Lucky to go in only down one. All credit to West Brom; they're set up perfectly, and have been moving the ball very crisply and very quickly. Conversely, we're building possession too slowly for me; they're getting enough people behind the ball to make it very difficult. Entertaining game, just need to do something about the scoreline...game looks to have goals in it, though.
Just because no real chances have been created doesn't mean they haven't been good, West Brom have defended them very well. Remember West Brom are playing three centre backs and a 6'1" right back. His corners and free kicks have been put into a good area with a good ammount of pace - certainly better than Ramirez' against West Ham.
West Brom have been good value for their lead, but frustrating to concede from something as simple as not having a man on the post. This is the trouble with the 'nothing to play for myth', teams can come out and have their best game of the season in a game they weren't supposed to care about. Don't think we've been too bad going forwards but passing has been misplaced in the central third and our delivery as it has frequently done has let us down a bit. All to play for though, big effort to win it though, I reckon West Brom are good for another goal so we'll need to have a fantastic half.
Inconsistant first half, look sloppy some times and excellent other times. Need some consistancy and luck for the 2 nd half
I think the ref has been fine, west brom have been excellent. We seem impotent going forward and hesitant defending. I hate the way we defend set pieces we should have men in the places most likely to score a defensive header right next to the lads the freekicker is aiming at rather than setting up in a training ground formation. The way we set up for defensive set pieces suggests that we have control on how the set piece is to be played when we don't have any control at all, we should be set up in a way that is always reacting to the opposition which is what a simple man marking system will give you. Sub Davis and Lallana for Ramirez and Puncheon at half time. They should have started imo as they give us the ability to score goals.
Twice he absolutely should have played the advantage, once for either side, and decided to blow play down instead. The West Brom one was obviously the better of the two chances, but we had a decent attack shaping up...he has to know which way the ball is moving and exercise a bit of discretion.
Thats twice Lallana has hit a cross straight out of play from a good position on the byline. Needs to improve that.
