderful defensive display. Ooh, it’s real. Now I know what it must be like to be a Dingle, coz all they can do is dream. Ha ha ha.
Absolutely fantastic display from the boys, never saw that one coming, so proud to be a Baggie.
@ no. 7 – Well said, couldn’t agree more.
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Congratulations all round. Thanks for taking note Roy, when I said? get back to the basics of simple football, and stop tinkering, that was 4 games ago.
Seriously though. I’m glad we have found the right formation and balance, long may it last. I know we won’t win every game, but the confidence must be very high at the moment, and we must take this into the game against Everton, to complete the best Christmas & New Year ever.
All the best to everyone.
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Cantello Rocket can confitm that Mallorca Kev got the hand made mega into the ground sang Tipperraty 3 times
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I thought I was back in Aldershot yesterday watching the ‘formation defending’ that would have delighted my old drill sergeant. “I want to see your feet move like bees wings” was what he shouted, (I’ve missed out the embellishments as this is a family-read site). ‘Billy The Kid’ was truly magnificent as was our other freebie McAuley alongside my hero Jonas, with everyone else playing their part. How much did the crowd contribute? They started quietly and in awe of what might happen, but the mood was set with Brunt’s shot that on another day would have burst the net. An absorbing game of cat and mouse, with Mickey tormenting the cat almost to death! The best part is surely, CITY WERE HAPPY WITH A POINT at the end. Greater praise hath no man.
The little dynamo will be sorely missed but a chance there for someone to fill the void. I can’t help think some clubs will be scouting where our scouts are scouting. It must be worth their while following Dan’s men to see where they book their flights! It’s the equivalent to finding new oil wells.
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Afternoon all
Quality performance again!! many thanks for making christmas that little bit extra special!!
regards
Andy H
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27 Stourbaggie,
thanks for that.
After the cardboard megaphone,Mallorca Kev’s next project is making a trumpet out of foil from his Xmas turkey…..
He’s never been the same since they started showing ‘Blue Peter’ on Spanish TV……..
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totally agree with the above comments on the superb performance
looking forward,heres one to ponder and discuss…
january transfer window zamora for odemwingie?
think it would benefit our style of play
what you think?
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What a wonderfull feeling to be a Baggie!!
As all of the posts have said before, great all round team effort….from Ben through to the lads up front, who defended from the front. We played to our strenghs and it was up to teh £100k a week prima donas to break us down….I said last week that one City fan said that he would take a point beforehand, but I know he was being polite!!…Can not wait to see his face back at work on Wednesday. Plenty of texts from United fans and others, impressed by us…huge congratulations to Roy for his tactics, the players for carrying them out and the fans who sounded amazing on the box….
Now feet on the ground, the Toffees are next on the agenda, not being a kill joy…..they will be a stern test…a team we need points of in our mini league.
Have a great new year….
BOING BOING………
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Eleven heroes.
Magnificent defence, I don’t know if Laughing Wolf still comes over here but his words about our new defenders from a Championship and Div1 side must be turning to ashes in his mouth. Our back four cost what they paid for Roger Johnson’s right leg.
I won’t go on about that as it would be churlish in view of the decent Wulfies that have been commenting on here this week. I said a while back that most Wolves fans are not a lot different to us amd the proof is here today.
One other thing. I read McCauley’s interview about studying the way Aguero makes runs. What a refreshingly professional attitude from a modern day footballer. I admit that I thought easier said than done but was Aguero playing?
Kev and Warren.
Brilliant demonstration by JT of both of your POV on him. First half was Kev’s JT second half was Warren’s. The thing is now that he’s shown us he can do it we’ll expect it every week. The cross to SL where he beat the fullback is exactly what we want from him.
3 GE.
Exactly what I said to the bloke next to me. PO and SL are never close enough to each other and it’s PO’s job to move heaven and earth to get up close to Long when the ball comes out of defence. Mind you the distance Long covers and the pace he does it at, it’s easier said than done.
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I have to say after the QPR & Wigan games, i didnt see these 3 results coming, i would have been happy with 4 points, to get 7 is great, and 9th going into the New Year, i think most people would have said thank you very much a few games ago…
And with January not looking to bad for fixtures, lets hope we can start looking up and not thinking about relegation, keep it going lads, the only way is UP !!!
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(31)
Glen,
About the Zamora for Osaze, Have it printed and add it to next years X-mass cracker.
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I said earlier I was impressed with the good nature of the Man.City fans, especially the bloke(s) in The Vine dressed as pale blue Father Christmasses. The one was chatting to us, both sides taking the pee a little. Then he said “I must go find my brother”. I said, “Is he dressed just like you?” “Yes” came the reply. “Ah, I knew I’d seen another silly tw*t somewhere” I answered, waiting to duck. He laughed, then staggered off.
PS: He said he’d be happy with a point too. Maybe they’re being rumbled a bit by the other teams.
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I echo most of what is said here brilliant performances, at the start of the season was critical of McAuley after seeing him defend for Northern Ireland, I take back all I said, the comparison between Olsson and McAuley and Wile and Robertson gets more and more the more they play. As for the Shane and Peter partnership, one word pace, defences are scared by pace, these two have it in ‘spades’
Merry Christmas to all some great blogs throughout the year, lets hope for a great 2012
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(32)
Cheshire,
Hold your foot up mate, £100k players?, we have one who has reportedly turned down £160k a week. Lets hope it now shuts up those who say “He couldn’t care less now he’s on big money”. Osaze is happy to be a BAGGY.
How refreshing to see our wide men enjoying themselves now they have swapped over wings. Noticed when Long just failed to get more power on a nearly out of reach ball, he had a grin like a Cheshire cat, Will he and Osaze now become the laughing snipers.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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im fed up of whinging city fans moaning about parking the bus……you sound like bitter and twisted united “fans” get real your approach play is boringly slow and thats why you couldnt get behind us – with all that pace throughout the team its really hard to understand why you dont use it.
big well done to Joe Hart – one of the few keepers this season who has clapped the Brummie Road going into his goal and then at the end he turned and clapped us as he left in response I reckon to the noise made – well done Joe (should be Englands number 2 after Foster though lol)
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I’m a bit late here, but what a fantastic result and performance that was.
Football never fails to bring us drama between David and Goliath, it’s just a shame that scenario now occurs between two clubs in the same league. I personally think City (Chelsea and B’burn before them) are ruining football with their (loose reference given it’s not theirs) money. But money can’t buy you the sheer guts and determination (and no shortfall in quality on occasion) from our boys today. I’m still (2 days later) one exceptionally proud Baggie.
CR78- I heard they’d gone to disturb you in the Vine, which was largely the reason I didn’t head down there, I spend enough time in the year surrounded by mancunians!!
TRBH- cheers for bringing up the JT point. His workrate these last couple of games have been commendable and in different areas of the pitch to where he’d like to be, but great effort from him. Hopefully promising performances like that will bring back the confidence in offensive positions to do the damage we know he can.
Merry Christmas to one and all.
Lone- Nice try mate, didn’t you concede 8 or 9 against this City team in 4 days the other week???? That said, good point for you boys at Arsenal, as PL minnows you must’ve been worried beforehand, but that point must give you hope in your relegation battle.
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31 is having a laugh .wouldn,t make a joke in a aldi,s cheap cracker!! boing boing!!!
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Fantastic display things are just getting better.
Keeper commanding his box.
Defence as solid as a rock and working as a unit with an understanding.
Midfield tracking back,defending and counter attacking with pace.
Forwards defending from the front.
Shame about Mulumbu hope it’s not too serious,but I’m sure Mozza will be fit and just slip back in.
What a manager Hodgson is, He recalls players,must be psychic, straight away injuries start to apppear.Good work like that comes with experience.
Must give praise to Jones and McAuley what steals.
Please don’t start on about the transfer window.Do we honestly need anyone.Bearing in mind, all that will be available is outcasts and surplus to requirements.
Finally have mentioned it before,got nothing against Appy, but what a diference it’s been since He left.The attacking style is back and the harmony is there to be seen.Look at the results whilst Roy’s been doing extra work.
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Cantello,Stourbaggie
Just got to a Lap Top,what a great day,great match and I have to say great support.
Hope it will be even better against Everton,I’m just printing the words to my little ditty and will be handing them out on Sunday,hope you all participate.
Adeu
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