Analysis of Blackpool 2 Albion 3

There is something about Bloomfield Road that brings out the fighting spirit in Albion.

Whether it is the sea air, who knows? But in just two games Blackpool has become a very special venue for the Baggies in the early years of the 21st century.

Just as they did two seasons ago, they dodged a bullet by the seaside last night and battled their way to another highly memorable victory.

Should Roberto Di Matteo's men claim back a Premier League spot in May, fans will look back on last night's heart-stopping triumph just as fondly as they remember the SuperKev-inspired success of 2008.

Once again Albion struggled to find their top attacking gear aside from 20 impressive first-half minutes as a combination of freezing conditions, a pudding of a pitch, a fine effort by the hosts and some weariness from the visitors turned the occasion into half football match, half scrap.

But, just as they did under former boss Tony Mowbray on another attritional evening at the same ground, the Baggies found a way to win and claimed three points in a manner that gave them a bigger thrill than any one-sided success could have done.

They rode their luck, took their chances and capitalised on some disputed decisions by referee Dave Foster – although replays suggested the official got his big call correct. They weathered a late storm from Blackpool, as fierce as the blizzard that swept across the ground two hours before kick-off.

But the end result was a fabulously enthralling contest and the kind of victory that sent Albion back to their temporary North West training base wearing broad grins of satisfaction.

There were none broader than Roman Bednar, who grabbed his fourth and fifth goals in his last six appearances, and Graham Dorrans, whose late winner was his 12th goal of the season and his fourth penalty in as many matches.

The 2008 triumph had a profound effect, as they remained unbeaten for the remainder of the season and clinched promotion. While this win was too early in the campaign to trigger the same kind of run, it could have a similar effect on morale.

Albion sent a positive statement before the game, when Di Matteo named the same starting line-up for the fifth successive match.

They began the game on the front foot with some useful possession and moments of promise. But there was a huge setback for the Baggies on 25 minutes as some half-hearted defending allowed the Seasiders to go ahead.

Keith Southern darted too easily past a flat-footed Dorrans 25 yards out and none of Albion's defenders closed him down. The midfielder needed no second invitation to dart to the edge of the box and plant a shot into the bottom corner.

But the lead was short-lived, as the Baggies hit back within four minutes. An attack down the right looked to have broken down, but Chris Brunt nudged the ball between two defenders and Bednar pounced on it, rounding goalkeeper Paul Rachubka and keeping his composure for a left-footed finish.

The hosts were convinced the Baggies scorer was offside, but the flag stayed down and they were back on level terms.

Minutes later the linesman did come to Blackpool's rescue in a rightly ruled out 'goal' from Thomas, who arrived at the far post from an offside position to score from Bednar's run and cross on the right.

But Albion again got the benefit five minutes before half-time, as they got their noses ahead for the first time. Brunt picked out the galloping run of right-back Jara and ignored the latest offside shouts to skip forwards and cross for Bednar to finish from close range.

Di Matteo's men almost established a two-goal cushion just moments into the second-half, with a direct counter-attack almost ended with a bizarre own-goal.

Brunt's inswinging cross from the left was met by half-time substitute Andy Butler, whose header struck the frame of his own goal before going for a corner.

Deadline-day signing Andy Slory made a debut soon after the restart. The Dutchman soon tested Rachubka with his first touch in Baggies colours, collecting a short free-kick 25 yards out and hitting a drive that the goalkeeper held low to his right.

But the Seasiders began to press for an equaliser and the Baggies survived a minor scare on the hour-mark, when the ball sat up kindly for DJ Campbell in a crowded goalmouth and the former Birmingham forward sent an overhead kick wide of the target.

Slory should have marked his debut with a crucial third Albion goal moments later, after collecting a pass from Marek Cech and making unhindered progress into the area, but curled a low shot wide when he should have found the net.

Blackpool debutant Stephen Dobbie fired comfortably wide moments after stepping off the bench, as the hosts made a concerted effort to increase the pressure on Scott Carson's goal.

But Dobbie posed a major threat moments later jinking into the Albion box with the help of a couple of kind deflections, forcing Cech to make a vital interception to snuff out the danger.

With 13 minutes remaining there was another near miss for the men in tangerine, as Campbell turned 25 yards out and unleashed a shot that struck the angle of post and bar went behind.

The visitors failed to heed their warnings and they paid the price with 10 minutes to go, as Dobbie was given all the time he needed to collect a pass from the right, turn and pick his spot in the bottom corner.

Yet Albion's response to adversity was again impressive as substitute Ishmael Miller grabbed the initiative, burst into the box and drew a rash challenge from Butler to win his side a penalty.

Dorrans showed more of his trademark composure to drive the spot-kick hard to Rachubka's left.

Still there was time for two more scares for the Baggies, first when Butler's header was cleared off the line by Youssouf Mulumbu and then when Campbell headed narrowly wide from close range.

But they held on through five minutes of stoppage time and the expressions at the final whistle told their own story.

It was just normal day for Albion at the seaside. But it meant a hell of a lot.

By Steve Madeley