Manish’s Verdict On The Baggies – Swansea City (Away)

Architects Of Their Own Downfall.

Just when you thought West Brom were starting to get over their defensive problems, they go and concede three soft goals against Swansea.

The Swans totally deserved their win and for sure there will be one or two alarm bells ringing at The Hawthorns. Albion were simply not good enough on Saturday and those performances will see the Baggies dragged into a relegation battle.

Again questions were raised about West Brom’s 4-4-2 formation after the full-time whistle. I still maintain that Albion’s best formation is 4-5-1 and I personally feel Roy Hodgson should consider going back to 4-5-1.

West Brom should have enough to survive in the Premier League this season but the performance against Swansea has to be a one-off.

Defensive Mistakes

Paul Scharner’s clumsy tackle on Joe Allen in the penalty area which led to the penalty was just the start of things to come.

Allen was going away from goal and there was no need for Scharner to slide in. Had the Austrian stayed on his feet, no penalty would have been awarded. Scott Sinclair dispatched the penalty well and the Swans went one-nil up.

Shane Long had a golden opportunity to equalise for Albion whilst the score was one-nil. Neil Taylor’s back pass was intercepted by Long and the Irishman was in on goal. However Long snatched at the opportunity and blazed the ball high and wide.

Sinclair was at it again and he played a major part in Swansea’s second goal. A well worked corner picked out Sinclair in acres of space in the 18-yard box. Sinclair was then able to head the ball towards goal and Leroy Lita had the final touch to put Swansea two goals to the good.

The marking from the corner was really poor and West Brom only had themselves to blame. Nobody picked up Sinclair and Albion should have done better to prevent that goal.

It was game set and match for Swansea early in the second half as Nathan Dyer made it three-nil. A long punt up front saw Sinclair climb above Jonas Olsson and flick the ball onto Dyer.

Dyer made no mistake with the finish and Swansea were home and dry. Olsson never really competed with Sinclair and had the Swede got above the Swansea striker, the score will have remained two-nil.

Albion were creating chances after Swansea scored their third goal. But by then it was all little too late.

Fulham

You would have hoped the result against Norwich will have got the Albion players fired up for the game against Brendan Rodgers’ side. But West Brom did not turn up and they failed to get out of the blocks quickly.

The Albion fans will be hoping the performance against Swansea is a one-off and that the Baggies can pick up three points against Fulham. However Fulham will be heading to The Hawthorns on the back of a creditable 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

And with Andy Johnson, Bobby Zamora and Brede Hangeland in Fulham’s ranks, West Brom will need to be at their best to keep Zamora and Co quiet.

There have been glimpses where we have seen West Brom being dangerous going forward. But defensively there have been occasions where Albion have been at sixes and sevens at the back.

The Baggies will start the Fulham game at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League table. But I have every faith in Hodgson that he will turn the season around and with only five games gone, there is still time for Albion to get their season back on track.

This would be my starting XI for the game against Fulham: (4-5-1) Foster, Shorey, Dawson, Olsson, Reid, Scharner, Mulumbu, Thomas (R), Dorrans, Brunt (L), Odemwingie. Subs: Fulop. McAuley, Morrison, Long, Tchoyi, Gera (providing he is match fit) and Jara.

Keep The Faith and Lets Get Behind The Albion! Up The Baggies!