Tottenham 1, West Brom 0: Chris Lepkowski's big match verdict

May 4 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

They hit the post – that was Marc-Antoine Fortuné – they had efforts cleared off the line, ask Shelton Martis, and saw other attempts saved by Heurelho Gomes, who has chosen Albion to produce two of his best performances this season.

The Baggies shortcomings have been obvious all season. They pass the ball around sweetly, impress neutrals and rival managers. Where Albion slip down is defensively, where a mistake is easily punished.

Up front they had changes. Not a problem against Manchester City, Portsmouth or Sunderland – seven goals converted – but they needed one on Saturday and it never came.

Not enough cutting edge.

Fortuné perservered up front. His work-rate is exceptional and while he drags players out of position, allowing those behind him to run into space, his ratio of shots to goals just isn’t good enough when the midfield have been generally short on goals.

Albion’s biggest threat on Saturday came from set-pieces. Jonas Olsson’s header was pushed away, while Martis watched his effort cleared off the line.

Robert Koren’s deflected shot went close too.

The Baggies can pass the ball around but they lack the individual brilliance which turns pretty football into winning point-scoring football.

If they were a functional, direct side then this wouldn’t be a problem. But as a side who play the game properly, they need occasional inspiration from certain players – and that’s where they’ve been let down.

There were positives on Saturday. Defenders Olsson and Martis, costing a combined total of £850,000, kept strikers whose value is slightly more, subdued.

Gianni Zuiverloon is starting to perform as he was when the sun shone in August. Borja Valero, back in the side, was tidy and composed. Jonathan Greening and Koren were sporadic alongside him, while Chris Brunt started the game on the right, moved inside and was often involved in Albion’s best moves.

Youssouf Mulumbu, too, settled quickly enough but faded. His enthusiasm was promising and he showed an understanding of how the game unfolded around him. Whether he’s good enough for the Premier League has become an irrelevance. Saturday’s game suggested that Albion, had they invested just a little more during the season on a goalscorer, might have been able to make their dominance count.

A bit more ambition from the very top might have given Albion another bite of the golden apple. They outplayed a side who are still hoping for a place in Europe.

Next season they’ll be facing challenges of a different sort.