West Bromwich Albion 3 West Ham United 2

Sep 15 2008 by Chris Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

WINNING is not everything, but wanting to win is - legendary American Football coach Vince Lombardi might have had Albion in mind when he uttered one of his most famous phrases, although he wasn’t to know that at the time.

Albion have shown plenty of spirit in recent weeks with no rewards.

They’ve been told they can’t score enough goals and that they lack the quality to stay up.

That might yet prove to be the case but they are showing a commendable determination in the process.

We all know Tony Mowbray’s side can play teams off the park, create chances and occasionally drift off defensively.

But this side is showing a resilience, passion and desire which, combined with good passing football, did for West Ham’s chances of taking a victory.

At times the Londoners looked as pitiful as the claret patches which had been sewn over their sponsor’s logo, yet the quality they possessed tested Albion’s steel and defensive capabilities.

The Baggies were not as smooth or cohesive as in recent weeks. In some ways you could argue it was their weakest league performance of the campaign so far.

But the hunger and desire remained. Albion willed themselves towards victory.

With that being the case it was vital that chances were tucked away. And they were.

It took just three minutes for James Morrison to nod in Albion’s first goal from open play this season when he raced in to meet Borja Valero’s cross.

It can’t have been comfortable viewing for new West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola, who simply slid down into his seat in the directors’ box. The horror of conceding a goal, from open play, to Albion was apparently too much.

Dean Ashton, surely made of glass, lasted just 20 minutes before being forced into an early retirement through injury and was replaced by David di Michele, who was to cause problems for Albion’s defence throughout.

It was his 29th-minute header which brought a save from Scott Carson. As the loose ball dropped in the box Mark Noble managed to squeeze a shot past the stranded keeper.

Seven minutes later Albion’s defence stood and watched again.

This time Matthew Upson’s header from a corner fell for Lucas Neill, who was left unmarked. The West Ham defender placed his shot into the roof of the net despite being surrounded by blue-and-white-striped shirts.

Albion replied within a minute when Leon Barnett was brought down by Robert Green as he challenged for a ball following an Albion free-kick. Roman Bednar scored from the spot for the second time this season.

And it was Chris Brunt - scorer of Albion’s promotion-clinching goal - who ensured the win seven minutes from time when he converted a well-placed shot following a quick break-away involing Jonas Olsson, Luke Moore, Robert Koren and Paul Robinson.

Individual performances contributed to Albion’s victory.

Olsson, playing his first game at centre-half, didn’t even know the names of some his new team-mates before the game.

The Swede performed well. He asserted his authority early on with some crunching challenges but also showed poise and an ability to bring the ball out without the need to swing his leg back and hope the clearance would find an Albion shirt. Olsson needed to be ready as the right-hand side of Albion’s defence struggled during the opening half, forcing him to cover more than he should have been.

It helped that behind him Carson was on top form. He produced three vital saves to deny Ashton, Di Michele and Scott Parker. He was assertive and confident - looking every bit the keeper who was rated at £8million as recently as a year ago. Albion might have picked him up in football’s equivalent of a half-price sale but it’s already looking money well spent.

In midfield Albion handed a full Hawthorns’ debut to Borja. The Spaniard occupied the role he occasionally filled at Real Mallorca, playing relatively deep but bringing others into play with great vision and a range of passing skills. Long balls, short passes - few were wasted by Borja, who perhaps isn’t the obvious choice to play in that holding midfield role but nevertheless performed well.

Albion were a little fortunate in that West Ham didn’t take their chances - why caretaker boss Kevin Keen opted to keep Craig Bellamy on the bench is anyone’s guess - but the Baggies thoroughly deserved their first victory.

It certainly eases some of the pressure going into Sunday’s derby against Villa.