Results don't tell the story at Albion

Albion blogger Jarrod Hill departs for his holidays a deflated man and still wondering how the Baggies have no points for their efforts in the first two games.

Two games, two losses, but that really doesn't tell the whole story. We arguably deserved something against Manchester United and we definitely deserved something from our visit to Stamford Bridge.

Shane Long scored his second goal in as many games and, had his passing have been as good as his finishing, Somen Tchoyi would have put us two goals to the good and Chelsea would have faced a long road back.

Nicky Shorey has been our 'Mr Reliable' for a while now, the seven out of 10 man, the steady but unspectacular defender everybody likes.

But he had a stinker on Saturday, with both of Chelsea's goals coming from his poor play, and we deserved so much more.

We created all the best chances, Paul Scharner had a free header which he fluffed and, even in the dying minutes, Peter Odemwingie had a great chance to equalise but shot straight at Hilario in the Chelsea goal.

It all amounted to a thoroughly frustrating day and that frustration was evident from boss Roy Hodgson's after match comments.

I must admit I thought Roy was a little slow in making changes to a team that urgently needed fresh legs, with the unpredictable Tchoyi a prime candidate to be withdrawn.

I think our Cameroon international will thrill and exasperate us in equal measure this season, Saturday was one of those days he exasperated us, but the lad still caused problems.

His strike partner Shane Long continues to impress me. His work rate is excellent and two goals in two games suggest Odemwingie may have a real challenge being our top goalscorer this season.

Now that we have Manchester United and Chelsea out of the way, Hodgson will be hoping similar quality performances against Stoke, Swansea, Norwich and Fulham will bring the wins needed to move us up the table.

I know it's only two games but playing catch up isn't easy and, the longer we go without points, the more the pressure mounts.

The fixture list computer has a lot to answer for and if I ever get my hands on it its hard drive is being ripped out!

We have a league cup game this week against Bournemouth, followed by a visit from the bogey men.

Stoke are our ultimate bogey team and I hope Hodgson doesn't risk playing any of our key players against Bournemouth in preparation for our league game.

I expect he will give a number of fringe players valuable game time at Dean Court and this week could prove to be very busy.

The summer transfer window closes shut soon and, if we are to do any further business, it will be this week and with two games to squeeze in too it's all hands on deck.

I miss both games due to being on holiday, but I will be following both games from a far and, if we can reproduce Saturday's performance on a regular basis, we will win more games than we will lose this season.

Thankfully, the season is a marathon and not a sprint. Sorry for the shortness of the blog but I have got a flight to catch, please go easy on Peter 'Hilltop Baggie' Danckert in my absence.

Up the Baggies, adeus.