Verdict on the Baggies – Norwich City (H)

Albion’s Home Woes Continue

It’s now seven defeats in eleven home games for West Bromwich Albion with the latest loss coming at the hands of Norwich City. And to be quite frank, Albion’s home form this season is simply not good enough.

From being comfortable in mid-table a couple of weeks ago, West Brom now find themselves looking over their shoulder. With Blackburn beating Fulham and Wolves gaining a point at Spurs, it was not the best of Saturday’s for Roy Hodgson’s side.

With league games coming up against Stoke, Swansea, Fulham, Sunderland and Wolves, the Baggies need to start picking up points otherwise they will for sure be dragged into a relegation dogfight. Not exactly what the Baggies faithful want.

Counter-Attack

West Brom were simply undone by two counter attacks on Saturday. But at the same time the Baggies were not clinical in their finishing and failed to take their chances when they came.

Fail to take your chances and the opposition will punish you. That’s exactly what Norwich did to West Brom. Both of Norwich’s goals were preventable and Albion have proven to be the architects of their own downfall in the home defeats against Norwich and Everton.

For the first Norwich goal who was closing down Andrew Surman? Why were the Canaries able to take the ball from deep in their own half and go up the other end and score?

Youssouf Mulumbu was responsible for Norwich’s second goal as his mis-kick enabled the Canaries to counter attack. Steven Morison coolly headed in at the back post to secure three points for Paul Lambert’s team.

Individual errors have cost West Brom dearly in recent times and the Baggies must improve their home form starting with a win against Swansea in their next home league game.

Only time will tell whether Norwich can continue their fine form but there is no denying Paul Lambert has done a terrific job at Carrow Road. With 28 points already on the board, 12 more points for Norwich and for me they are safe.

West Brom’s home form this season has not been great and I cannot understand why? Albion’s home form last season was pretty good and it was probably down to that along with Peter Odemwingie’s goals that kept West Brom up. Why are Albion performing poorly at home this season whereas they have picked up four wins on the road? As I have already said, the Baggies have to buck up their ideas and drastically improve at home.

Transfer Window and Stoke

Injuries have taken their toll on West Brom within the last month and I’m sure Roy Hodgson will be looking to bring in two or three players.

Scott Allan has already joined Albion this month having signed from Dundee United. Will he be the first of many arrivals at The Hawthorns this month? West Brom could do with another defender and the likes of Nedum Onuoha and Liam Ridgewell have been linked with moves to Albion. Onuoha has also been linked with QPR, Everton and Wolves.

Would Onuoha be a good addition for the Baggies? I don’t see why not and he has already proven he can cut in the top flight after a successful loan spell with Sunderland last season.

Birmingham City have done remarkably well in the Championship considering their financial problems. But I would not be surprised if Albion did put a bid in for Ridgewell. The former Villa defender has played in the top flight and knows what the Premier League is all about. I personally think he would be a shrewd acquisition. Blues winger Jean Beausejour has also been linked with a move to The Hawthorns.

Do West Brom need another striker? I think they could do with bringing one in whether that would be a permanent deal or on loan. Peter Odemwingie has not really delivered so far this season but I have every faith the Nigerian will re-discover his sparkling form from last season.

Shane Long has done extremely well and he straight away made an impact on the Norwich game. We have already seen signs that the Long – Odemwingie partnership can work.

Simon Cox is a natural finisher and knows where the back of the net is as he proved against Cardiff in the FA Cup Third Round. Cox does need a run in the side but when Odemwingie and Long are fit, it is difficult to see how Cox can get into the starting XI.

Stoke City are next up for Albion and it promises to be another difficult game for the Baggies. West Brom will end their hoodoo against The Potters at some point but on current form, Albion will not be doing that on Saturday.

Peter Crouch, Jon Walters and Matthew Etherington will need to be kept quiet if Albion are to get anything from the Britannia. And of course not forgetting Rory Delap’s long throw-ins will need to be dealt with.

Every team have a bad spell and West Brom are having one of those spells where nothing is going for them. We have seen this season whenever Albion have had a bad spell, they have bounced back. And despite suffering three straight defeats, I am still confident Albion will stay up and get back to winning ways soon.

All the Albion players need to step up to the plate and cut out the individual errors. No doubt they will need to show their battling qualities when they go up against Tony Pulis and Stoke on Saturday.

Let’s Get Behind The Albion! Up The Baggies!