Manchester United 1-2 West Bromwich Albion match report 28th September 2013

Steve Clarke allowed himself a rare smile on a day when his fast emerging West Bromwich Albion team completely outplayed Champions Manchester United in a 2 – 1 victory at the Theatre of Dreams.

 The Baggies manager was full of praise for his team after goals by Morgan Amalfitano and Saido Berahino each side of a Wayne Rooney free-kick saw West Brom win at Old Trafford for the first time in 35 years.

The match started with United in control fashioning some half chances on the right hand side courtesy of crosses by Nani. Rooney headed over and Anderson hit the bar but the home side could not get the breakthrough.

An injury to Baggies winger Scott Sinclair on 13 minutes saw England Under 21 striker Berahino sent on in a bold move by Albion manager Clarke which proved to be a masterstroke. In fact the Baggies could so easily of taken the lead when a cross from the left by Amalfitano was headed narrowly wide by the young substitute.

The second half picked up where the first one left off with both teams attacking and weaving together chances but it was the team in dark blue and white stripes who dealt the first blow. On 54 minutes. the thorn in the side, Amalfitano picked up the ball on the right and cut inside before cheekily nutmegging Rio Ferdinand and then waiting for David De Gea to commit before chipping the ball into the net to stun the Home crowd and send the travelling Baggies fans delirious.

United manager David Moyes immediately told substitute Robin Van Persie to prepare for his entrance and two minutes later as both watched from the touchline, Rooney fired a free-kick from the left over the wall and into the right hand corner of the net.

 With that goal the Red Devils appeared to finally take control of the game and looked as if they would go on to win but West Brom’s tactic of hitting their opponents on the counter attack worked a treat for Steve Clarke's men. The sheer power of Victor Anichebe, the finesse and delicacy of Amalfitano supported by the hard work of Stephane Sessegnon knitted together to form the perfect recipe for danger. On the 67th minute the Midlanders again broke free on the right. Sessegnon crossed the ball to the edge of the box and Amalfitano intricately flicked the ball into the path of substitute Berahino who smashed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to restore the Albion lead.

United pushed forward in search of an equaliser  and thought they had got it when some great passing on the edge of the box between Rooney, Alexander Buttner and Nani created an easy tap in for Maroune Fellaini who looked to have opened his old Trafford scoring account but the offside flag denied him.

Frustration coursed through the veins of the 73,000 home fans and at the final whistle a chorus of boos made clear the fans’ verdict on the mediocre United performance.

 After the game Moyes admitted that his team were poor and inferred he may have underestimated his opponents.

As for West Bromwich Albion, the only way is up at the moment after back to back victories this week and last week against Sunderland. Steve Clarke's new signings have transformed his team posing a deadly threat on the counter attack and also a composed performance at the back from defenders Jonas Olsson and Gareth McCauley was too much for the Reds. His transfer deadline signings have completely transformed the fortunes of his Albion team who move up to a comfortable mid-table position while the Champions languish in 12^th place, their worst start since 1989.

West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Sunderland match report 21st september 2013

Manager Paulo Di Canio’s job is in the balance after his Sunderland side lost 3- 0 at West Bromich Albion – a defeat made worse by the fact that the first goal was scored by Di Canio reject Stephane Sessegnon.

At the end of what was a poor performance the Black Cats boss walked over to the few hundred remaining Sunderland fans and gesticulated to them to keep their chins up – a suggestion which was met with a barrage of abuse. Di Canio now has to turn things round quickly or could be the first managerial casualty of the season.

The fact is that Sunderland played reasonably well until the 20^th minute when they fell behind to a goal by Sessegnon from a fine cross from the right by Morgan Amalfitano. So often in football a former player returns to haunt their old side and the Beninese midfielder did not disappoint, firing in from six yards.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Sunderland and as a result the Mackems didn't create any chances and West Brom went into the break fully in control of the game.

In the second half some early pressure from the visitors looked likely to produce a goal but it was not to be and the best chance the northerners could muster resulted in a serious shoulder injury for striker Stephen Fletcher who was helped off leaving  his team with only 10 men having used all three substitutes.

The Baggies then assumed full control and on 76 minutes, Amalfatino - who was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition - whipped in another great cross which was only half palmed away by goalkeeper Kieren Westwood into the path of the arriving left back Liam Ridgewell who coolly side-footed the ball into the net.

Amalfatino fully deserved his man of the match award after a performance which incorporated pace, skill, finesse and class which has been lacking in West Brom’s midfield in recent months. Three minutes into time added on the Frenchman went clear on the right of the box and fired a rasping drive into the corner of the net to crown a cracking debut.

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West Brom deserved their win and climbed away from the bottom of the table while Sunderland remain stuck at the foot with only a single point. After the game Di Canio said the fact that the club had signed 14 new players meant they needed time to gel. He told reporters he had no intention of quitting and would get his team out of trouble.

It looks like a long season for Sunderland who face Liverpool next weekend but for the Baggies, much promise was shown by new additions Amalfatino and Sessegnon which would be taken into next week’s tough game against Manchester United at Old Trafford

Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle match report September 14th 2013

Aston Villa suffered their third defeat in a row as Newcastle made off with all three points in a 2 – 1 victory at Villa Park.

Goals by Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran – each side of a reply by Christian Benteke - sent the Toon Army home happy and left Paul Lambert’s team hovering in the lower regions of the Premier League.

It was a case of de já vu for Villa as the demons of their poor home form of last season came back to haunt them. A Newcastle team unchanged during the summer transfer window, dominated on a bright and sunny autumnal afternoon and assumed control of the match from the very first whistle.

The home team barely touched the ball and Newcastle’s dominance was rewarded in the 18th minute as Loic Remy went clear on the left. His cross came off Villa captain Ron Vlaar’s outstretched leg straight into the path of Ben Arfa who had the simple task of firing in from six yards.

Alan Pardew’s side were in complete control of the first half but Villa came out fighting at the start of the second and created a few good chances. However, it was a tactical substitution which led to the Villa equaliser. In the 67th minute Lambert sent on Libor Kozak for Karim El Ahmadi and the change confused the Newcastle defenders who failed to deal with the power of Benteke who soared above everyone to head the ball into the net from an Ashley Westwood corner.

The equaliser lifted the home fans and unsettled the visitors and it was a case of wondering who would go on to score a winner. Step forward man-of-the-match Ben Arfa who, on 73 minutes, picked the ball up on the right hand side of the area, cut inside Antonio Luna and fired a powerful shot which Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan could only parry to his right and into the path of Gouffran who coolly fired into the empty net.

Such was Newcastle’s dominance that Gouffran, Papiss Cisse and Ben Arfa should have added more as the Villa team tired.

Newcastle thoroughly earned their victory and showed a much more mature side than on previous occasions whilst sparing the blushes of Director of football Joe Kinnear, the man partly responsible for their lack of activity in the recent summer transfer window.

With Moussa Sissoko playing a vital role in anchoring the midfield and Remy, Gouffran, Yohan Cabaye and Ben Arfa always looking dangerous, the Toon army were well worth their second win of the campaign.

 Manager Alan Pardew described the Frenchman as "unplayable" and said he was very pleased with his team's performance.

Paul Lambert acknowledged it was a "frustrating" afternoon and said his team started the game too slowly and played catch up for the rest of the match