Bristol Rovers 0 Albion 1

Jul 18 2006 By Chris Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

DARREN Carter smashed a late winner in balmy Bristol as Albion made heavy weather of their League Two opponents.

The Baggies midfielder latched onto trialist Michael Nardiello's low 88th-minute cross to ensure Albion's victory at Memorial Ground on a night that was more suited for drinking chilled West Country cider, not watching non-competitive football.

Rovers had plenty of chances to win the game, which was played in unbearable conditions and stopped twice, on 23 minutes and 67 minutes, to allow players to rehydrate.

There were few positives for Bryan Robson, apart from the performances of Tomasz Kuszczak, Zoltan Gera and Curtis Davies.

All three are being strongly linked with moves away from The Hawthorns, but the trio underlined their importance to Albion's promotion hopes with accomplished displays.

Manchester United target Kuszczak - ironically, wearing a red shirt, white shorts and black socks - had an excellent game, producing a number of stunning saves to deny the home side.

The pick of the bunch came from Richard Walker's 12th-minute shot, which was parried away by the Pole and kept out a second time as the Rovers man followed up with a goalbound header.

Gera showed flashes of skill and looked like the player Albion had so badly missed last season. And he did so in a central attacking position, which may end up being his regular berth if he sticks around at B71.

Davies overcame a groin problem and the distracting backdrop of big money bids to produce a smooth, classy display. Although the Rovers forward line was far from potent, Davies and Chris Perry showed plenty of promise as a defensive partnership.

But that was as good as it got. Rovers looked sharper and were given too much space by the Albion midfield. Junior Agogo was particularly wasteful in front of goal, with Kuszczak needing to play his part too.

At the other end, although Carter's overall performance was far from memorable, his ability to make well-timed runs into the penalty area was effective and reminiscent of his style of play at Blues and Sunderland - something he didn't do often enough for Albion last season.

His goal at the end was perhaps harsh on Rovers, but Robson will not be complaining as his men continued their three-match unbeaten pre-season run.

It may mean nothing now, but wins breed confidence. And Albion still have last season's bad memories to bury once and for all.

BRISTOL ROVERS (4-4-2): Shearer, Lescott, Hinton, Elliott, Carruthers, Igoe, Hunt, Disley, Campbell (Sandell, 77), Agogo (Haldane, 67), Walker.
ALBION (4-4-2): Kuszczak, Hodgkiss, Watson (Perry, ht), Forsyth (C Davies, ht), Albrechtsen, Chaplow, R Davies, Inamoto, Carter, Elvins (Nardiello, 55), Gera (Ellington, 55).

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