[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

For the third time in little over a month, Ryan Mason again finds himself in the position of requiring a win tonight to shore up a position which looks less and less tenable with every passing week. The squad's inherent weaknesses and limitations are probably his best defence against criticism, along with the eight-point cushion against relegation; we do, astonishingly, remain marginally closer to the playoffs as things stand. But the fact that we seem to end every match with the team we should have started with, either frantically chasing a game we blew in the first half or desperately defending an advantage gained during an all-too-brief spell of dominance, doesn't indicate high levels of strategic genius operating behind the scenes. And it's hard to shake the feeling that it's getting worse, not better.

It's highly likely that tonight's visitors Sheffield United will be a tougher nut than either Swansea or Oxford before them. Unbeaten in six - four of them consecutive wins - they're looking a lot more like the team everyone expected to show up this season. For Albion, the continuing absence of Collyer and Wallace is augmented by doubts over Mowatt, leaving Molumby and Diakite to run the engine room. There are unquestionably goals in the side, but unfortunately they're coming at both ends right now, and one more freely than the other. With Tyrese Campbell and Patrick Bamford on hand to swiftly punish any prannying about at the back, Albion simply can't afford to go behind in this one as we have so often recently.

It's not an encounter I'd choose to have my job riding on, but here we are. Mason has made plenty of poor decisions to bring himself to this point, and after getting quite lucky with the previous two must-win games, I suppose we'll see whether third time isn't the charm.

[drewks]

Yeah, nicely put, Ska'd..... an awful lot of sense there yet again, regarding the worrying selections, ultra-slow starts, farting around at the back, etc etc.
New Year, new broom?

[baggietrousers]

Jeez, Griffiths must have really f$&ked somewhere if he can’t get back into that team!

[themaclad]

First ten minutes you were all over the place, personal view, Johnston far more dangerous on left wing

This will be won by the side who defends better

[Arcane Astral Aeons]

we only show up in one half
that wasnt it

very poor and i`m being polite

[themaclad]

And now 2 up

[Arcane Astral Aeons]

did not expect that at half time

[drewks]

And now 2 up

Fantastic! I, for 1, didn't see this coming!
Let's hope we can keep on the front foot and not try and defend the lead.....

---

Wooohooo.... 2-0 full time!
Sounds like a good 2nd half, at least

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

In most ways I think it was the usual Albion performance we've got used to, but crucially, the Blades didn't take advantage of all the clueless sideways passing at the back during the first quarter of an hour that's put other teams 2-0 or 3-0 up and given us a mountain to climb. Roaring out of the blocks in the second half still at 0-0, we're always good for a couple of goals, and got away with sitting back to defend the lead for the last 15 minutes this time round. Definitely helped us that the Blades stuck with playing a high line even when we were getting in behind them time and time again; massive credit to Heggebo as always, he's a real asset we need to hang on to.

Not convinced it'll work out like that every week, but relieved we can still grind out a good win against a form team at home.

[Slick_Footwork]

Satisfying to win by more than a goal for the first time this season.

Being honest, I think the result flattered us. First half was dreadfully short of quality. We did our best to hand them a goal, as usual, but luckily they couldn't finish.

Second half we started well and scored. I have to priase George Campbell, who has had some flack from the fans but looks a decent acqusition for the money IMO. Great cross for the first goal and a superb ball into Heggebo for the second.

The positive was that after we scored we kept going forward. I thought the second the goal was a bit fortunate though, as most referees would've given a foul by Grant.

I also thought we were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Mulumby went through their player in the box. No idea what he did that as he could've just jockeyed and sent him away from goal. But we know he suffers from at least one rush of blood every game. Luckily the referee thought he won the ball and missed that he went through the player first.

Our big problem for me is the centre of the park. Is there any midfield trio in the league as bad as Mulumby, Diakite and Price? They don't offer good protection, can't play, can't create. Mulumby is the pick of the bunch and that says a lot. Diakite just doesn't look like a footballer at all, he's not athletic, can't pass, overplays in the wrong areas. We've been carrying Price from an attacking point of view for weeks now. Luckily our wingers and forward are actually decent. I think the answer is dropping Price for Illing-Junior and moving Johnston into the 10. But Mason seems blind to Price's lack of quality and the fact that he keeps playing backwards, putting us under pressure, even when forward passes are on.

So yea, happy with the result, but I think it kind of papers over the cracks to be honest. Sometimes you get a bit of fortune on your side and today was one of those days.