West Bromich Albion

West Brom 0-1 West Ham
West Ham warmed up for the FA Cup final in their penultimate Premiership game of the season with a win at West Brom. Relegated West Brom should have taken something from the game but were undone by some indecisive forward play. Strikers Nathan Ellington and Kanu missed a catalogue of chances, though the Nigerian had a couple of reasonable second-half penalty claims turned down. Just before the interval Nigel Reo-Coker punished West Brom's woeful finishing with a thumping shot. The win for West Ham moved them up to ninth in the Premiership, though the FA Cup finalists suffered a blow when striker Dean Ashton limped off in the first-half. That West Ham were allowed to come away with the win had much to do with West Brom's lack of confidence in front of goal. Bryan Robson's have the third worst goalscoring record in the Premiership and their inability to put the ball in the net was evident throughout. In the opening 10 minutes Kanu blasted the ball over the bar after Christian Dailly had casually given the ball away, while Ellington flashed a header wide. West Ham also had striking problems, though their problems were more injury related. Just before kick off West Ham had lost Matthew Etherington, who was injured during the warm-up. West Ham then had to contend with a second injury when Ashton went off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Teddy Sheringham. While West Ham adjusted to those changes, West Brom continued to miss chances. Kanu's trickery gave him the time to pass to Ellington, only for the former Wigan striker to drag his shot wide. It was left to a midfielder to show both sides' forwards how to put the ball in the net. Bobby Zamora's run had taken him into the box but he tried to beat one man to many and Reo-Coker came to his rescue, crashing the ball past Tomasz Kuszczak. Early in the second-half Ellington missed a third chance, shooting straight at Shaka Hislop from a good position. Despite that hat-trick of misses Ellington, to his credit, continued to show plenty of willing - fizzing a shot narrowly over the bar and then trying his luck with a diving header. Ellington's striking partner Kanu had a similarly frustrating second-half, heading wide and then having two penalty appeals turned down. Ronnie Wallwork finally did get the ball in the net for West Brom but his effort was ruled out for offside. Substitute Marlon Harewood also went close for West Ham on a couple of occasions in the closing stages. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Brom manager Bryan Robson: "Over the last 10 games we've had about eight penalties not given and it has cost us big style. "Those two in this game you can't get any more blatant. "The way the players kept at it and the fans kept behind them was a credit to everyone associated with West Brom." West Ham manger Alan Pardew: "Dean's a real honest boy and I think he'll be sweating right up to the game. "It's not a pull, he just felt it, and we have to protect ourselves. "I had wanted to play the cup final team against Tottenham on Sunday but I'm losing bodies left right and centre at the moment." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Brom: Kuszczak, Albrechtsen, Watson, Curtis Davies, Robinson, Greening, Wallwork, Quashie, Gera, Ellington, Kanu. Subs Not Used: Hoult, Martinez, Carter, Nicholson, Inamoto. West Ham: Hislop, Dailly (Konchesky 73), Gabbidon, Fletcher, Scaloni, Newton, Reo-Coker, Ward, Reid, Ashton (Sheringham 23), Zamora (Harewood 71). Subs Not Used: Walker, Katan. Goals: Reo-Coker 42. Att: 24,462 Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Birmingham and Baggies relegated
Birmingham and West Brom have been relegated from the Premiership after Portsmouth beat Wigan 2-1. Birmingham could only draw 0-0 with Newcastle and are now four points behind Portsmouth with one game to go. The Baggies play West Ham on Monday but are nine points behind Pompey with only six points available from two games. Blues boss Steve Bruce said: "We knew it was a tough job and did everything possible. When Shay Given denied us at the end we knew it just wasn't to be." Pompey's 20 points from their last nine games assured their survival. But West Brom and Birmingham have each struggled throughout the whole campaign. Bruce added: "We still thought we were good enough to stay up. Our supporters were fantastic but unfortunately we failed to deliver for them. "We had to beat a Newcastle side who have been on their best run and were very confident. We worked our socks off but it didn't go for us. "We've enjoyed our time in the Premiership and this is where the club needs to be. "It's a big job for whoever it will be to try and lead us back and there's a lot of work to do over the summer. I hope I can do that but now is not the appropriate time to talk about it." The Blues mounted a late surge after they held champions Chelsea to a goalless draw at St Andrews on 1 April. They went on to beat Bolton and Blackburn while earning a point after draws at Wigan and Everton with their only defeat in the last seven games coming at derby rivals Aston Villa. But their efforts have proved too late in a season during which their injury problems have had an immensely damaging effect. West Brom escaped relegation on a dramatic final day last season but there was no great escape this time, with a lack of goals proving their biggest downfall. Their last win came against Blackburn on 4 February and they have earned just three points in 10 games since that victory.

West Brom handed Gaardsoe boost
Thomas Gaardsoe has given relegated West Brom a fitness boost by being told he can start training again after last month's groin operation. The Danish international defender was expected to be sidelined for anything between three and six months. But the former Ipswich player, 29, has been given the green light to start running again on Wednesday, according to the club's official website. Neil Clement is also making good progress after a knee operation.

Pearson in talks over Ipswich job
West Brom assistant boss Nigel Pearson is in talks with Ipswich over the vacant managerial position. Baggies boss Bryan Robson has confirmed Pearson is talking to the Tractor Boys about taking over from Joe Royle. "We have reluctantly given Nigel permission to speak to Ipswich," said Robson. "He is an important part of my staff and we don't want to lose him. "But Nigel would like the chance to be a manager in his own right and this is a very good opportunity for him." He added: "I don't want to stand in Nigel's way." Tony Mowbray, Terry Butcher, Phil Parkinson and Ian Holloway have all been linked with Ipswich, who confirmed on Thursday they had made an approach for Northampton boss Colin Calderwood.

Hartson completes West Brom move
Celtic striker John Hartson has joined West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee, and signed a two-year deal. The 31-year-old had a year to run on his contract in Scotland, but was keen to return to English football. \"The feeling of scoring a goal at Celtic Park is something that will live with me always,\" he told the website of his representatives, the Stellar Group. \"I had five fantastic years in Scotland and been lucky enough to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world.\" The Welshman, who retired from international football earlier this year after winning 51 caps, added: \"The time is now right for me to make a change and to return to English football. \"I spoke to Bryan Robson and was impressed with his plans for next season. \"Obviously he wants Premiership football back at the Hawthorns as soon as possible and that leaves me with another big challenge on my hands. \"I feel fit and healthy and cannot wait for the new season to start now. I am looking forward to a new adventure.\"

Wallwork set to sign new contract
West Brom's Ronnie Wallwork is set to sign a new contract at the Hawthorns. The 28-year-old's existing deal is due to expire in June 2007 and he will follow Paul Robinson and Curtis Davies' decision to commit, should he sign. The midfielder joined the Baggies from Manchester United in 2002 and was on loan at Bradford City in 2004. And manager Bryan Robson told the club website: \"He is very close to signing a new contract. I think it is all agreed, it's just a matter of him signing it.\" Robson added: \"It's good that players like Curtis Davies, Paul Robinson and Ronnie Wallwork are committing themselves to the club. \"It means they can settle down and concentrate on their football and hopefully do a great job for the club.\"

West Brom v Hull
West Brom boss Bryan Robson's only selection poser looks to be whether to play Manchester United-target Tomasz Kuszczak or Pascal Zuberbuhler in goal. There will be no Neil Clement, Thomas Gaardsoe and Diomansy Kamara, who are out with injury, but new signings John Hartson and Chris Perry will start. Hull will also boast new faces with Sam Ricketts, Michael Turner, Dean Marney and David Livermore figuring. Nick Barmby's a doubt and Ian Ashbee, Danny Coles and Steve McPhee are out.

West Brom 2-0 Hull
New recruit John Hartson's first two goals for West Brom got their new campaign off to a winning start. The summer signing from Celtic opened his Baggies account when he lifted his shot over goalkeeper Boaz Myhill after Nigel Quashie's neat chip. Hull were denied a penalty in the final minutes when John Welsh went down under a challenge from Junichi Inamoto. But the referee waved away the appeals and with Hull still fuming, Quashie played in Hartson who slid home. In the first half, a dominant West Brom did everything but score. Hull's first real chance came in the 25th minute when summer signing Dean Marney managed sent his shot wide, while Ryan France wasted a free header from Marney's corner. New goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler almost handed the visitors an opener in the first half when he missed Sam Ricketts' cross allowing the ball to clatter off the post. At the other end Quashie and Ronnie Wallwork and Zoltan Gera had decent chances to score. But it was Welshman Hartson who eventually found the net in his first competitive match for the Baggies with two clinical finishes in the second half. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Brom manager Bryan Robson: \"I'm sure the fans are going to take to him. He leads the line well and is a much more clever player than people give him credit for. \"I think the fans are going to see a really good centre forward in Hartson. \"After the way we played in the first half we deserved all three points.\" Hull manager Phil Parkinson: \"It was the clearest penalty I've seen in a long while. It's a penalty and the lad's got to be sent off because John only had to tap in. \"The lads are disappointed not to have got anything from the game but I think it's all positive today.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Brom: Zuberbuhler, Robinson, Perry, Curtis Davies, Watson, Greening (Albrechtsen 90), Quashie, Wallwork (Inamoto 87), Gera (Carter 78), Hartson, Ellington. Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Chaplow. Booked: Greening. Goals: Hartson 57, 90. Hull: Myhill, Dawson, Delaney, Turner, Ricketts, Elliott (France 28), Welsh, Marney, Fagan, Parkin (Burgess 68), Duffy (Andrews 76). Subs Not Used: Duke, Thelwell. Booked: Marney, Welsh. Att: 20,682. Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).

Cardiff 1-1 West Brom
Riccardo Scimeca scored against his former club to give Cardiff a deserved point against West Brom at Ninian Park. The visitors got off to a flyer when Zoltan Gera headed past Neil Alexander after just four minutes. Alexander then saved well from Paul Robinson and Nathan Ellington, but Cardiff levelled on 33 minutes when Scimeca met Stephen McPhail's cross. Cardiff pressed hardest for the winner, with Michael Chopra and Kevin Campbell denied by keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cardiff boss Dave Jones: \"We gave West Brom a good game and this was a yardstick for us as we matched them all the way. \"I thought there was power and pace in our play and the movement all round was good. \"We pounded them for 80 minutes, but then they used their experience to take the sting out of it as the game drew to a close.\" West Brom boss Bryan Robson: \"It was a very competitive game and Cardiff threw everything at us but we hung on and perhaps finished the stronger. \"On this form Cardiff are sure to be challenging for play-off places at the end of the season as they played with a lot of energy, passed the ball well and caused us problems. \"It was only in the closing minutes that I felt we gradually got on top and at the end we were the most likely side to nick the victory.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cardiff: Alexander, Gilbert, Loovens, Johnson, McNaughton, Parry (Flood 85), McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley, Thompson (Campbell 73), Chopra. Subs Not Used: Whitley, Howard, Glombard. Booked: Chopra. Goals: Scimeca 33. West Brom: Zuberbuhler, Watson, Perry, Curtis Davies, Robinson, Wallwork (Inamoto 81), Quashie, Greening (Chaplow 63), Gera, Ellington (Carter 43), Hartson. Subs Not Used: Albrechtsen, Hoult. Booked: Wallwork, Gera, Perry. Goals: Gera 4. Att: 18,506 Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).

Gera going nowhere, says Robson
West Brom boss Bryan Robson is adamant international midfielder Zoltan Gera will not be leaving the club. The Hungarian playmaker, 27, has said he wants to follow goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak in moving to the Premiership. But Robson said: \"Zoltan has two years on his contract and I can guarantee he is going nowhere \"Tomasz was always going to be a problem once he knew Manchester United were in for him but he will be the only movement out.\" Gera put in a transfer request earlier in the summer following West Brom's relegation from the Premiership However, Robson turned it down and has also rejected bids from Wigan for the player. And Gera insists he will give his all for the Baggies, despite his reluctance to play in the Championship. \"Many people ask me how I can live with the fact that I play in the Championship,\" he said. \"I must admit that it's quite difficult for me. I've stressed many times that I would like to play in the Premiership because I think I should be there. \"I know that many clubs are interested in me from the Premier League and it affirms my conviction. \"Of course, it's hard to deal with a situation like this because it doesn't matter if I wanted to play in a higher division if my club officials had decided that they wouldn't let me go anyway. \"But I'm a professional player and my club is very important to me and anyone who knows me can confirm that football is so important for me. \"That's why it's evident that I'm trying to do my best in the games.\" Gera has played in West Brom's first three games of the campaign, scoring in the draw against Cardiff.

Pompey closing in on Kanu capture
Portsmouth are set to complete the signing of Nigeria international striker Kanu, reports Sir Stanley. The 30-year-old forward, who was released by West Bromwich Albion at the end of last season, has been training with Harry Redknapp's side. An announcement about a deal is expected from the south coast club. Former Arsenal and Ajax striker Kanu has also been interesting Hamburg, but looks set to snub Champions League football to stay in the Premiership. The Nigeria international first moved to England in 1999 when he joined Arsenal from Inter Milan for £4.5m. He scored 30 league goals in just 63 starts for the Gunners before securing a free transfer to West Brom in 2004. But he managed just nine goals for the Baggies in two seasons.

Robson reluctant to risk striker
West Brom boss Bryan Robson will only start Nathan Ellington in Saturday's game with Colchester if he is 100% fit. The striker has withdrawn from both of the Baggies' previous two games after suffering from a tight hamstring. \"It seems as if it has settled down and he's got a chance of being available,\" Robson told the club website. \"But if he is involved at the weekend he has to be 100% right this time because twice now he's had to come off within the first half.\" Robson is also currently without fellow forward Diomansy Kamara, who is recovering from a broken foot and is around four weeks away from first-team action.

West Brom v Colchester
West Brom striker Nathan Ellington faces a late fitness test on his tight hamstrings and boss Bryan Robson will not risk him if less than 100% fit. Neil Clement is expected to miss out again as he continues his recovery from a knee operation. Midfielder Johnnie Jackson is set to return for Colchester after sitting out last weekend's loss with a dead leg. George Elokobi begins a three-match ban following a red card in pre-season so John White deputises at left-back.

West Brom 2-1 Colchester
Colchester are still waiting for their first points of the season after goals from Nathan Ellington and Ronnie Wallwork gave West Brom victory. Ellington put Albion ahead from the penalty spot on 11 minutes after Wayne Brown fouled John Hartson. Wallwork doubled the lead after 41 minutes with a sharp finish to Paul Robinson's cross. Substitute Jamie Guy headed Kevin Watson's cross in after 81 minutes, but the U's could not find an equaliser. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Brom boss Bryan Robson: \"We dominated the game and we could have scored more goals. \"At 2-0 up the lads should have been able to play with a lot of confidence. \"But we were a bit nervy, we weren't fluent and we went on to the back foot. \"I could not have been any more pleased with the first-half display but we fell away in the second-half.\" Colchester manager Geraint Williams: \"We caused them problems in the second-half but by then we had given ourselves a mountain to climb. \"I thought the players put all the things we planned to do into the game and we were unlucky not to come out of it with a point in the end. \"But if we are to be successful in this league we can't shoot ourselves in the foot like we did in the first-half.\"

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