West Brom 3, Reading 1: Chris Lepkowski's big match verdict

Oct 19 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

IF JEREMY Peace could pick a promotion-winning side – this would probably be it.

The Baggies chairman does, of course, have no say in team selection or such matters.

But I would hazard a guess that he likes a bargain or two.

I imagine he’d rather travel second class than first class – you won’t get there any quicker either way – drinks supermarket-own coffee, rather than the expensive stuff, and may even buy his clothes at Primark, rather than Selfridges. Or maybe not.

Yet a quick look at the star men of Albion’s win against Reading would have been a dream for him, or indeed any chairman in the league.

Graham Dorrans, who cost £100,000, ran the show from the middle and almost scored from the halfway line.

Two of the goals were scored by Jerome Thomas – a player who turned down the not-so-infectious charm of crooning Hull manager Phil Brown and opted against the narrow pitch of Molineux.

The third goal for Albion was hammered in by Youssouf Mulumbu, who cost a whopping £175,000 from Paris Saint Germain. The French club must surely be wondering why they didn’t add a zero to the end – or indeed why they ever allowed him to leave in the first place.

At the back, Gonzalo Jara marshalled Albion’s defence with the quality and confidence of a man who has occupied that position for months, although it was only his first match in that role – his fourth different position since making his debut five games ago. He cost slightly more, around £1.4 million.

Playing a supporting role was Chris Wood, aged 17, who came through the academy. Cost? No cost. Though his value keeps soaring.

Roberto Di Matteo’s men needed Saturday’s victory. Of course, Albion don’t always conform to logic. Not since the end of August have they scored the first goal at The Hawthorns, with Reading doing so when the Baggies allowed a free-kick to go unchallenged.

Matthew Mills headed it past Scott Carson – a goal which neither the Baggies goalkeeper nor his defence will want to see again. It was a mere training ground drill in reality.

The injury to Roman Bednar seemingly didn’t help matters. The Czech international’s back went into spasm after he was clattered a couple of times. His departure gave Wood an earlier-than-expected introduction.

Thomas lacked impact during an early spell on the right wing and was swiftly despatched on to the left, swapping with Marek Cech. It was there that he had a more productive afternoon. He completely tore into ex-Albion loanee Shaun Cummings, who was unable to cope with his tormentor-in-chief’s power, speed and, mostly, his footwork.