Report - West Brom v Blackburn Rovers

The Christmas period came to an end with another defeat for the Baggies and it completed a miserable time for Roberto di Matteo. The game also saw manager's favourite Gabriel Tamas suspended for three matches following his stupid red card challenge on Diouf and Jara picked up another yellow card which means that he will miss the first game of the New Year.

This was a game that Albion should have won against a team that were ripe for the taking. Blackburn's defence was shaky and slow and they even had to contend with losing keeper Paul Robinson at half time but the Baggies could not take advantage. Instead it was Blackburn that made the most of the frailties in Albion's back line. Tamas had a stinker and Jara, with his family over from Chile to watch the game, was abysmal, in fact he would have been more use had he sat in the stands with them.

The visitors went ahead after only three minutes with a goal from Kalinic, who added a second in the second half after being left all alone to head past Carson. This was all before being sent off for a lunge at Paul Scharner.

The Baggies did manage to level in the first half with a goal from the impressive Thomas after some good play from Dorrans, Morrison and Tchoyi but that was as good as it got. Albion were a shadow of the team that they can be and they looked toothless up front for most of the game despite having 21 attempts at goal.

A third goal in the second half by Mame Biram Diouf ended Albion's resistance.

Di Matteo had tried to shake things up in the game by introducing Barnes and Cox but in truth Cox isn't up to this level of football and Barnes is so inconsistent that it was a risk putting him on. Ishmael Miller should have been introduced but for some reason never made it on to the pitch which was surprising because Peter Odemwingie never looked like scoring all afternoon.

West Brom are only three points above the drop zone now and will definitely need reinforcements in the transfer window, particularly up front, if they are to avoid relegation to the Championship yet again.

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