English Premier League – First Half review: West Bromwich Albion versus Newcastle United (Part 2)
In the 20th minute, Thomas once again went to the ground after a challenge by Simpson but the referee didn’t blow his whistle for a foul which outraged the crowd at the Hawthorns stadium. In the 21st minute,
Sol Campbell’s mistake allowed Odemwingie to sneak in for a one-on-one with the Newcastle goalkeeper, Krul. However, the West Bromwich striker failed to make the goalkeeper work as his shot was way off target as the score line remained at 0-0. In the 24th minute,
Newcastle United got their first corner of the match after Andy Carroll forced an error out of the West Brom defence.
The ensuing set piece was headed downwards by Sol Campbell but the ball fell to Stephen Taylor who tried an outrageous twist shot but he failed to connect with the ball as West Brom retained possession. In the 26th minute,
Newcastle built pressure on their opponents by forcing another corner. This time it was Shola Ameobi who connected with the ball played in by Gutierrez but his header was just above the West Brom goal as the score line remained at 0-0.
By the 30th minute of the match, the game was opening up as both the sides had an equal share of possession unlike at the start of the encounter. Newcastle’s main strategy was to hoof the ball upwards towards the
likes of Andy Carroll and Ameobi whereas West Bromwich played the ball on the ground and used their wingers to get the most out of every spell of possession. In the 30thminute, Andy Carroll had his first chance of the match to head his team in the
lead but Gutierrez’s cross was just too fast for the striker to get a proper connection as the Englishman’s header went out of play.
During the 32nd minute of the match, West Bromwich Albion finally took the lead after a steady spell of possession. Thomas was the man who created the goal in reality as he was tackled by the Newcastle defence,
the loose ball then fell to Morrison who played in Tchoyi. The Cameroonian midfielder found himself in space and he made full use of it as he curled the ball with his left foot into the back of the Newcastle net as Krul was helpless with the wonderful finish.
The midfielder’s goal gave West Brom the lead as the score line reached 1-0.
In the 37th minute, Tchoyi almost doubled West Brom’s need as he was played in by Thomas. However, Krul was on guard to save at his near post as the Cameroonian midfielder was denied his second goal of the match.
It was a good save by Krul but a save that one would’ve expected the young goalie to make. West Bromwich ended the half strongly after getting the opening goal as they kept Newcastle on the back foot.
Thus the first half ended soon after with West Bromwich Albion in the lead thanks to a marvellous finish by Tchoyi. The Cameroonian was West Brom’s best player of the first half.
Tags: