West Brom 0 Newcastle United 0: A game of some spirit, if little quality, saw West Brom effectively reduce Newcastle to their own level last night. In so doing they deservedly secured a point, their third in as many games during a holiday period in which they have shown they do not intend to go down without a fight.
On Sunday Newcastle had won their first game in seven, beating Birmingham City with a 4-3-2-1 featuring Shola Ameobi at the top of the black-and-white Christmas tree. It pleased both fans and players, though the manager Graeme Souness was dismissive, suggesting any improvement was down to individuals trying harder rather than any change in tactics. It was notable, however, that he deployed a similar system last night.
Souness, with his side shorn of three world-class strikers through injury, will perhaps be the more relieved to have gained this point. But his side are still in the wrong half of the table in 13th, and more importantly a mammoth 14 points off the Champions League placing they desperately require.
Following Crystal Palace's victory over Aston Villa, Albion started six points adrift of safety, and with games against all the other relegation contenders coming up, their manager Bryan Robson decided to go for broke by fielding three forwards.
Brave to the point of recklesness, but at least it guaranteed an open game. Open, that is, as far as the Albion midfield were concerned, because in the first 30 minutes Newcastle cut through them at will.
The result was a series of chances, the first of which was the clear header Albion allowed Titus Bramble from Olivier Bernard's free-kick. The heavy defender should have beaten Russell Hoult.
A minute later Lee Bowyer put a half-volley from just inside the area over Hoult's bar, and then Ameobi thumped a low drive into the goalkeeper's stomach, but successive draws had boosted Albion's self-belief, and they defended with spirit.
They appeared to have absorbed the worst of the storm when Newcastle almost opened the scoring, a 25-yard shot from Bowyer hitting the outside of Hoult's right-hand post. The rebound fell for Robert, but Hoult recovered quickly to save the Frenchman's effort.
If that was luck for Albion, they almost got another break shortly before half-time when a Kanu effort hit Earnshaw and almost sneaked inside Shay Given's right-hand post. With Jason Koumas, perhaps the only player at the club capable of giving Albion some sort of midfield direction, confined to the role of permanently warming-up substitute, Newcastle continued to dominate possession.
As long as they failed to produce an end-product, however, Albion and Robson were happy enough for the game to deteriorate.
Ten minutes into the second half, Horsfield wrestled himself clear in the penalty area but failed to beat Given, but it was a rare threat from a home team playing on the break.
Souness brought on James Milner for Charles N'Zogbia, and the former Leeds player almost made a goal with his first touch, a cross from the right which Ameobi could not direct past Hoult. Encouraged, West Brom redoubled their efforts, snapping into tackles all over the field.
WEST BROM: Hoult, Albrechtsen, Purse, Clement, Robinson, Scimeca, Johnson, Wallwork, Earnshaw, Horsfield, Kanu (Gera 83). Subs Not Used: Koumas, Contra, Gaardsoe, Kuszczak. Booked: Johnson, Purse.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Taylor, Bramble, Hughes, Bernard, N'Zogbia (Milner 76), Bowyer, Dyer, Jenas, Robert, Ameobi. Subs Not Used: Andrew O'Brien, Ambrose, Brittain, Harper.
Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).
