- Alisson
- Trent
- Nat
- Rhys
- Robbo
- Fab
- Thiago
- Curtis
- Sadio
- Mo
- Bobby
- Shaq
- Gini
0 voters
Never in doubt.
Two changes for the Tricky Reds today, with Gini being replaced by Jones in midfield and stroppy Sadio being reinstated up front, with Jota being ruled out for what’s left of this wretched season with a foot injury.
A dreary opening from both teams, with the Reds inexplicably playing hoofball, and neither goalkeeper having to do much. Then, on the quarter hour mark, Hal Robson-Kanu capitalised on poor positional play by Williams and slotted tidily into the far corner past Alisson.
Sadio spurned a superb chance to equalise soon afterwards, shooting wide when unmarked six yards out, but the Reds were back on terms shortly after the half hour, as Mo finished brilliantly first-time after Sadio’s pass. A quite exquisite finish.
Bobby, who was captain for the day, then missed a glorious chance to make it 2-1; it’s a cliché but it really did look easier to score than to miss.
The only other notable feature of the first half was the appalling arbitration. Mike Dean allowed unlimited niggling from the home side, letting several bookable offences go without any action being taken, while our players were barely allowed to even look in West Brom’s direction without a foul being awarded.
As the players trudged off for their halftime oranges, it was a familiar story: we had been the better side but a defensive error allowed our opponents to score and we had wasted chances.
The second stanza started with the visitors again dominating possession but not really creating much. Salah saw a shot saved by Johnstone and Sadio had a close-range effort rightfully disallowed for offside.
At the other end, West Brom didn’t offer much but thought they had taken the lead when Bartley flicked home Ajayi’s knock-down from a corner; the goal was disallowed, possibly because one of their players was standing right in front of Alisson, but we were lucky to get away with that.
Towards the end, Trent cut inside from the right but blazed over; Thiago drew a fingertip save from Johnstone. Wijnaldum, who had only just come on as a sub, steered a shot narrowly wide as we entered stoppage time. Thiago had a drive blocked by the massed ranks of the home defence.
And then the most unexpected of climaxes. Deep into stoppage time, Alisson came up for a corner and thumped home Trent’s excellent delivery with a few seconds left on the clock. 2-1 to the good guys.
Next up is the short trip to Burnley on Wednesday night; three points really is essential now if we are to have any chance whatsoever of grabbing fourth spot.
MOTM: Those good people at Stobi vineyard in North Macedonia. Yes, you read that right. The region produces some excellent wines and they represent terrific value; try their Vranec 2019 Tikves, which is available for a bargain nine quid.
