It soon started to fill up with the Burberry/Stone Island Cardiff lads so we soon moved on to the Cottage, a cracking pub (that has banned smoking) with loads of great cheap beers available.
At just before 2.30 we jumped in a taxi and were soon at the ground, well too early really, so for a laugh went to the Ninian Park for a drink! We kept rather quiet and had a swift drink before leaving at about 2.50.
We were soon in the ground and joined the 600+ Albion fans on the terrace/seats. No hassle before or after the game and like Millwall a much improved experience.
As for the match, well people blame Yelldell, but why have we suddenly switched from 5-3-2 that resulted in a 7 game unbeaten run to 4-4-2?
Virgo was dreadful at right back, Reid didn't look as comfortable playing right midfield. McCammon and Knight up front were not the lethal combination they reckon they will make, they were more like the original Little and Large.
The rain started just as the match kicked off and it hammered it down for about 15 minutes. We started reasonably brightly with Nathan Jones involved in everything. We had a couple of long range shots but no real threats of scoring.
Then it all fell to pieces.
Our static back four panicked on a Cardiff attack, the ball broke loose and I think Mayo was caught the wrong side of a striker, he pulled him back and the referee gave a penalty.
It was a well taken penalty with Yelldell starting to go the wrong way and Thorn calmly rolled it in the other corner.
Just minutes later and it was all over. A cross and a simple header with the back four once again caught static, and Yelldell given no chance.
After that the game was dreadful. Cardiff shut up shop, but did have the better chances.
Knight and McCammon created nothing, did we have a shot on target? I can't remember one.
On the final whistle we left and for once no groups on Neanderthals handing about and we were soon back at the station.
We were meeting friends in Swindon and ended up in a night out in Devizes (at a Jazz club, DON'T ask, but at least it sold Stowford Press Cider), so I was sitting just getting happily merry, verging on the falling off my stall state by 1am!
By that time I reckoned I could play the instruments better than the band that was on. Don't think I quite understand or appreciate jazz!
When somebody arrived and asked where they should hang up their coat, Liz's answer of 'on the end of the trumpet' drew some funny looks from the more jazz appreciating locals around us, but had me in stitches)
Yelldell - 5 looks short on confidence
Mayo - 4 very poor game again
Butters - 4 looked unsettled on a back 4
Hinshelwood - 4 was as unsure as the rest of the defence
Virgo - 3 dreadful display, get him back in the centre
Reid - 4 look out of sorts, he played well at right wing back, get back to 5-3-2
Carpenter - 5 looked lost as everyone else
Jones - 7 my MOTM but he faded in the second half
Nicolas - 5 battled hard, but no creativity
Knight - 2 poor game, looked uninterested
McCammon - 3 ran about but no end product
Harding (for Reid 51 minutes) - 3 made no difference to the game
Hart (for Mayo 51 minutes) - 3 as above
Watson (for Jones 68 minutes) - 3 as above
Not a good day at the office, can't we get back to 5-3-2
Mark R