Blog: Albion have to pick themselves up again after last minute heartbreak

Only this time, rather than an upset tummy and a bout of melancholy, I expect many Albion supporters felt more like they'd contracted the bubonic plague on Sunday night after Papiss Demba Cisse's last minute 'strike' for Newcastle.

Whilst Edin Dzeko's breakaway goal for Manchester City the week before was cruel, there was an element of culpability on Albion's part.

This time, Sammi Ameobi's wayward long-range strike deflecting off Cisse's back and beyond Ben Foster in the third minute of stoppage time was just inhumane.

Indeed for much of the second half Albion had looked the better side and there was a growing sense we might sneak all three points as the game went on. Other than an early headed chance for Demba Ba and their first goal- as much a product of Gareth McAuley's misjudgement as Newcastle's ingenuity- I'm struggling to recall a clear cut chance for the home side.

Albion, despite being patchy in the first 45 minutes, squandered two one-on-one situations and a series of half chances and semi-openings as the game wore on, Romelu Lukaku being the most obvious culprit. In his defence Lukaku grabbed Albion's equaliser and I thought Tim Krul's save from his first one-on-one was a fantastic stop, but we must learn to be more ruthless with the opportunities presented our way.

In truth, a point away at a team who finished in fifth position last year would have represented an excellent return.

As it stands, after two successive defeats, there is a growing sense that anything other than three points in Monday's home game with Southampton will blight what had been considered a hugely positive start to the season.

Southampton themselves will be desperate for a win of course. Their only win so far was a 4-1 annihilation of Aston Villa (sorry, had to get that in!). From what I've seen of them, they work tirelessly, press the opposition high up the pitch and will always score goals, which should be evidence enough that we we'll need to do a lot more than just turn up.

They have however struggled to impose themselves in the same way away from home and we have to feel confident of a positive result.

Monday will hopefully signal the return from injury of Claudio Yacob and Chris Brunt, although I suspect only the former will go straight back into the first X1. Brunt may have to wait for his chance.

There's also a decision to make about who to play up front. I like Romelu Lukaku, he's already contributed heavily to our season so far and will probably continue to do so, but I think Shane Long's hold-up play is better and with the form he is in it's difficult to overlook him.

Back to Sunday's game and I don't want to drone on about recent last-minute concessions, I've depressed enough people this week complaining about it, but late goals certainly bring about extreme emotions as a supporter. Conceding three stoppage time goals in three games (albeit QPR's proving nothing more than a consolation) had me thinking about the last time I felt their effect so forcibly.

The names Rob Hindmarch, Steve Bull (in the reverse fixture to that of Hindmarch's late contribution) and Thomas Hitzlsperger are enough to send shivers down most Albion fans' spines. Late goals from all three went on to prove immensely costly as we were relegated at the end of each season. In the case of Hitzlsperger, I recall being sat in the Villa end and struggling to contain my inner-rage at the injustice that had unfolded.

However for every gut-wrenching stoppage-time moment of despair, there's a cathartic outpouring of sheer elation to balance it out. Igor Balis at Bradford (my personal favourite), Paul Robinson at Villa and Graham Dorrans at Stoke lay testament to that.

I'm sure there are plenty that I've missed and plenty more to come, hopefully we're due a couple after the events of the last fortnight.

Onwards and upwards. Come on you Baggies!!