Showing posts with label West Brom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Brom. Show all posts

Monday, 13 December 2010

Carson targets Wolves win

Scott Carson is adamant West Bromwich Albion's confidence will not be affected by the derby defeat at Aston Villa.
The Baggies were beaten 2-1 at Villa Park on Saturday and face another local derby this coming weekend when Wolves visit The Hawthorns.
Carson believes West Brom were unlucky to lose against Villa, with Paul Scharner scoring a late consolation following goals from Stewart Downing and Emile Heskey.
The West Brom captain is looking forward to facing Wolves and believes the players will be in a positive frame of mind for the game.
"We were definitely the better side against Villa and it was a massive injustice we never got anything out of the game," said Carson.
"We're gutted, but we're not going to let our confidence drop.
"We're going to play the same against Wolves as we have been and hope it will be good enough.
"We know it's going to be a tough game and it's all about the result."
West Brom v Wolves. Click here to bet.
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Friday, 3 December 2010

Reid - We weren't good enough

West Brom midfielder Steven Reid admits there can be no excuses for the Baggies crashing out of the Carling Cup at Ipswich.
Albion, who had beaten Manchester City in the third round of the tournament, produced a woefully below par display in the quarter-finals at Portman Road on Wednesday night as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Championship club Town.
Manager Roberto Di Matteo had continued his rotation policy with nine changes to the side which had won at Everton last Saturday, handing a debut to young defender James Hurst.
And Reid, who captained the side on Wednesday, concedes the Baggies supporters deserved better than their collective performance, though he highlighted Hurst's individual display as one of the few positives of the evening.
Reid said: "The team which the gaffer has been picking in the Carling Cup has been doing well. It was a team of experienced lads, except for Hursty, and lads who have played regularly. There are no excuses, we just were not good enough on the night.
"It was a major disappointment and we have got to hold our hands up.
"We did not put in a good performance and I don't think we really deserved anything from the game.
"We did not play to the level that was expected and there were a few disappointed lads in the dressing room because it was an opportunity to potentially go all the way to Wembley.
"Hopefully we can put that result right (at Newcastle) at the weekend.
"Now we have got to concentrate on getting a few more points on the board and climbing that table."
Hurst performed well at right-back and Reid feels the teenage stopper has a bright future ahead of him.
"None of the lads really performed to the levels expected, but Hursty had a great debut and hopefully he can go on to great things," Reid added on the club's official website.
"Hursty is a decent player and he was probably the pick of the lads last night.
"I thought he had a great debut.
"He has got good energy and gets up and down the line and there is no reason why he cannot crack on now and be a part of the squad and go on to good things for the club."
The Baggies could move back into the Premier League top 10 with a win over Newcastle at The Hawthorns, where they will again be without the suspended Youssouf Mulumbu. Reid is hoping for another chance to stake his claim for a regular first-team place.
He said: "If I am asked to do the job I will be delighted and we will hopefully get the three points."
View the original article here

Wednesday, 1 December 2010

Taylor hopes to keep place

Steven Taylor hopes to have done enough to stay in the Newcastle team to face West Brom on Sunday.
The 24-year-old defender returned last Sunday for his first game in 10 months and helped the Magpies to a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
With Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini both suspended, Taylor and summer signing Sol Campbell came in for their first starts of the season and played a big part in holding the defending champions at St James' Park.
Taylor was glad to be back in action and believes he and Campbell can continue to do a job in the centre of defence for manager Chris Hughton.
"It was an unbelievable feeling to be back playing," Taylor told the Evening Chronicle.
"I got a chance to play with Sol Campbell at the back, who I had played with in a reserve game against Manchester City.
"I enjoyed having him talking to me all the game - he's been there and done it. I can learn from Sol, he's fantastic.
"We're in the team now, and hopefully we'll get another chance to play at West Brom," Taylor added. "We've just got to take it game by game."
Taylor's previous appearance had come against West Brom in January and while both sides went on to win promotion from the Championship, the centre-half has been sidelined with knee and shoulder problems.
The former England Under 21 captain has had to wait for his chance since proving his fitness in Peter Beardsley's reserve team and admits it was nerve-wracking to come up against Didier Drogba on his first-team return.
"The nerves were kicking in before the game - it was a massive match for us," he said.
"But once I was out there and warming up, the nerves went. When the whistle went, I was straight back into it.
"I won my first header against Drogba and felt good. We could have won the game, but in many ways, it couldn't have gone better.
"We came through it with no injuries and got a great point. The lads were fantastic."
West Brom v Newcastle. Click here to bet.
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Friday, 26 November 2010

Bednar - I won't be back

Czech striker Roman Bednar insists he will not return to West Brom after his loan spell at Leicester expires.
Bednar agreed a switch to the Walkers Stadium on Wednesday and has joined the Championship outfit until January.
The 27-year-old believes that he has lost the support of Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo and will therefore not make a Hawthorns comeback.
"Once the (West Brom) manager let me go, my vision is not to return to West Bromwich. I don't feel confidence in me from him anymore," he told CTK.
"At the moment I just want to be happy and play regularly. I think I have made the right decision.
"This loan has been settled so that I don't warm the bench. I will be doing my best and believe I will gain ground at Leicester."
The Foxes are currently 17th the Championship but Bednar believes Sven-Goran Eriksson's side are capable of better things.
"The team is of a high quality and, in my opinion, should be somewhere else in the table," he added.
On his Swedish manager, he remarked: "I have decided for Leicester not only because of the manager but also because it takes me just 45 minutes to get there from my home, so I don't need to move.
"In the worst case I will be spending the nights ahead of games in hotel.
"He is a high-quality manager who has a great record of teams he has coached previously.
"After a long time, I enjoyed a training session with a smile on my face."
Bednar will have stern competition with Darius Vassell, Martyn Waghorn, Matty Fryatt and Steve Howard also attacking options.
He said: "I know all of them. I consider them high-quality forwards but am not afraid of competition.
"It's good for me but, as I said before, I've not moved to Leicester to just warm the bench."
View the original article here

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Albion injury list worsens

West Bromwich Albion's injury concerns have grown after James Morrison and Steven Reid became the latest casualties.
Right winger Morrison is suffering from a back complaint while right-back Reid has an Achilles problem and both players have given manager Roberto Di Matteo an untimely worry.
Di Matteo, whose side suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Stoke last time out, is already without influential defender Jonas Olsson (Achilles) and striker Ishmael Miller (abdominal problem) for the trip to Everton this weekend.
And the Italian is also sweating on the fitness of Chris Brunt, with the key midfielder currently rated as 50/50 to recover from a groin ailment in time for the Goodison Park fixture.
Morrison, Reid and Brunt all missed training, but Di Matteo is hopeful they can make the matchday squad for the game against the Toffees.
"Brunt was 50/50 yesterday and we'll see how he progresses this week," the Baggies boss told the club's official website.
"Morrison fell awkwardly on Saturday. Reidy has an Achilles tendon problem that needs looking after. Jonas and Miller won't play on Saturday, the others have a chance.
"Jonas' injury is improving slowly. It's a bit frustrating because we can't really put a date on it. We have to wait and see how he improves. We're missing him."
Miller could join in training at the end of this week but Di Matteo insists they must be patient with the Baggies striker.
"We're hopeful Ishmael is going to train with the team by the end of this week," he added.
"But he's been out for a while again so he's not going to be 100 per cent match fit. We need to build him up slowly."
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Sunday, 21 November 2010

Di Matteo slams Jones 'dive'

West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo was hugely disappointed with his side's 3-0 Premier League defeat against Stoke.
The Potters netted three times in the second half at The Hawthorns to extend their winning run in the Premier League.
Matthew Etherington's penalty put the visitors 1-0 up just before the hour mark after referee Chris Foy adjudged Scott Carson to have fouled Kenwyne Jones.
Substitute Jon Walters converted another spot-kick with five minutes of normal time remaining and then bagged his second in time added on as the Potters secured their third successive victory.
But, Italian Di Matteo felt his side were hard done by when Jones went over the challenge of Carson.
He told Sky Sports: "The first goal changed the game and it was a very harsh penalty because there wasn't much contact between the goalkeeper and Jones.
"It looked like a dive and it seems to be minimal contact and he went down very easily."
The game was tight for such a long time and Di Matteo felt it was too difficult a task to come back from.
"We tried, but they defended with a lot of bodies and it was very difficult to break them down.
"It wasn't easy for us because what they do, they do well and we didn't manage to come back from that.
"I don't care how we win. As I said, if we need to win ugly, it doesn't matter to me, but I think the first incident was very hard. The second one was a difficult one as well for the referee who gave it against us.
"We need to keep fighting and we have to roll our sleeves up and get some points on the board."
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Saturday, 20 November 2010

Walters brace buries Baggies

Man of the match: Jon Walters takes the honours for a match-winning performance, bagging a late brace.
Goal of the match: Stoke's third of the afternoon was created by Kenwyne Jones' sublime skills and buried at the second attempt by Walters.
Sub of the match: Walters replaced Matthew Etherington with 10 minutes remaining and what an impact the former Ipswich man made.
Gaffe of the match: Baggies keeper Scott Carson came charging out of his area to bring down Jones for a harsh spot-kick.
Talking point: Have Stoke turned a corner after recording their third win on the bounce? Two defeats in a row at The Hawthorns for the Baggies, what is going wrong?
Stoke made it three wins on the bounce in the Premier League with a comprehensive 3-0 victory against West Brom at The Hawthorns.
In a game which lacked continuity, the Baggies had the only worthy shot of note in a dismal first half when Youssouf Mulumbu struck his long-range effort over the crossbar.
Although the Baggies dominated much of the possession, the visitors broke the deadlock just before the hour mark when Kenwyne Jones went down under minimal contact from Scott Carson and birthday boy Chris Foy did not hesitate in pointing to the spot.
Matthew Etherington made no mistake from 12 yards and although the hosts threw men forward, the Potters hit Roberto Di Matteo's men on the counter attack and were rewarded with five minutes remaining.
Simon Cox's clumsy challenge on Dean Whitehead resulted in Stoke's second spot-kick of the afternoon and Etherington's replacement Jon Walters slotted home with consummate ease.
The substitute completed the rout deep into stoppage-time when Jones showed superb skills to pick him out and, although his initial effort was saved by Carson, he made no mistake from the rebound.
The victory takes Tony Pulis' side up to eighth in the table building on victories over Birmingham and Liverpool.
The hosts looked to make an early impression with Peter Odemwingie having a shot deflected wide in the first minute.
The Nigeria striker then whipped a free-kick straight into the arms of Asmir Begovic, but Stoke were soon launching an attack of their own, with Jermaine Pennant just unable to control his attempted cross having collected the ball in the box from Etherington.
It seemed Pennant had picked up an injury and within seconds he was withdrawn, Pulis throwing Tuncay Sanli into the fray.
Odemwingie almost found himself in the clear as he tried to bring down Carson's long kick but Foy halted the action to speak to Ricardo Fuller and Gabriel Tamas, who had been involved in a flare-up.
Odemwingie then drilled a low shot straight at Begovic before Youssouf Mulumbu rifled an effort from outside the area which rose too high too soon.
Albion upped the tempo slightly with Giles Barnes sending in a series of crosses from the right flank around the half-hour mark.
One fell to Jerome Thomas, who struck the ball against a Stoke shirt, while another was just inches away from being met by James Morrison's head.
Fuller was crowded out in the box at the other end before he could fashion a strike and Odemwingie blasted a free-kick over the bar after Tuncay had brought down Thomas.
Odemwingie then twisted and turned but could only hit a tame effort which Begovic gathered comfortably.
The Baggies began the second period brightly, with Thomas sending in a cross that bounced off Odemwingie's knees and Morrison just beaten to a delivery by Barnes.
But 10 minutes after the restart, it was the Potters who opened the scoring.
Fuller picked up the ball after Albion failed to clear a cross and laid it to Jones, who initially appeared to have let it slip past him but got a touch just as Carson was diving at his feet.
Although contact looked to be minimal, the Trinidad and Tobago frontman went down in the box and Foy awarded the penalty which Etherington then calmly dispatched into the bottom corner.
Baggies boss Di Matteo responded by introducing Cox for Morrison and after Whitehead sent an effort high over the bar, Somen Tchoyi was the next man to come off the home bench in place of Barnes.
Tchoyi was straight into the thick of things and angled a low delivery into the danger zone which Stoke managed to kick away.
The Cameroonian then saw his header from Thomas' cross tipped over by Begovic as the hosts piled on the pressure.
Marek Cech blazed over soon after and Cox's low shot from distance deflected wide before Di Matteo made his final substitution, with Graham Dorrans replacing Mulumbu.
Odemwingie thought he had been fouled having fallen in the box under the attentions of Robert Huth, but it was Stoke who won another penalty in the 85th minute.
Whitehead was clattered by Cox as he ran on to a Tuncay pass and Walters - on moments earlier for Etherington - converted the spot-kick.
Walters was not finished there either, receiving the ball from Jones' flick in stoppage-time and having one shot blocked before beating Carson to wrap up a comprehensive win.
View the original article here

Friday, 19 November 2010

Begovic explains Bosnia absence

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has apologised for not linking up with the Bosnia squad and has explained that a severe bout of illness prevented him from doing so.
The 23-year-old shot-stopper played in Stoke's 2-0 win over Liverpool last weekend but then did not accept an international call-up to face Slovakia in midweek.
Bosnia manager Safet Susic has since slammed the Potters keeper, calling for sanctions against both Begovic and Stoke.
However, the former Portsmouth man has revealed that he was suffering from illness following an injection and could not even bring himself to contact the national boss.
He told Dnevni Avaz: "Safet Susic, team-mates, fans and all who have Bosnia-Herzegovina in their hearts, please don't be angry with me.
"I didn't travel back home because I had health problems. I felt so bad thought I was going to die.
"I got an injection after the game against Liverpool and I guess I got a reaction to the medicine.
"My body was in so much pain, I was vomiting all day long. I couldn't even pick up a phone to call anyone.
"I think that our club doctor saved my life, he gave me medicine that helped me. When I felt a little bit better, I promptly called the Bosnian FA.
"I don't know what the problem was. My club told me they will deal with this, that they will find an agreement with Susic.
"I regret everything but hope that Susic will forgive me, and the Bosnian fans."
Begovic could play for Stoke in the Premier League against West Brom on Saturday, as Tony Pulis' men look to build on their impressive win last weekend.
West Brom v Stoke. Click here to bet.
View the original article here

Saturday, 13 November 2010

Scharner - No split loyalties

West Brom's Paul Scharner has no divided loyalities as he prepares to return to former club Wigan.
The 30-year-old spent more than four years with the Latics before joining the Baggies on a free transfer during the summer.
He says he is prepared to use his experience of the Wigan set-up to West Brom's advantage if required, but believes boss Roberto Di Matteo will have a game plan already up his sleeve.
He said: "If they ask me then I have lots of tips in my pocket. But I think the gaffer will analyse Wigan very well and then we will have a good set-up for the game.
"I am excited because I played for four and a half years for Wigan. It was my longest spell at a club since I was a professional footballer.
"I am looking forward to meeting all my ex-colleagues."
While the Latics currently sit in the drop zone after a slow start to the campaign, Scharner is not under-estimating Roberto Martinez's side.
He said: "Actually it's quite similar picture to the seasons before - a very slow start.
"At the moment they are in the relegation zone, but I think they have good potential in the squad to stay in the league."
At just 30, Scharner is the oldest player in the West Brom squad, aside from player/coach Dean Kiely, which he believes is a positive.
"This shows just how much potential is in the team," he said.
"I'm enjoying it. You can't fight age, just look after your body, so that's what I'm doing."
Despite a good start to the campaign, Di Matteo believes his team still has not reached it's full potential.
He said: "We perform certain aspects of the game very well, but we still have to manage ourselves better during games.
"We're still making too many mistakes in my opinion, but I think that comes with the fact that we are new to the league, and we still have to learn. We're a work in progress."
Di Matteo added supporters should keep the team's status as newcomers in mind as the season progresses.
He said: "They can enjoy themselves, but let's not forget our identity - who we are, what our aim is and where we come from.
"I hope they are excited and enjoying what we're trying to do, but it's a very difficult league and we're happy that we have got the points we have so far.
"It's a crazy league, with some unexpected results, and that's the way this season is going to go."
If the Baggies do go behind at the DW, the West Brom boss believes they have the capacity to get back into the game.
He said: "We have the strength and the resilience to come back, which is very difficult in the Premier League."
View the original article here

Thursday, 11 November 2010

Holloway issues quit threat

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has threatened to resign if the Premier League punish him for fielding a weakened team against Aston Villa.
Holloway made 10 changes to his side from the team that drew with Everton last weekend for Wednesday's 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa with only Keith Southern keeping his place.
The Premier League set a precedent last year when Wolves were given a suspended £25,000 fine after manager Mick McCarthy made 10 changes to his side to face Manchester United.
But, while McCarthy admitted he made the alterations in order to give his team the best chance of beating Burnley in the next game, Holloway insisted his side was not weakened and that he had no choice because of the club's busy schedule.
Asked what he would do if the Premier League impose the same punishment on his club, an angry Holloway said: "I'd pack in. I can't work for this madness. I would resign. They do not know what they're talking about."
Blackpool played West Brom last Monday and Everton on Saturday, and they take on West Ham this weekend.
Holloway defended his selection claiming many of the players who were signed late in the summer transfer window needed a rest.
"What they've done is nigh on short of a miracle already," added Holloway.
"If Charlie (Adam) played, if (David) Vaughan played, if (Gary) Taylor-Fletcher played, they're all carrying slight bits and pieces. Charlie and Vaughany have been off on international duty - they haven't had a break.
"I should have probably played the other players at Birmingham (last month) but I didn't. It's all about getting the timing right. I can't keep picking the same XI when the others are trying their heart out and never give them a chance.
"I knew all the way along, whatever the scores were, I was going to reward the ones who played well for me last year and then I'm going to try some new ones. I gave myself at least 10 games and this is the 12th game.
"If I play my players four times in a row at this level, they will get injured, and I don't do that to my players. I picked a team that I spent a lot of money on.
"I've been working with them for the last however many weeks and I've been watching them improve. I might have to play them a lot more because some of them outplayed my team that has been playing."
West Ham v Blackpool.

View the original article here

Monday, 8 November 2010

Manchester City - Balotelli hero and villain

Man of the match: It would have been Mario Balotelli after his brace until he got sent off. So the decision goes to Carlos Tevez who created the first goal and was tireless up front for City. Great return for the skipper!
Goal of the match: Balotelli's second. David Silva played a great pass to the striker who used his power to turn and shoot across Scott Carson to score.
Attempt of the match: Simon Cox hit the post with a fine curling shot from outside the box.
Save of the match: Joe Hart tipped over a free-kick from Nicky Shorey.
Moment of the match: Balotelli's sending-off. City were cruising at the time and it gave the Baggies a numerical advantage for a short period but the home side could not capitalise.
Talking point: Balotelli - showed the good and bad sides to his play today.
Mario Balotelli hit a brace before being sent off as Manchester City halted their mini slump to inflict a first home defeat on West Brom.
The City striker slotted home a Carlos Tevez cross on 20 minutes before doubling the advantage six minutes later after a pass from David Silva.
West Brom improved after the break and hit the woodwork via a shot from Simon Cox before Balotelli, who had just been booked, was then sent off on 63 minutes after tussling with Youssouf Mulumbu and appearing to aim a kick at him.
The Baggies hit the woodword again before Mulumbu, who was booked in the incident with Balotelli, was then dismissed himself for a late challenge on Tevez as both teams ended with ten men.
The win halted a three-match losing run in all competitions for City and kept them fourth in the table, while the Baggies missed the chance to leapfrog their opponents with the defeat.
With Arsenal being defeated by Newcastle, the result meant City drew level on points with the Gunners in the top flight.
It also meant the Blues overcame their hoodoo at The Hawthorns, where they had been beaten on their last four visits in all competitions - including a Carling Cup tie earlier in the season.
Given that and the recent struggles of Roberto Mancini's side, the Baggies had plenty of reasons to feel confident going into the match, and it was evident in the way they got started.
Chris Brunt ran on to a neat throughball from Marc-Antoine Fortune after only a couple of minutes, with Kolo Toure making an interception which almost resulted in an own goal.
Moments later, Brunt curled in a shot that Vincent Kompany managed to block before Nigel de Jong picked up a yellow card for a blatant handball.
At the other end Balotelli, preferred as partner for Tevez in attack to the benched Emmanuel Adebayor, went down in the box under Marek Cech's challenge, but referee Lee Probert waved play on.
City were starting to impose themselves and a shot by Tevez - who was back in the City team following his two-match injury lay-off - ricocheted off a West Brom shirt to Pablo Zabaleta, who fired over the bar.
Balotelli tried to find Tevez with a back heel just before the quarter hour mark and when he did claim possession, the skipper saw his effort deflect wide.
The link-up play was more effective in the 20th minute, though, as the visitors went ahead through Balotelli, the 20-year-old notching his first Premier League goal by sliding in to meet a cross from Tevez, who had latched on to Silva's incisive pass.
Silva had a chance to double the lead soon after but saw his attempt blocked by Scott Carson.
West Brom looked to respond quickly and Brunt delivered a useful cross which Fortune was just unable to get on the end of.
But having made the breakthrough, Balotelli took only six minutes to strike again and put City 2-0 up.
Silva was involved once more, lofting a pass to the former Inter Milan man who used his power to create an opening before slotting home.
City then almost increased their advantage when Tevez sent a free-kick on to the roof of Carson's net.
Balotelli then caused uproar by bundling over Nicky Shorey, although Probert did not deem the incident worthy of a yellow card.
The City striker might have been presented with a chance to complete his hat-trick just before the break but Yaya Toure's cross was cleared away.
City continued to press as the second half got under way, with Jerome Boateng finding himself in an unusually advanced position and just beaten to the ball by Carson.
Cox almost pulled one back for Albion in spectacular fashion, though, with a swerving effort that cracked against the post.
Having no doubt impressed watching Italy boss Cesare Prandelli with his finishing prowess, Balotelli then received his marching orders after being shown yellow and then red cards in quick succession.
The man advantage seemed to rouse the Baggies, who panicked City into hitting the ball against their own bar from a corner, before Joe Hart tipped Shorey's free-kick over.
Having been given fresh attacking impetus by the introduction of joint top scorer Peter Odemwingie - fit again after a knee injury - and Giles Barnes and roared on by their fans, the home side kept up the tempo, with Mulumbu and Brunt shooting too high.
But it was only in terms of players that they found themselves level with eight minutes of normal time remaining as Mulumbu was dismissed for a late challenge on Tevez - West Brom's third red card of the week after they were reduced to nine men at Blackpool on Monday.
Albion tried to remain on the front foot but could not find a way through as City made off with a morale-boosting three points.
View the original article here

Thursday, 4 November 2010

West Brom defender Pablo Ibanez wins red card appeal

The Football Association confirmed that Ibanez's claim for wrongful dismissal had been upheld by an independent regulatory commission.
Ibanez's one-match ban has been withdrawn with immediate effect and he will be available for Sunday's game against Manchester City.
The Spaniard was dismissed by referee Michael Oliver in the 11th minute at Bloomfield Road after he was adjudged to have brought down Blackpool striker DJ Campbell inside the area.
The official deemed Ibanez to have denied Campbell an obvious goalscoring opportunity, a verdict the Baggies disputed after viewing the incident from various television angles.
West Brom finished the game with nine men after Gonzalo Jara was also dismissed for a lunge on Luke Varney shortly before the half-hour mark.
View the original article here

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Holloway happy with home win

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway was delighted to have won his first home match in the Premier League.
The Tangerines claimed a 2-1 win over nine-men West Bromwich Albion at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool went ahead thanks to Charlie Adam's penalty, which was awarded after Pablo Ibanez brought down DJ Campbell.
Ibanez saw red for the challenge and not long after he was joined in the changing room by Gonzalo Jara for a two-footed challenge on Luke Varney.
Varney then doubled their lead on the hour before Youssouf Mulumbu pulled one back for the Baggies late on, but Blackpool held on for their first win in front of their own fans this term.
"I am glad the monkey is off our back and we have won at home," Holloway told Sky Sports.
The Blackpool chief admits that Ibanez's dismissal spoilt the game.
"I would have rather just had yellow card and a penalty, it was a great move - it is a sending off, but is he going to score, you have Scott Carson there - I think it ruined the game as a spectacle," he continued.
"We are not comfortable at the moment, we are still learning to play at this level, we are trying to pass the ball."
Holloway was also critical of his own fans who were anxious for goals as they were playing nine-men.
"11 v 11 we looked a good side, I haven't had that as a manager before and we are still learning," he said.
"Unfortunately we did not make the most of it, I don't think our own fans helped, you have to beat their goalkeeper and eight men and it is not easy."
Holloway insists that their 13-point haul so far is a great effort.
"If that is the only 13 we get - don't do us with disrespect, we are a good footballing team, yes we do have to sharpen up in front of goal but we are going to improve and keep getting better," he said.
"West Brom have been up and down, and the quality they have in their squad it is starting to show. They have done really well and we are just basically out of the nest, we are fledglings.
"My lads, I am really proud of them and we have it harder than anyone else, but I am a realist but there is not one game here I will come and think we are going to win.
"My lads will get used to it, and I am enjoying it."
View the original article here

Di Matteo - Night to forget

West Bromwich Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo admitted his side had a night to forget at Blackpool.
The Baggies lost 2-1 after being reduced to nine-men at Bloomfield Road.
Pablo Ibanez was sent-off for bringing down DJ Campbell, and they were punished from the resulting penalty by Charlie Adam.
Gonzalo Jara soon followed him off as he was red-carded for a two-footed lunge on Luke Varmey - who then doubled the score on the hour.
Youssouf Mulumbu pulled one back for the Baggies, but Blackpool held on to take the point.
"We tried and the players were magnificent, they fought hard and battled, and you never know in football but it has been a night to forget for us," he told Sky Sports.
Di Matteo felt Ibanez should not have been sent-off.
"It would have been nice to see a good football game but that was destroyed by incidents on the night," he said.
"On the first one it was probably a penalty but it was not a sending off, the second one he called it right- it was a sending off.
"I think our player (Jara) lost his head with first decision and then he made a mistake.
"We were down to nine, it doesn't happen very often and we tried not to concede a goal and just tried to hurt them on the break, we defended well and going forward we had a couple of chances.
"When you lose under those circumstances we have to take it and rebuild, we are going to be missing some players but we need to start again."
View the original article here

Seasiders hold off Baggies

Man of the match: Luke Varney. Was a threat throughout and got the vital second Blackpool goal.
Goal of the match: Varney's. David Vaughan played in Elliot Grandin slid a pass across the face of goal from the right for Varney to tap in.
Attempt of the match: DJ Campbell tried a cheeky backwards header from Varney's cross which Scott Carson had to put out for a corner.
Save of the match: Carson's. The West Brom keeper did well to close down and save from Grandin late on.
Moment of the match: Gonzalo Jara's sending-off. There was no need to make the reckless tackle which reduced his side to nine men and gave them a mountain to climb.
Talking point: Did Pablo Ibanez deserve to go for bringing down DJ Campbell? He was the last man so strictly had to be sent off but Jara was nearby and the referee could have made a case that he may have got back.
Blackpool held off a spirited fight back by nine-man West Brom to earn their first Premier League win at Bloomfield Road.
Pablo Ibanez was sent off for bringing down DJ Campbell as the last man in the box on 11 minutes, with Charlie Adam putting away the subsequent penalty.
The Baggies then went down to nine men when Gonzalo Jara was sent off for a two footed scissor-kick challenge in the air on Luke Varney.
The Seasiders made their numerical advantage count when Varney slotted home Elliot Grandin's cross on 62 minutes.
But the Baggies refused to give up and Youssouf Mulumbu scored with five minutes to set up a grandstand finish, with chances for Paul Scharner and Steven Reid, but the Seasiders held on for the win to end the West Brom's six-game unbeaten league run.
The visitors gave a first league start to Simon Cox while Jara joined him in place of injured duo Jonas Olsson and James Morrison.
Cox almost gave his side an early lead following a neat exchange with Chris Brunt before his low shot was tipped wide by Matt Gilks.
But the Baggies' hopes were dealt their first major blow as they lost their first of two players to a red card after 11 minutes.
Campbell ran onto an Adam through ball and was brought down by Ibanez, with referee Michael Oliver, who at 25 became the Premier League's youngest ever match official earlier this season, having no hesitation in pointing to the spot and then showing the obligatory red card to Ibanez as the last man.
Adam then blasted the penalty past Scott Carson, who did get hands on the ball, to give his side the lead.
West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo shuffled his reduced line-up by replacing Cox with Reid, and his side almost snuck a goal back when Gilks misjudged a Brunt free-kick, palming a delivery which was going out of play back into the six-yard box, but the chance was snuffed out.
But the away side's task became almost insurmountable when Jara became their second player to see red just before the half hour.
The Chilean defender needlessly scythed down Varney with a terrible two-footed challenge near the corner flag leaving Oliver with no option but to show red.
Di Matteo further shuffled his pack by replacing Marc-Antoine Fortune with Graham Dorrans, who almost grabbed a goal back only to slice his effort wide.
Blackpool survived a scare shortly after the break when Craig Cathcart under-hit a pass and Dorrans won the ball to send Jerome Thomas on a quick break.
Cathcart immediately redeemed himself, however, with a diving block to keep out Thomas' goal-bound shot.
The hosts were clearly intent on stretching West Brom's limited numbers with attacks down the flanks and that policy should have provided a second goal only for Varney to head a teasing cross straight into the arms of Carson from six yards.
With only a goal in the game West Brom had enough reason to retain some belief and started to push numbers forward.
It proved their undoing, however, as Blackpool found a second goal to give them a comfortable advantage in the 62nd minute.
The industrious David Vaughan recovered the ball high up the pitch and quickly played in Grandin, who drove into the area and, with the exposed Carson committed to his near post, slid a pass across the face of goal for Varney to tap in.
That should have made the rest of the night comfortable for Blackpool but some poor defending allowed West Brom a way back into the game five minutes from the end.
Giles Barnes almost got onto a through ball but Gilks was out of his area to partially clear before Reid the ball on to Mulumbu, who was able to trick his way into the area and curled a shot in at the far post to set up a nervy end.
The away fans suddenly sensed their side could snatch a remarkable draw and Scharner almost found it when he headed a Brunt free-kick narrowly wide before Reid blasted over following a goalmouth scramble but the Seasiders held on for the win to go ninth in the table.
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Sunday, 31 October 2010

Shorey revelling in Baggies life

Defender Nicky Shorey is delighted to have reignited his career at West Brom and insists he never lost faith in his ability.
The full-back moved to The Hawthorns on a permanent basis in the summer after making only four appearances for former club Aston Villa last season.
Shorey had also previously left Villa on loan for Nottingham Forest and Fulham in search of first-team minutes in what was a hugely frustrating period of his career.
And so ahead of Monday's meeting with Blackpool, the 29-year-old, who has two England caps to his name, is pleased to be playing on a regular basis.
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"This move has been vitally important for my career," Shorey told West Brom's official website. "I really needed it.
"It's the most I've enjoyed my football for a long time. And I'm just glad I'm enjoying playing again.
"Of course, when you're not playing, for whatever reasons - and I won't go into the ins and outs - questions are asked of you by certain people - and even by yourself.
"But I've always believed in my ability and hopefully now I can show what I can do. I'm enjoying that chance."
Blackpool v West Brom. Click here to bet.
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Saturday, 30 October 2010

Di Matteo eyeing entertainment

West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo is expecting an entertaining game against Blackpool on Monday, believing the Seasiders play some of the best football in the country.
The six-placed Baggies head to the coast for a clash with a Blackpool side who are confounding their critics.
Some pundits believed the Seasiders would struggle in the top flight but so far Ian Holloway's side have beaten Wigan, Newcastle and Liverpool to sit outside the relegation zone.
Holloway wants his side to score goals and Di Matteo is full of praise for their attacking philosophy.
The Baggies beat Blackpool 3-2 in both fixtures in the Championship last season and Di Matteo is expecting more of the same on Monday.
He said: "In my opinion they are the most attractive team in the Premier League after Arsenal and Chelsea.
"We had two games last season which were very entertaining and had plenty of goals, so I'm expecting a similar game.
"They haven't changed manager, neither have we, so it's going to be entertaining."
All three promoted teams currently sit outside of the drop zone, but Di Matteo sounded a word of caution to those who feel that this could be the first season since 2001/02 where all three sides that went up manage to avoid the drop.
He said: "The promoted teams, they need a good start to be able to have a chance.
"That's all it is. It's a long season, we all know that. At the moment, we are just trying to win as much as we can.
"The gap is still very big in the Premier League, especially between the top teams and the smaller clubs. It's massive, and seems to be increasing as well."
Ahead of the clash, West Brom are waiting on the fitness of Peter Odemwingie (knee), Jonas Olsson (Achilles) and Marc-Antoine Fortune (ankle), who all have a chance of playing but will be assessed at a later date.
"It's so-so at the moment, as there are a few players with knocks," Di Matteo added.
"We're hopeful that they'll all be fit, and there's a chance that we could have everybody available."
Di Matteo said that if any of his first-choice XI are not fit, he is confident in his squad of players, many of whom were involved in the 4-1 Carling Cup win at Leicester on Tuesday.
"I had confidence in them before that game as well," he said. "I was very pleased with the performance of the team and with some of the individual performances."
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Thursday, 28 October 2010

Cox eyes starting role

Simon Cox insists he is ready to force his way into West Brom's starting line-up.
The Baggies have made an excellent start to the season and currently sit sixth in the Premier League.
Because of West Brom's excellent form Cox has been limited to starts in the League Cup, but he has shown up well with three goals in their last two Carling Cup matches.
And Cox says he is ready to prove himself in the top-flight.
"I am 100 times better than when I joined Albion," said Cox.
"When I first came to West Brom I was a young lad who didn't really know a lot and had just played a few games.
"I'd had a good season but it was a League One season and I had to prove to the lads who had just come down from the Premier League that I could mix it with the big boys.
"I am now in the Premier League and if you asked a few of them they would say they have seen vast improvements in my game.
"But I can't argue. The lads are flying at the moment and there is a real aura around the club.
"We feel like we're unbeatable and I can't argue with it.
"When I came to the club I knew it wasn't a club where I was going to start every game.
"I had to prove myself in the Championship. I was a League One player. We ended up having a really good season and getting promoted to the Premier League, so two seasons on I'm a Premier League player.
"It's a situation where I have to prove to the manager I can do a job if he does play me.
"If you start the game and do well and score it can only do you good and you try to make sure the manager has a headache for the Saturday games."
Meanwhile, The Baggies are set to be boosted by the return of Marc-Antoine Fortune and Jonas Olsson.
Fortune and Olsson both had to be substituted early in the second half of last weekend's win over Fulham with ankle and Achilles tendon problems respectively.
But the duo will be back in action sooner rather than later and could even be in contention for Monday's clash at Blackpool.
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Tuesday, 26 October 2010

Di Matteo ignores hysteria

West Bromwich Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has his feet firmly on the ground ahead of their Carling Cup game.
The Baggies will take a breather from Premier League action on Tuesday evening when they make the short trip to Leicester City for the fourth-round clash.
The Midlanders take on Sven-Goran Eriksson's side at the Walkers Stadium defending a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions and confidence must be sky-high in the Hawthorns camp.
Since losing to Liverpool at the end of August, Albion have won at Arsenal, beaten Manchester City in the cup and drawn with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
But Di Matteo, whose side are sixth in the table after beating Fulham at the weekend, insists his players will not get carried away with their flying start to the season.
He said: "People joked about where we were in the table on Saturday, that we were in the final Champions League spot.
"But we have to keep our feet on the ground. I do it and we have to remind the players about it.
"The fans and the media can get excited if they want to. But we will carry on with our work and now prepare for the cup tie.
"We know we can still improve and the areas in which we can do better.
"The players put the effort in and are committed and confident but we must not get carried away."
Di Matteo, who is set to make changes against the Foxes, admitted: "What has happened so far this season is beyond my expectations.
"But we deserve the points we have on the board in the Premier League with the way we are playing.
"I've no idea if we can keep it going and we will see at the end of the season where we stand.
"There is no secret formula. It's down to hard work and we try and play football and believe that is the way to win games."
Albion are set to be without central defender Jonas Olsson and striker Marc-Antoine Fortune who were both injured against Fulham.
Olsson had to be substituted after 55 minutes with an Achilles problem and Fortune at the same juncture with an injury.
Fortune has been deputising for four-goal leading scorer Peter Odemwingie, who has missed the last two games with a knee setback.
But Di Matteo will resist the temptation to rush the Nigerian international back into action.
He said: "We want Peter back as soon as possible but we don't want to rush him back and then lose him for a long time.
"We want him to be back in training this week. That is our aim but we will know more later this week."
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Sunday, 24 October 2010

Di Matteo happy with Baggies

Roberto Di Matteo insists he is 'very happy' at West Bromwich Albion and is not plotting a move to a bigger club in the future.
The former Chelsea midfielder has impressed since taking charge at The Hawthorns in 2009 and led the club to promotion to the Premier League in his debut season.
He has quickly taken to life in the top flight and Saturday's 2-1 victory over Fulham took the Baggies into the top four.
Di Matteo's exploits with West Brom have seen him touted for more high-profile jobs in the future, but the Italian is keen not to look too far ahead.
"I am very happy where I am and very grateful for the opportunity I have been given here," said Di Matteo.
"You can't have a long-term plan as a manager because you have a few bad results, you get questioned and then you get a ticket for your holidays.
"But my staff and I are very ambitious."
The West Brom boss also praised the increasing influence of Chris Brunt, who had a hand in both goals in the success over Fulham.
He added: "When we arrived last year he had a season when he was in and out of the team, but I think he has matured a lot since then and he has become a tremendous asset for us.
"He is the kind of player who every week gives you a performance of eight (out of 10).
"He is somebody you can go to war with - you know he is on your side."
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