With positivity at an all-time high following the Albion’s dramatic FA Cup victory over Miiiiiiiiiillllllllwall, attention turned back to the league and Southampton at home. A very, very big game in the context of our season as a whole; win, and safety would be within our grasp. A loss, and we’d be looking nervously over our shoulders once again. After the lull and quiet of the International break, the fans were ready for the Albion adventure to explode into life again - it was time to begin a frantic period of 8 games in just 4 weeks.
Team news in, and just one change. Relatively expected, Bissouma in for Kayal. ‘Prince of Persia’ Alireza Jahanbakhsh keeping his place after an underwhelming outing at the Den. I, along with several million Iranian fans, desperately hoped for him to show his ability. There’s a player in there, I’m sure of it.
The game underway, and a uneventful opening, both teams struggling to build meaningful possession. A decent press from the Albion, and a needless corner is conceded by Højbjerg. The ball finds its way to Ali J, whose miscued effort bounces wide harmlessly.
Quarter of an hour gone, and the first booking - Dale Stephens yanking back Højbjerg as the Saints captain threatened to break from his own half. On balance, maybe worth taking one for the team, but now Dale would have to walk the suspension tightrope for the remainder of the fixture. Not ideal.
The away side were looking increasingly purposeful, desperate for points to drag them away from danger. Like Albion, however, they were struggling to create clear chances. A sharp shot on the angle from the lively Nathan Redmond an early test for Ryan, who dealt with the shot comfortably.
Akin to his boot change away at Leicester a few weeks prior, Murray was dissatisfied with his match attire once again, opting to remove his undershirt. Maybe the change needed to spark Albion into life. Meanwhile, Bissouma was looking the most likely to make something happen for the home side and almost set up Jahanbakhsh for his first Albion goal. Driving down the right and into the area - his pullback cut out before Ali J could sweep the ball home. Better Albion, better.
30 minutes played, and the Mali international works some space on the edge of the box, always looking to shoot. Yves sizes it up, and drags the ball wastefully wide- he’s fuming, slapping the ground in frustration.
Then suddenly, a huge let-off as Ings breaks free in the area. The Liverpool loanee sizes up the target from 12 yards and fires the ball at goal- a huge block from the lunging Bernardo. Not long after, a repeat scenario. Saints break again after Stephens is dispossessed too easily, Redmond getting another chance to run at the Seagulls backline. The ball is lifted back to Armstrong, who takes the ball down, but his shot is smothered by a combination of Dunk and Bernardo. Come on Albion, get a grip. At present, the game pretty much there for the taking from a Southampton perspective.
As the half drew to a close, one more big chance for the visitors: Redmond again, causing problems as he’s fed in by Ings, a fierce drive, but wide without troubling Maty Ryan. Half time please, Mr Oliver!
Our referee obliges, finally putting us out of our misery. The game so poor, so ponderous, you wouldn’t be forgiven for thinking you’d accidentally stumbled into a Championship vs League 1 friendly game. In short, well, pretty rubbish really. Not much to discuss or distil, all to do is hope for a huge improvement.
The game gets back underway, with the expectation that SURELY, it can’t be as bad as the previous 45 minutes. Impressively, Albion set about this hugely significant encounter even worse.
Bissouma, so promising in the first half, caught in possession, and Southampton break for the umpteenth time. This time, making it count. Redmond again the creative force, carrying the ball and releasing captain Højbjerg. The impressive Dane makes no mistake, lifting the ball past the onrushing Ryan. After making it to the break unscathed, Hughton must have been furious. Time to wake up, Albion. We need something from today.
Knockaert looks to drag Albion level, cutting inside a la Palace, but curls the ball harmlessly wide. At the other end, Bertrand finds himself in space and drives a shot at goal, smartly averted by Dunk. A fixture finely poised, March enters the frame - here’s hoping for a Millwall style impact. Maybe without conceding a second goal, though.
Then finally, the home side remember how to play football. First March does well down the left and pulls the ball back for Murray, but Glenn’s close-range effort is blocked by Yoshida. Then Montoya picks the ball in an advanced position, the crowd baying him to send in a cross. The Spaniard ignores the calls to delivery the ball, cuts inside onto his left, and thrashes the ball towards the top corner...AGAINST THE BAR!! No sooner was the ball hacked away, it was back again, Albion were finally starting to build some concerted pressure. It’s lifted in high, and as the unfortunate David Martin did last week, Gunn inexplicably drops it. It falls to Pröpper, the goal empty. The Dutchman shapes to rifle it home, but can only slice at it under the close attention of Højbjerg, completely missing the ball. The home crowd holler for a penalty, nothing given. Looked incriminating, but on replay, it probably would have been harsh.
That’s Pröpper’s last action of the day, as Jürgen Locadia enters the frame in his place. Bissouma lofts one to the back post, but it's volleyed into the side netting by Bernardo. Had to head the ball back across! Pressure building more and more, a free kick is won by Duffy as he smartly avoids the Southampton press. AK swings it in, and Duffy himself lunges at it, toeing the ball towards goal. Surely! Just not enough on it from the Irishman, as his effort bounces favourably straight into Gunn’s grasp.
Into the last 5 minutes of regular time, Stephens fizzes the ball into Locadia, who turns well, but his effort is just too close to the keeper. All Albion now, but too little, too late? Certainly, the opening 68 or so minutes warranted no reward, but now Duffy was assigned to the centre forward role to try and force an undeserved point.
The expected aerial onslaught just didn’t come. Slow, ponderous and nervous passing at the wrong end of the pitch-Shane Duffy absolutely fuming that the ball wasn’t launched long. The icing on the cake: Murray managing to find himself offside from an Albion corner, the final action of the game. Really, really poor.
Undoubtedly, this was a team with another game on their mind. Worse still, we’ve still another game to play before that highly anticipated semi-final. Yes, we’d love a chance at FA Cup glory, but we cannot afford to neglect the league.
What’s clear, is the Bournemouth, Cardiff and Newcastle games, are now all absolutely MASSIVE. Let’s keep the faith - a bad day today, the players let us down, but that doesn’t happen often. They will need us to roar them over the line.
Still, as always, it could be worse:
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