Premier League - Baggies bow out with goalless draw

Eurosport - Mon, 25 May 08:23:00 2009

West Bromich Albion missed a host of chances to beat 10 man Blackburn Rovers as their Premier League campaign came to an end with a goalless draw at Ewood Park.

FOOTBALL West Brom Mowbray - 0

On an afternoon where both sets of fans sported masks in support of Blackburn's departing midfielder Tugay and Albion manager Tony Mowbray, the main talking points were created by ref Mike Jones.

Jones failed to endear himself to either set of fans after dismissing Blackburn sub Jason Roberts for an off the ball incident after just ten minutes on the pitch and failing to give the visitors a penalty for handball by Stephen Warnock.

West Brom. in typical fashion as far as this season is concerned, started the match at a high tempo but were unable to force Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson into any notable saves.

Indeed it was the home side that had the first opportunity with 12 minutes on the clock when converted centre half Christopher Samba, playing in attack, found space on the edge of the area and fired narrowly over the bar.

The visitors continued to press early on and Borja Valero registered Albion's first shot on target when his effort from around 20 yards made Robinson make the save diving to his left.

It was Blackburn's turn next five minutes later when Samba turned Jonas Olsson and his left footed strike beat Dean Kiely but rebounded off the keeper's left hand post.

Kiely was forced into action again moments later when he tipped a Morten Gamst Pedersen free kick away for a corner.

The most clear cut opportunity of the opening period fell to Albion's Chris Brunt on 42 minutes when after controlling a Jonathan Greening cross, his superbly struck effort was somehow tipped onto the bar by Robinson.

Albion had much the better of the second half opportunities, the best of these falling to Greening after 78 minutes when a Brunt corner found him unmarked at the far post, but the West Brom skipper somehow headed wide from point blank range.

Albion should have been ahead prior to the Greening miss, but lone striker Marc-Antoine Fortune wasted their best opportunity by heading wide and Juan Carlos Menseguez and Brunt again also failed to hit the target.

Jones' failure to award Albion a spot kick when Brunt's cross hit Warnock summed up Albion's season, as their enterprising style once more created more than enough opportunities to win the match, but yet again their wasteful finishing let them down and decisions went against them when it mattered most.

Sean Calvert / Eurosport

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  1. Well done Blackburn and Big Sam, great season­ considering where we were when Ince was sacked. And­ well done to West Brom as well, at least your team is­ filled with guys who give 110% every game, unlike the­ other 2 teams going down with you. You'll be­ straight back up, see you in 2010/11.

    From goodyconnor, on Mon 25 May 7:23AM
  2. oi @#$% weres it say craven cottage @#$%

    From shergold7lp, on Sun 24 May 10:21PM
  3. Heres a key fact for you! I think you'll find that­ Fulham play at Craven Cottage! Some of the reporting on­ here is a joke!

    From dean557, on Wed 20 May 10:50PM
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