SKY BLUES 0 – 4 W BA

What a difference from the last international break, when we had the sight of the Sky Blues sitting proudly atop of the Championship for two weeks, following last nights debacle, I would imagine Mr Dowie can’t wait for the next game, to attempt to put the record straight. For this was a miserable second half performance from City, with all the endeavour, so readily in evidence this season, sadly missing in all areas of the pitch.

Lets clear up the “Big Decision” first, Michael Mifsud led with his elbow and can have no complaints about the decision to be shown a straight red card, the fact that the referee deliberated so long before producing it, only managed to cloud what was a very easy decision to make. What followed, in the first half at least, showed what a spirited bunch of players the manager has at his disposal? The second half however, provided a different story altogether, with the defence pulled apart, almost at will and the tracking back tailing off, allowing a good Albion team, to look like World Beaters.

We started brightly again, hitting passes to feet and looking to use the width and pace of the little Mosquito whenever possible, but all that changed on 10 minutes when, for reasons only known to him, Mifsud had a rush of blood and got himself sent off. City adapted well and, to be fair, looked the better side, but endeavour will get you so far in football and although we held our own, we rarely looked like taking the lead. Whilst at the other end, big Dimi did well to push a Teixeira shot over the bar for a corner. HT 0 – 0

The Baggies came out for the second half looking like a different team, Tony Mowbray had obviously instilled into his charges that the way to play against 10 men, is to keep the ball and look for the gaps. It worked to a tee, with gaps aplenty for the visitors to play in to. Dowie made one change at the break himself, removing the languid Leon Best, who he replaced with Kevin Kyle.

On 55 minutes the visitors took the lead, a ball was knocked inside Isaac Osbourne into the path of onrushing Paul Robinson. The fullback placed a deft chip over the advancing Dimi, to the delight of the boinging away fans. It would have been nice if we had tightened things up for 5 – 10 minutes, but two minutes later it was 2 – 0. This time the little Portuguese Star nipped in between the hesitant DeZeeuw & Turner to blast past the startled City Keeper.

The home players heads seemed to Palpably drop after this goal, with all the hard work looking like it would count for nought, Leon McKenzie replaced the tiring Adebola, but not before Albion had made it three. On 72 minutes Teixeira found a bit of space inside the box, then manoeuvred himself into a position to place a shot past Bid Dimi again. By now all signs of resistance had fallen away, allowing Jonathan Greening plenty of time to dictate the play, passing the ball, at will to his team-mates, in all areas of the park.

With time almost up, and most City fans having made their way to the exits, the visitors scored a fourth. This time Teixeira crossed for Koren to tap into an empty net and City’s embarrassment was complete. That’s 10 goals conceded against three promotion hopeful’s, without a goal to call our own. If ever a takeover was needed, it is now well overdue at the Ricoh Arena.

GT M.O.M.

Michael Doyle

Player Ratings:

6 ……. Dimi

5 ……. Hall

5 ……. DeZeeuw

5 ……. Turner

5 ……. Osbourne

2 ……. Mifsud

6 ……. Doyle

6 ……. Hughes

6 ……. Tabb

5 ……. Adebola

4 ……. Bestwe H