West Bromwich Albion 1 Bolton 1: Chris Lepkowski's big match verdict

Mar 23 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

SOMETIMES you don’t need to be told.

If the result and league table wasn’t enough you only had to see the reaction on the pitch to realise that Albion’s fate looks bleak.

The Baggies aren’t relegated.

There is no ‘R’ by their name.

They still have several Premier League games to go.

But it would take an optimist of magnificent proportions to say otherwise.

At least two players slumped to the ground at the final whistle.

More probably felt like it.

Robert Koren and Scott Carson did their best to convince the media afterwards that the sequel to the Great Escape is on. Nice try lads.

Tony Mowbray abandoned two of his defenders for midfielders in a bid to squeeze the life out of Bolton late on after Matt Taylor gave the visitors the lead.

Yet Saturday’s result merely squeezes the energy and life out of Albion’s survival push.

Bolton took the lead in the second half when a long Jussi Jaaskelainen free-kick was headed out of the area by Jonas Olsson.

Taylor, in the right place at the right time – unmarked too as it happens – smashed a low shot past the impressive Carson.

But Albion hit back.

Mowbray went for an unconventional 2-6-2 formation where his midfield ‘six’ effectively flowed around the pitch assuming defensive and attacking responsibilities when appropriate.

It only half-worked. Koren struck a low shot which hit Danny Shittu and went past Jaaskelainen. It was the nearest Jaaskelainen had to make a save all afternoon.

Jay Simpson was woeful, while Marc-Antoine Fortuné faded. Graham Dorrans, so influential and effective against West Ham, spent most of the game on the bench.

Would he have made a difference? Who knows?