Harchester United kept up the pace at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Dragons Lair today..
Although the game could come at some cost as in-form top scored Reijmond Van Den Bergh had to be stretchered off 17 minutes from the end, putting into doubt his fitness ahead of the Champions League game on Tuesday night.
This comes at a bad time with Harchester United already having to reshuffle the side due to injuries to striker Jay Marney and midfielders Ryan Naysmith and captain Liam Mackay.
Wednesday night's Hat-Trick hero Kieron Hartson started the game alongside Van Den Bergh in attack. A reshuffled midfield saw Marcos Rosteen start on the right with David Beckham and Julian Moore in the centre.
The game started brightly for the Dragons, with Beckham not afraid to get stuck in with a sliding challenge early in the game as he started his first Premier League in almost 9 years.
The Dragons had the first opportunity of the game on 8 minutes when Van Den Bergh was through on goal one-on-one with goalkeeper Ben Foster - but it was the Albion keeper who came out on top with a fine save.
After 23 minutes, there was a claim for a penalty as Liam Ridgewell looked to have
blocked Beckham shot with his arm inside the box - but the referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on.
Kieron Hartson turned provider for Van Den Bergh in the 34th minute when his cross from the right hand side of the box found the head of the Dutch striker - but, again, a fine stop from Foster kept the score at 0-0.
The Dragons were given a great opportunity in the 39th minute when David Beckham was tripped on the edge of the box by Paul Scharner and the ref had no option to give a free-kick.
A perfect situation for David Beckham to find himself in - however, it was Marcos Rosteen who took the free kick instead and hit it high over the bar.
Just before half time, the visitors could have taken a surpise lead with their only opportunity of the first half...
Shane Long got the better of stand-in captain Johnny Carlisle and found himself in the perfect position for an effot - however it ended up in the side netting rather than the back of the net, still 0-0.
SECOND HALF...
The second half was a much better affair for the Dragons and started excellently as Julian Moore controlled the ball brilliantly to play a through ball to find Van Den Bergh on the edge of the box...
The Dutchman struck a shot to find the top corner of the Baggies net to make it 1-0 to the Dragons.
15 minutes later in the 61st minute and it was Moore's turn to strike an effort from the edge of the box and also find the back of the net as his beautifully taken effort made it 2-0.
In the 71st minute, a bad collison occured that could put into doubt his fitness ahead of the Champions League game with CSKA Moscow in Tuesday night saw Van Den Bergh clash with Liam Ridgewell.
The Dutchman had to be stretchered off and replaced by Luiz Costa - not good signs as the Dragons appear to be picking up injuries on a match by match basis at the moment.
David Beckham was also replaced by Mus Rojas and this appeared to change the Dragons style of play in a way that gave West Brom more encouragement.
Shane Long pounced on an opporunity in the 77th minute and would have made it 2-1 but for a fine block by Stefan Misimovic.
Minutes later and the Croatian defender went on a splendid run down the left wing and through the Baggies defence to curl the ball past Foster to make it 3-0 to the Dragons.
Misimovic was then on fire as he almost helped make it 4-0 when his cross almost found the head of Rojas, but was intercepted by Jonas Olsson and cleared.
The Dragons Croatian defender also stopped Shane Long in his tracks when Andrei Kirovski made a mistake in midfield to let the Irishman in with a chance, but Misimovic slid in with a perfect challenge.
Just as it looked like a 3-0 win was complete, a piece of calamity goalkeeping by Thomas Heikkinen finally let in Shane Long with an open goal and, even from a tight angle, the Baggies striker wasn't going to miss this time.
3-1 was the final score, but with another injury picked up and a knock to Heikkinen's goalkeeping confidence - how will this effect Harchester United's Champions League preparations for Tuesday Night?
Final Score: Harchester United - 3... West Bromwich Albion - 1.
Next Up: CSKA Moscow (Away) in the UEFA Champions League
Harchester.TV - 11th February 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
FA Barclays Premier League
HARCHESTER UNITED - 3
Van Den Bergh 47
Moore 61
Misimovic 79
....
WEST BROMWICH - 1
Long 90+2
....
Att: 47,872
Harchester United: Heikkinen, Thomas, Carlisle, Kirovski, Misimovic, Rosteen, Beckham (Rojas 73), Moore, Blanc, Hartson, Van Den Bergh (Costa 73)
Subs: Fuentes, Young, Tyson, Rojas, White, Costa, Porter
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Reid, Ridgewell, Olsson, Shorey, Mulumbu, Scharner, Brunt, Morrison (Thomas 65), Odemwingie, Long
Subs: Fulop, McAuley, Thomas, Tchoyi, Fortune, Jones, Andrews |
