Boucebackability - a bad word coined by a bit of a bad manager, really, but it does aptly describe West Brom's performance yesterday against a beleaguered Southampton outfit.
Iain Dowie came up with the phrase originally during a Soccer AM interview to encapsulate a side's plight to quickly get over bad results - and, no matter how good or bad the wording is, the message is the same: good Premier League teams get over bad results quickly.
And that's what The Baggies have done.
I recently blogged that West Brom had dropped the perennial loser tag even after losses against Newcastle and Manchester City. They have acclimatised to the Premier League's demands if you are to be successful - in dusting down your top, straightening your shorts, getting the socks above or below the knee (fashion depending) and playing your way out of bad results.
Steve Clarke's men had been unlucky in previous results and had elements of luck in Monday's match against the Saints. Peter Odemwingie's handling of the ball in the build-up to the first goal was evident during replays, but there was no luck about his second.
Nigel Adkins' troops can feel hard-done-by when thinking back to the first goal, even though it did get played from one side of the pitch to the other before Odemwingie's tame shot hit a lazy Maya Yoshida leg and the deflection proved too much for the sprawling - fourth keeper of the season - Paulo Gazzaniga.
Southampton's defensive frailties were once again signified by Albion's second. Liam Ridgewell pinged a perfect counter-attack ball to the rapid Shane Long - who terrorised Jose Fonte and Yoshida all night with quick, darting runs and intelligent play - whose in-swinging cross was plucked from the air by the lunging Odemwingie.
But, so many times, sides don't capitalise on weaknesses and Albion did. Southampton had their moments. Talisman Ricky Lambert should have done better with a header at goal from the six yard box. But, on the whole, the McOlsson axis of stand-in skipper Jonas Olsson and Gareth McAuley held firm.
Claudio Yacob was restored to central midfield alongside action-man partner Youssuf Mulumbu who should have taken the 'man of the match' award.
Too often are forward players who notch up a goal giving precedence over better performers because of the plaudits of goal-getters, and this is such a case. Mulumbu was diligent, hard working and passed around the pitch, long and short, with great authority. Not to mention bossing Morgan Schneiderlin on numerous occasions.
And here's West Brom, so long the nearly men, picking up the results they should be picking up. They deserve the equal fourth standings and fans are reveling in new found Premier League stability and status as "Pride of the Midlands, we know what we are."
Here's to Premier League mediocrity; long may it continue.
No comments:
Post a Comment