West Brom condemned by early defensive errors

Mar 4 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Post

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 ARSENAL 3

West Bromwich Albion’s defensive frailties were exposed following a first-half collapse to Arsenal.

Nicklas Bendtner scored twice for the visitors, with Kolo Toure grabbing one in between.

Chris Brunt equalised Bendtner’s fourth-minute opener to give Albion hope but the much-maligned Baggies backline reverted to type, conceding twice during a desperate opening 45 minutes.

Albion have conceded 11 goals in their last three Premier League games at The Hawthorns, 13 if you include the Burnley FA Cup game.

Arsenal squandering second-half chances, notably Bendtner being denied his hat-trick by the post.

Tony Mowbray, the manager, made two changes. Jay Simpson was ineligible, which opened the door for Luke Moore to make his first start since Albion’s defeat at Aston Villa, while Jonathan Greening replaced Borja Valero, who dropped down to the bench.

It didn’t take long for the Gunners to end their run of four games without a league goal. Brunt only half-cleared a fifth-minute corner. The ball was played to Bendtner, who smashed a low shot into Scott Carson’s bottom right-hand corner.

Arsenal’s joy was short-lived. Toure brought down Moore. Brunt, some 20 yards from goal, drove his free kick through the wall and past Manuel Almunia to bring Albion level before the clock had struck eight minutes.

Moore went close to putting Albion ahead in the 14th minute. The ex-Villa man brought under control Gianni Zuiverloon’s long ball. He unleashed a strong shot which almost sneaked under Almunia but was just about held by the Arsenal No 1.

The play became more stretched as both sides turned to a more expansive style. Moore should have done better in the 37th minute when he nodded a Paul Robinson flick-on over the bar from Brunt’s corner.