Analysis of Albion 3 Blackpool 2

Timing is everything in the race to reach the Premier League and Albion seem to have theirs spot on.

Whether it is Ishmael Miller, James Morrison, Robert Koren, Roman Bednar or Giles Barnes, the pieces of the Baggies' puzzle are slotting into place at a crucial juncture in a crazy season.

A second home win in the space of four days felt like another pivotal moment in their campaign to bounce back to the top flight.

But then, we've said that before and been made to look a mite daft.

After the slip-ups at Bristol City and QPR that threw the cat back among the pigeons in the battle for promotion, few sane Baggies fans will be making any confident predictions despite another triumph of character in adversity on Saturday.

Suffice to say, things look to be coming together at the perfect time for Roberto Di Matteo as he braces himself for the most nerve-racking two months of his burgeoning managerial career.

Saturday's win over an admirable Blackpool side certainly suggested that the force is back with the Baggies at a time when momentum really counts.

Take Miller's first start in 15 months and his first goal in even longer. His impact was swift, his performance menacing, his timing perfect.

Take Koren's second fabulous left-footed goal in four days. Whatever the reasons for his sluggish early-season displays, the Slovenian has rediscovered his match-winning best form as spring approaches. His timing is perfect.

And take the emergence of Barnes, who marked his first significant outing in Baggies colours on Saturday by winning the crucial penalty that sealed the win. His timing was perfect.

Morrison's return from 10 months of injury frustration had already reaped rewards in previous games, and while he found the going tough at the weekend, his presence could yet prove crucial.

And the sight of Bednar back in action after a damaging absence through groin problems was another hugely encouraging sign on a day that once more dragged Baggies fans through the emotional wringer but ended on an enormous high.

The home form that left Albion down a little too often in the pre-Christmas months has improved to coincide with a spell of four Hawthorns fixtures in 15 days. Once again, ideal timing.

And, as the race for the top two enters the final straight the first real signs that Nottingham Forest's charge could be running out of steam are emanating from the City Ground.

News from Deepdale of Forest's nightmare against Preston provided a backdrop of opportunity for a tense afternoon at The Hawthorns on Saturday.

And Albion eventually cashed in on Forest's troubles, although Di Matteo's men again made things tougher than they needed to be.

For a while it looked like being Miller's day, then Koren looked like he might steal the headlines.

But ultimately it became another tale of Albion's collective character shining through in the latest tough moment of a roller-coaster campaign.

It was hard-going from the outset as Blackpool went ahead before the match had even begun to take shape.

The switched play from the right and found the feet of their chief weapon, Charlie Adam, who could barely believe the space he was afforded to strike the ball right-footed, beat Scott Carson from 25 yards and find the net off the keeper's right-hand post.

Crucially, however, Albion regained their poise quickly and were behind for just six months.

Loan signing Steven Reid had already headed a decent chance over the Blackpool crossbar before a moment of quick-thinking vision from Chris Brunt released Miller into the clear behind the Seasiders' defence.

Cool finishing was not always the big striker's trademark before his injury but he showed nerves of steel to slide a low shot past the advancing Matt Gilks.

They could have led before half-time thanks to a succession of half-chances, the best of which came either side of the half-hour.

Jonas Olsson hit the woodwork, Miller had a shot blocked and Reid cleared the bar with a follow-up in the same scramble from a corner.

And Miller then planted an unmarked far-post header wide from a Morrison cross.

Thankfully it took just eight minutes of the second half for the hosts to take the lead through another piece of Koren brilliance.

The goal was a virtual carbon copy of his match-winning strike against Sheffield Wednesday as he cut inside from the right flank and weighed up his options before unleashing a curling left-footed missile that bent inside the far post.

The tide appeared to have turned decisively in the Baggies' favour with the game dying out until, with 18 minutes remaining, Blackpool struck back from nowhere.

Adam was again influential as he aimed a fine cross to the far post, where substitute Brett Ormerod beat Marek Cech too easily in the air and headed into the roof of the net to stun the Baggies.

There was still time for one more twist, however, as Barnes, who had been peripheral since stepping off the bench at the break, came into his own.

First he angled a cross to Bednar, who narrowly failed to force it in at the near post.

And then Barnes collected a Bednar pass, drove towards the box and was fouled by Ben Martin and watched in delight as referee Jonathan Moss awarded a penalty.

Blackpool were furious and replays suggested the offence might have come outside the box.

But Graham Dorrans blanked out the surrounding furore to blast home his seventh spot-kick and 14th goal of the season.

This time there was no way back for Blackpool, whose spirit was finally crushed by their feelings of injustice.

In fact it was Albion who almost scored again though a Reid header from a Dorrans free-kick, but the effort drifted over and the tension was preserved until the end.

The final whistle brought an almost audible mass sigh of relief around The Hawthorns at a potentially priceless leap towards the brass ring.

It was another significant victory for Albion's steely resolve.

And an encouraging sign of a fine sense of timing.

By Steve Madeley.