| Cambridge United | 1-1 | West Bromwich Albion |
| Kyd 57' | Peschisolido 5' | |
| Att: 3,520 |
United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Marc Joseph, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Rees, Kyd (Benjamin 83), Butler, Williamson (Taylor 53).
Sub Not Used: Murphy.
Booked: Foster.
[Gareth Challis' match report] [The Abbey Rabbit's match report]
Gareth Challis' match report:
All geared up for a new season, but only 3,520 turned up to see United's first home game of the season. The optimism wasn't flowing, maybe just trickling, as a West Brom side with the likes of Peschisolido, Sneekes and Hunt on the pitch came, saw and failed to conquer ... quite miserably.
The first 15-20 minutes reminded us a lot of last season, the one before that, the one before that, etc (you get my drift). United failed to slot into any pattern of play, consistent only in giving the ball away whenever they could and really looking like the visitors would bury them into the ground. With just five minutes gone, and with Barrett already having made an excellent save from Peschisolido, West Brom went ahead and it was that troublesome Canadian International Pesch who scored the goal. Foster and Campbell were in no man's land as the ball fell to Pesch on the edge of the box. They looked at each other for what seemed an eternity before they gave a brief chase much too late. Pesch slotted the ball past Barrett with ease - a soft goal, but well taken.
United started to ease back into the game and in the first half pulled out an excellent save from Miller at the foot of the post, and also had an effort cleared off the line. Both these chances came from corners, which can't be right : we never score from corners!! Never come close ... normally ! West Brom still looked dangerous coming forward, showing the difference in class by their movement off the ball, pulling United's defence apart on several occassions but never really coming close to goal again ...
The second half, with United pushing towards the home fans, was even better from a U's fan point of view. We gave the ball away on several occassions, but not to the extent of the first half, but West Brom were diabolical for the second 45 minutes - where did the class go ? I get the feeling the visiting fans were wondering the same thing.
United got their deserved equalizer on 57 minutes after a long throw from Marc Joseph wasn't cleared, the ball falling to Michael Kyd who blasted the ball past the helpless 'keeper. 1-1 and we were looking good. United were camped in the last 30 yards of the field for the last 20 minutes of the match, the ball rarely getting to the other end. Taylor thought he put the U's 2-1 ahead around 75 minutes when three United players were clear after a mistake by a defender. Kyd was ruled to have handled in the same challenge, so it stayed all square.
I can't help but think the referee saved West Brom on numerous occasions by awarding free-kicks for fouls on the 'keeper - some were legitimate decisions, but others were high on the dodgy scale. And that's without being biased. Honest! United continued to come close, substitues Benjamin and Taylor proving a handful for the Baggies defence. One concern was the referee's lack of guts to send West Brom's Butler off the field. Already booked for a very late, studs up challenge, he did the same from behind in the second half. The Ref decided no action was necessary.
All in all, United should have won. They had enough chances, but if they can play like that in the league we will be in the second division next year. But we all know about how the league form goes ;-)
RATINGS.
Barrett 7 - Busy in the first 20 mins, not a lot else to do.
Chenery 7 - Quiet, but effective. Excellent wing runs.
Wilson 6 - Gave the ball away too often.
Joseph 9 - *MoM* Solid ... great long throws causing plenty of trouble.
Foster 8 - Excellent game - we have to sign him !
Campbell 7 - Getting better.
Wanless 6 - Reasonable.
Rees 8 - Not as bad as Luton fans would have us think.
Kyd 8 - Full of running, tired towards the end.
Butler 8 - Looks promising with Kyd or Bruno up front.
Williamson 6 - Didn't even notice he was on the pitch until reading the teamsheet
this morning !
Subs :
Taylor 8 - Did well, must have been taking pills to make him run fast!
Benjamin 8 - Fans favourite. Played well in the 7 minutes he go to play.
Murphy - not used.
Ref: G B Frankland 4
The Abbey Rabbit's match report:
United making one change from Saturday's starting eleven with Williamson in for Preece were so overwhelmed in the openning 20 minutes that fans must have feared a repeat of the Donny - Forest match. With the Baggies midfield totally over-running United's midfield trio and expertly marshaled by Sneekes, Scotty had to be on his toes early on to turn a shot by Peskysolido round the post. But after only four minutes, Wanless - who had a poor match by his standards - gave the ball away, alowing Mr Brady to score one-on-one against Barrett, although Scotty made his life easy by going to ground far too early.
However, after 20 minutes United got to grips with the pace and Williamson and the increasingly influential Rees began to exert some influence in midfield. Kyddie and Butler looked sharp - although they weren't going to win much in the air(!), but gradually the tide began to turn. United had two efforts cleared off the line in as many minutes and Miller made an excellent save from Foster(?). Butler went close on a couple of occasions - but needs to find a goalscoring touch. With West Brom rattled, every one of their challenges left a little extra... but then again they're managed by Harford - so I expected them to be "robust".
Second-half carried on where the first left off - United pushed and probed and Chenery and Wilson began venturing forward... RM suprised us all by introducing Shaggy for Williamson. This gave us an extra dimension upfront, with Shaggy being able to hold on to possesson.
Kyddie scored an excellent equaliser following major confusion in the Baggies box. We should have had another, Shjaggy rifled home a shot from the edge of the box but Wanless was adjudged to have committed a foul. "Fash" came on for a tiring Kyd with 10 minutes to go and scared West Brom shitless! Memo to RM - bring him on earlier!
All in all an excellent result, with Foster and Rees outstanding. However, before we all count our chickens - the following:
We gave the ball away far to easily an never really closed West Brom down when they were in possession.
Neither Wilson or especilly Chenery inspired confidence - bring back Matty ASAP!
Many thanks to Gareth and SteveJ of the Abbey Rabbit for their match reports.
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