West Brom 1, Blackburn 3: Birmingham Mail big match verdict

Dec 29 2010 by Gregg Evans, Birmingham Mail

THEY’RE delightful on the eye, they dominate games and play football the way it should be played, but there’s still something missing at Albion.

A host of wasted chances again prevented the Baggies from getting something from a game that was there for the taking.

Roberto Di Matteo will be left scratching his head as to why they have taken nothing from two festive games that they controlled for long periods.

Against Bolton they were the better side for the majority of the match but couldn’t stick the ball in the net.

Yesterday, with the exception of Jerome Thomas’ first-half goal, it was the same.

Next up for Albion are Manchester United so it’s not going to get any easier.

Early-season success has left expectations high at The Hawthorns but it’s starting to become a struggle.

Make no mistake, there was no-one at the club who thought this season was going to be easy, but three defeats on the bounce has left Albion nervously looking over their shoulders.

This game was one that many had earmarked for victory but it all went wrong after just two minutes.

For Blackburn it started perfectly as they showed their hosts how to succeed at the smash-and-grab approach.

Morten Gamst Pedersen played a delightful ball to Nikola Kalinic, who burst through the sluggish Albion backline to cooly finish.

It was a bitter blow for Di Matteo’s men, but they were quick to react. On nine minutes Paul Robinson came to Rovers’ rescue when he tipped Graham Dorrans’ strike around the post.

Peter Odemwingie put the young Scot through and he looked certain to open his account for the season but the former England keeper was equal to his effort.

Kalinic looked dangerous up front and, after Paul Scharner failed to clear his lines, the Croatian curled a shot just over.