User tools SmallNormal Text SizeLargePrintBookmark the SiteEmail this Page
WBA vs Norwich City
 2 - 0 
Date: 
27/10/2007
Venue: 
The Hawthorns
Attendance: 
20247
Referee: 
P Joslin

DEADLY duo Ishmael Miller and Kevin Phillips netted in each half to fire Albion to back-to-back home wins inside four days.

Just like against Blackpool on Tuesday, powerhouse Miller opened the scoring with his sixth goal in seven games in the 16th minute before Phillips wrapped up a comfortable win six minutes after the break.

The two-goal salvo took Miller and Phillips' combined tally to an impressive 16 - netting eight apiece - and sentenced basement boys Norwich to a fourth consecutive defeat.

The victory made it 19 points out of a possible 21 at The Hawthorns this term and was the perfect fillip ahead of Saturday's tough trip to leaders Watford.

Tony Mowbray made one change to his starting XI by recalling Robert Koren to midfield in place of Filipe Teixeira. Striker Craig Beattie also shook off a virus to return to the bench.

Baggies striker John Hartson was ineligible for this clash between the Championship's fourth and bottom-placed clubs under the terms of his loan move to Carrow Road.

Norwich arrived in the Black Country on the back of a miserable run of seven defeats in their last eight games and were soon put under the cosh.

From a swift breakaway move, skipper Jonathan Greening bamboozled two defenders in the box with an audacious turn before seeing his goalbound drive blocked by Ian Murray.

The rebound fell invitingly for Miller 15 yards out and he was also denied by another last-gasp challenge, this time from Michael Spillane.

From Chris Brunt's ensuing corner, Martin Albrechtsen towered at the far post to head goalwards but saw his effort fly straight at Canaries keeper David Marshall.

Seconds later, in-form James Morrison sent Miller clear with a perfectly measured throughball but the on-loan Manchester City striker could only fire horribly wide from an acute angle. A pass to unmarked strike partner Phillips would have been the wiser option.

City right-back Jon Otsemobor then had to risk life and limb to block Miller's goalbound header after Morrison had whipped in a short corner.

The relentless Baggies pressure continued and Marshall had to be alert to tip over Phillips' 30-yard piledriver.

Greening whipped in the corner and Albrechtsen was unlucky to see his diving far post header fly into the side-netting.

Mowbray's men were piling forward at will and Miller saw a fierce drive deflect off a Norwich defender and fly straight at Marshall.

To say a goal had been coming would be the ultimate understatement - and it duly arrived in the 16th minute.

Bostjan Cesar soared at the far post to head Greening's deep corner back into the danger-zone and Miller headed home his third goal in as many games from inside the six-yard box.

Albion refused to rest on their laurels and were soon back on the attack.

Morrison and Miller combined brilliantly to thread in Phillips who tried his luck from 20 yards, instead of advancing on goal, and fired well wide.

As Baggies No.1 Dean Kiely remained untroubled, the hosts went agonisingly close again in the 33rd minute.

Paul Robinson's deflected header from yet another Greening flag-kick was cleared from right underneath his own crossbar by City midfielder Darel Russell.

With Norwich yet to record an effort on goal, the Baggies created their own problems in the 35th minute when Kiely saw a routine clearance blocked by Jamie Cureton.

Thankfully for the Albion keeper, the ball looped harmlessly back into the box, allowing the ex-Ireland international to gather comfortably.

Back came Albion and after Koren's deflected shot squirmed perfectly into Phillips' path inside the box, Jason Shackell's last-ditch challenge denied the pint-sized striker a certain goal.

Phillips then looked certain to score when he headed Greening's corner goalwards - only for Simon Lappin to again clear off the line.

The busy Marshall had to pull off a smart near-post save to keep out Brunt's stinging drive before Miller fired another presentable chance over.

City didn't record their first shot until the first minute of stoppage time when Murray volleyed well wide from 20 yards.

Albion picked up from where they left off after the break and Phillips was left ruing the fact he didn't shoot first time from Carl Hoefkens' low cross into the six-yard box, allowing Murray to clear.

Norwich briefly threatened to spoil the party when Albrechtsen had to frantically hack away Cureton's dangerous low centre before Darren Huckerby fired just wide from 20 yards.

But Mowbray's men surged straight upfield and made it 2-0 in the 51st minute.

Miller broke down the left and found the unmarked Phillips at the far post who stooped to head into the empty net.

Albion pressed for a killer third goal and Lappin was again in the right place to pull off another goalline clearance to deny Miller's powerful header from Morrison's corner.

Norwich enjoyed a mini spell of pressure which began with a powerful Huckerby run. From the ex-Coventry winger's lay-off, Robinson saved Albion's bacon by throwing himself in the way of Chris Martin's 15-yard drive.

Albion failed to properly clear the following corner and were relieved to see Jimmy Smith head Lappin's deep cross weakly wide.

After Miller had toe-poked the ball straight at Marshall from a promising position, Norwich charged upfield and Cureton recorded the visitors' first shot on target when he volleyed Smith's forward header weakly at Kiely.

This action-packed encounter endured its first lull before Phillips almost made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute.

Sub Teixeira found the ex-Sunderland striker with a clever throughball and the 34-year-old was denied by Marshall's stunning point-blank save.

ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; Hoefkens, Albrechtsen, Cesar, Robinson; Brunt (Teixeira 60), Koren, Greening, Morrison (Gera 60); Miller (Beattie 76), Phillips. Subs not used: Pele, MacDonald.

NORWICH (4-4-2): Marshall; Otsemobor, Shackell, Murray, Lappin; Cureton (Croft 76), Russell, Smith (Chadwick 80), Huckerby; Spillane, Martin. Subs not used: Gilks (gk), Strihavka, Jarvis.

GOALS: ALBION - Miller (16), Phillips (51).

BOOKINGS: NORWICH - Spillane (foul 47), Murray (foul 55).

REFEREE: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).

ATTENDANCE: 20,247.

ALBION STARMAN: Jonathan Greening.

PIC: MILLER TIME...Ishmael heads Albion in front against Norwich

Bet365

Ishmael Miller
Deadly duo Miller and Phillips down Canaries
 Match Information
 
  West Brom Norwich
Goals : 2 0
Possession : 54% 46%
Shots On Target : 14 3
Shots Off Target : 7 3
Corners : 11 6
Fouls : 9 10
Most Fouls : Hoefkens (1) Russell (3)
Yellow Cards : 0 2
Red Cards : 0 0
 
Scorers :
Miller 16
Phillips 51
 Latest Articles
Read 02.12.2008 This week we catch up with the young Baggies pro
Read 25.11.2008 This week we catch up with Baggies young gun
Read 18.11.2008 Northern Ireland ace lets us into his life
Read 11.11.2008 This week we catch up with Head of UK Recruitment
Read 04.11.2008 This week we catch up with the Scotland international
Read 28.10.2008 This week we catch up with Korea Republic international
Read 21.10.2008 Find out the likes and dislikes of Albion's Mr Versatile
Read 14.10.2008 We get an insight into the life of the U21 international
Read 07.10.2008 Midfield dynamo gives us an insight into his life
Read 30.09.2008 Get up close and personal with Albion's record signing
 News Archive
Display Stories From Week

West Bromwich Albion business finder is powered by city-visitor.com

All materials on this website © West Bromwich Albion Football Club & FL Interactive Ltd.

Photographs courtesy of Empics ©

Part of the
Official Football Sites network

Company Details


All rights reserved save as per website Terms of UsePrivacy Statement.

For all advertising and sponsorship enquiries, please click here