West Brom 4, Bristol City 1: Chris Lepkowski's big match verdict

Nov 23 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

IN A bizarre way you have to feel sorry for Roberto Di Matteo.

Consider the expectation.

Here’s a man who arrived at The Hawthorns in the summer with no previous affiliation with Albion or feel for the club’s culture.

And why should he? When he came to England to play for Chelsea during the 1990s Albion were a mess.

To outsiders they were an old Second Division club, low on joy, devoid of inspiration, with a giant drip tray trying to gather up the monies leaking from all places.

And then along came the Baggies’ resurgence.

There was the drama of the 2002 promotion campaign, which owed a lot to determination, persistence and end-of-season cliffhangers. That was followed by the pragmatic, no-thrills second place in 2004. Both celebrated. Both very much of their time.

Tony Mowbray then submitted his own entry to the “how to win promotion” manual with a masterclass in ball retention and the need to outscore, mainly because he failed to stop them from conceding.

All of this means Albion fans have promotion absorbed into their blood. It’s become a cycle. This decade will only be appreciated in many years time, even though it’s been a ten-year journey based around adrenalin, with a bit of apprehension and occasional fear.

Where Gary Megson’s team rolled up their sleeves, Mowbray’s rolled them back down and played with a maverick disregard for conformity.

And Saturday’s victory against Bristol City summed up their strengths under Di Matteo.

With Mowbray, there was an emphasis on keeping the ball. Play would often be stretched out across the pitch. It was pretty. But, occasionally, also pretty useless. Championship sides struggled to defend against it, yet Albion struggled to defend against opponents’ physicality.

Relegated Leicester conceded six fewer goals than title winners Albion in 2008. This frailty was never addressed.

These days Albion don’t delay. The ball is played with more purpose and there is more activity in the final third where they try to close deals with a great deal more urgency.