Matt Maher: Optimism battles despair after West Brom stung late again
It’s not easy to stay positive about performances at a stage of the season when points are required more urgently than ever.
That’s even more so the case when you concede a 91st minute equaliser.
In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton, optimism did battle with gut-wrenching despair at The Hawthorns. It was difficult to decipher which was winning.
Heading into stoppage time, such emotional conflict appeared unlikely. True, Albion were only one goal ahead but had largely been untroubled by a visiting Saints team which had struggled to match their intensity.
Then Samuel Edozie swung in a cross and Cyle Larin sent a looping header toward goal which, through a combination of bar, post and possibly Albion keeper Max O’Leary, ended up over the line.
Cue the sudden quietening of what, until then, had been a raucous, re-energised home crowd. Instead of a roar, the final whistle was followed by polite applause for a performance which seemed to bring the goal of survival closer, yet at the same time delivered a result you felt pushed it further away.
It happened in a literal sense too, with Albion moving a point nearer the safety line but falling a place lower in the standings.
