QPR Play Well vs WBA...Miss a Penalty....Lose...And Are in Big Relegation Trouble

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The match reports and message boards comments say how well we played; if only we hadn't missed the penalty when it was 1-1, etc and WBA beat QPR 1-1. But the bottom line is that we did lose; have 7 games left and are in big,big relegation trouble.

Last week John Gregory on the Official site called the WBA game "
... our biggest match of the season, without any doubt.
"A win against West Brom and then another versus Preston will certainly go a long way to securing our future in this division.''
"It's absolutely massive for us, but if we get the support we've had over the last few weeks - both at Loftus Road and on our travels - it will have a huge influence on the side..."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1000523,00.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - JOHN GREGORY "SPOT OF WOE"

Gaffer John Gregory described the 2-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion as his 'lowest point' in the QPR hot-seat.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk moments after the defeat to the Baggies, Gregory said: "I'm absolutely gutted.

"This is the worst I've felt since I arrived here. To their credit, the lads are holding their heads up high, because they know we did enough to win the game.''

Gregory believes Paul Furlong's second half spot-kick miss proved to be the turning point, commenting: "If the penalty goes in, we win the game comfortably - simple as that.

"(Dean) Kiely made the save and then (Zoltan) Gera bangs home the winner from an acute angle.

"Lee Camp had very little to do today, yet he's had to pick the ball out of his net twice, because we haven't defended well enough.''

Despite the defeat, Gregory is adamant performances of a similar nature between now and the end of the season will see his side pull clear of the dreaded drop zone.

"The lads were brilliant, as they have been over the last few weeks,'' he said.

"Gareth Ainsworth really set the standards - that's the best I've seen him play for us since I arrived here in September.''

Gregory added: "I'm gutted, but we'll re-group and re-focus for Tuesday.

"We'll be on the front foot against Preston, no doubt about it.''

http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~1004800,00.html


SPORTING LIFE - MANAGERIAL COMMENTS

GREGORY STILL CONFIDENT OF SURVIVAL

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QPR Manager John Gregory remains confident his team will avoid relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship despite seeing them slip to a 2-1 defeat at home to West Brom.

Rangers remain one place above the drop zone after substitute Zoltan Gera's late winner at Loftus Road.

Gera's 84th-minute goal came after Albion goalkeeper Dean Kiely had saved Paul Furlong's penalty.

But Gregory insisted: "My boys are very positive and because there are loads of positives for us to take from that game.

"West Brom are basically a Premiership team and we should have beaten them. We fought tooth and nail from the first minute to the last and gave everything we had.

"This morning we were fourth from bottom with a game in hand and that is still the case but the games are running out. So we are still in the same position and still believe we will stay up.

"On Tuesday night we play Preston and have a chance to move up two places - that's how positive we are feeling ."

Gregory's side fell behind three minutes into the second half when Jason Koumas fed Kevin Phillips who fired home from 10 yards out.

QPR hit back through striker Dexter Blackstock, who headed in Gareth Ainsworth's cross at the far post just a minute after coming on as a substitute.

Rangers were handed a great chance to go ahead when furlong was fouled by Paul Robinson.

But Kiely dived to his right to push away the spot-kick, and Gera's close-range volley from Nathan Ellington's left-wing cross won it for the Baggies.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray acknowledged Kiely's penalty save was the turning point in the match.

Mowbray said: "It gave us the impetus to go on and win the game.

"Had we gone 2-1 behind it would have then been difficult to break QPR down."

He added: "It wasn't a great game but at this stage of the season it's all about results and I will certainly take a scrappy 2-1 win away from home.

"There are times when you have to battle and play to the style of the opposition. QPR were very direct at times but we have to be able to play all types of football."

The victory means Albion leapfrog local rivals Wolves and move into fifth place in the Championship table.

But Mowbray played down suggestions they could yet achieve automatic promotion.

"We've got enough matches left to do it and you would think that 18 more points would be enough," he said.

"But we cannot effect other teams' results - only our own. There are six games left and we just move onto the next challenge, which is Stoke City.

"They are another team that get the ball into the box and we will need to defend well"
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/03/31/SOCCER_QPR_2nd_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1

WBA OFFICIAL SITE - MANAGERIAL COMMENT

Mowbray hails penalty-king Kiely
Tony Mowbray
Mowbray: "I think the penalty save gave us the impetus to go on and win the football match."
TONY Mowbray believes Dean Kiely's 67th-minute penalty save was the turning point in Albion's spirited 2-1 win at struggling QPR.

And the Hawthorns boss insisted it was a case of forget the performance, feel the points as the Loftus Road victory lifted the Baggies above Wolves into fifth spot and within six points of the automatic-promotion places.

Kevin Phillips opened the scoring three minutes after the break but events took a turn for the worse in a mad second-half four-minute spell.

Rangers substitute Dexter Blackstock cancelled out his former Southampton team-mate's strike by snatching a 63rd-minute leveller with his first touch of the game.

The hosts then looked set to get their noses in front when Paul Robinson fouled Paul Furlong in the box.

But Kiely kept out ex-Blues striker Furlong's spot-kick and super-sub Zoltan Gera completed a terrific turnaround for the visitors when he volleyed the winner six minutes from time.

"I think the penalty save gave us the impetus to go on and win the football match," said Mowbray.

"If we'd have gone 2-1 down it would have been very difficult for us to break them down.

"The conditions were difficult, with the wind swirling around and the pitch being a bit bobbly.

"It wasn't a great game of football but it was exciting for spells and it's about getting results at this stage of the season.

"It was a scrappy 2-1 win.

"But there was quality in our two finishes and there has to be times when you have to battle and play the style of the opposition.

"As John Gregory said in his own programme notes, QPR have gone a bit more direct than he'd like and I thought we coped with that pretty well.

"We've left with three points and we move on.
Dean Kiely
DEAN MACHINE...Hero Kiely keeps out Furlong's penalty

"We've got to be able to play all sorts of football and it's all about getting results now.

"That's one more game out of the way. We've got six more to go.

"We move onto Stoke next week, another team where we'll have to head the ball in our box.

"It's all about fine margins and I would suggest we've played a lot better than that and lost.

"But the three points were all that mattered today. We ground out a result."

Gera's late winner brought much cheer to the near-3,000 Baggies fans camped behind QPR keeper Lee Camp's goal.

And Mowbray was full of praise for the way Albion's sell-out support got behind his team.

"The support was amazing," he said.

"The away support, in particular, has been fantastic all season.

"They've stuck with the team through some sticky spells when we couldn't win away.

"Today's win is some reward for their loyalty.

"I'm delighted for them the winning goal came at the end of the ground they were sat."
http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10366~1004867,00.html?ptvParm=


Mowbray marvels at Magic Magyar

Zoltan Gera
Mowbray: "My last words to Zoltan as he went on to the pitch were 'go and get us a winner'."

TONY Mowbray hailed away-day specialist Zoltan Gera after the Magic Magyar stepped off the bench to give Albion's promotion hopes a huge boost with an 84th-minute winner at QPR.

The Hungary ace followed up his midweek Euro 2008 qualifing strike for his country in their 2-0 win over Moldova by volleying home fellow super-sub Nathan Ellington's cross within seven minutes of entering the action against John Gregory's strugglers.

Gera's Loftus Road effort took his tally to five for the season, adding to his three points-earning league goals on the Baggies' travels at Cardiff, Luton and Crystal Palace and his header in Albion's 3-0 FA Cup win at Wolves.

"Zoltan scored in midweek for Hungary," said Mowbray.

"My last words to him as he went on to the pitch were 'go and get us a winner'.

"Zoltan made his reputation in his first season at The Hawthorns by scoring goals from coming in at the back stick with towering headers or volleys.

"Today we're delighted he scored another volley."

The Hawthorns boss also insisted Gera's and Ellington's crucial contributions were prime examples of how all his fringe players have a part to play in the fifth-placed Baggies' six-game run-in.

"I've said to the players to be disappointed when you're not starting but always be prepared to come off the bench and influence the game," Mowbray added.

"The whole group of players have got an important part to play and if we're going to be successful we'll do it together.

"It's great to see people coming off the bench and having an impact.

"Nathan did well when he came on as did Zoltan.

"Zoltan's an international footballer.

"I think he's striving to reach the heights of his first season here and he has got immense quality.

"He's a fantastic professional and a joy to work with every day - let's hope he's got plenty to contribute in the future."

The Hawthorns boss also reserved words of praise for loan star Sam Sodje, whose bravery in battling the aerial threat of QPR's giant strike-duo of Marc Nygaard and Paul Furlong in swirling winds in the West London encounter gave Albion the foundation for victory.

"The game played into Sam's strengths today and he's a whole-hearted, committed player," said Mowbray.

"While we want to be expansive and play through midfield, sometimes the opposition doesn't let you do that and you have to stand your ground."
http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10366~1004963,00.html


WBA OFFICIAL SITE MATCH DEAN Kiely's penalty heroics set up a precious Baggies victory as super-sub Zoltan Gera's late winner edged this scrappy Loftus Road affair in the visitors' favour.

Recalled Kevin Phillips' 16th goal of the season three minutes after the break gave Albion the lead.

But Dexter Blackstock clawed lowly Rangers level in the 63rd minute with his first touch just seconds after coming off the bench.

It could have got even worse for Tony Mowbray's men three minutes later when the hosts won a penalty.

But Kiely came to the rescue by superbly palming away ex-Blues hitman Paul Furlong's spot-kick.

And the Baggies made the most of their good fortune when Gera's fifth of the campaign six minutes from time ended their five-game winless run - and sent the near-3,000 travelling Baggies fans behind the goal into raptures.

Darren Carter was handed his first start in seven league games as he replaced Gera in the Baggies midfield.

Neil Clement
CLEM'S A GEM...Defender Neil beats Ainsworth to the ball
Nathan Ellington dropped to the bench to make way for second top scorer Phillips while Martin Albrechtsen returned to the bench from a one-game ban.

Neil Clement (heel) and Paul Robinson (groin) both started with niggling injuries.

And Clement was in the thick of the action straight away as he spotted Robert Koren out wide on the right.

The Slovenia international controlled the pass before crossing into the six-yard box, where Lee Camp gathered just ahead of Phillips.

Rangers responded immediately when Camp pumped the ball forward.

Winger Lee Cook pounced on Marc Nygaard's knockdown to weave between Koren and Paul McShane before flashing the ball across the face of the six-yard box.

Top scorer Diomansy Kamara let fly with a fiercely struck 25-yard shot in the fourth minute but saw his effort drift inches wide of the right-hand post.

Two minutes later, Koren picked up a loose ball and sailed a dipping 30-yard volley inches over the crossbar, with Camp frantically back-pedalling.

Kevin Phillips
SUPER KEV...Phillips and Co celebrate his opener
Albion kept up the pressure when Jason Koumas' free-kick strike crept under the hosts' wall in the 12th minute and Koren tried to deflect it past Camp, who gathered comfortably in the end.

QPR boss John Gregory was forced into a substitution in the 15th minute when Inigo Idiakez limped off and was replaced by Steve Lomas.

The Hoops started to exert some pressure on Albion and, in the 21st minute, lively right-winger Gareth Ainsworth burst into the box before feeding Furlong, who poked a first-time effort wide from 12 yards.

McShane had to make a vital interception in the 27th minute to deny Furlong a tap-in from Ainsworth's right-wing cross.

Rangers threatened again six minutes from the break when the visitors needed on-loan Sam Sodje, making his second start, to head over his own goal to deny Furlong a clear chance from Ainsworth's centre.

But Albion regained some attacking momentum before the break when Carter's mishit shot fell kindly for McShane.

The Ireland defender's cross found Kamara who headed wide of the mark.

The Senegal hotshot had another headed chance moments later, this time from Robinson's left-wing ball, but he again missed the target from close range.

Mowbray made a change at half-time as Carter, who had been troubled by a groin injury he suffered in the pre-match warm-up throughout the first half, made way for Ellington, who was paired with Phillips in attack.

Kamara was switched to the right wing and Koren tucked into the centre of the park alongside Jonathan Greening.

A slip from Clement presented Ainsworth with the chance to find Furlong in the box in the 48th minute, only for the Rangers striker to fluff his shot from ten yards.

Sam Sodje
SAM'S THE MAN...Sodje keeps a close eye on Blackstock
And the Baggies punished the hosts with a swift counter-attack.

Koumas threaded Phillips in on goal and the ex-England international skipped past two challenges in the box before powering the ball home from 12 yards.

Three minutes later, Phillips tested Camp with a long-range effort, which the QPR keeper just managed to palm away low to his left.

The hosts' aerial threat was still posing problems for Albion and, in the 57th minute, Nygaard's knockdown teed up Lomas, who forced Kiely into a superb flying save with a sweet volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Gregory made a switch in the 62nd minute as Blackstock came on for Nygaard to add some pace to the Rangers forward line.

And it turned out to be an inspired substitution as Ainsworth out-stripped Robinson down the right and crossed to the back post for the former Southampton striker to head home with his first touch of the game - less than a minute after coming on.

The game looked liked turning on its head in the 66th minute when Furlong burst through and was brought down in the area by Robinson. Referee Paul Armstrong didn't hesitate in pointing to the spot.

The QPR striker picked himself up to take the kick but saw the former Ireland stopper dive low to his right to pull off a fine one-handed save and keep the scores level.

Dean Kiely
ON THE SPOT...Kiely keeps out Furlong's penalty
Blackstock again went close in the 71st minute as he powered onto Cook's left-wing corner but headed just wide of the left-hand upright.

Kiely had to be alert four minutes later when Lomas latched onto Furlong's chest down and fired a fierce effort straight at the Albion custodian, who gathered at the second attempt.

And the Baggies made the most of Kiely's excellence in the 84th minute.

Gera, a 77th-minute replacement for Phillips, smashed a superb back-post volley into the roof of the net after great work by fellow sub Ellington.

'The Duke' had chased down Kiely's long punt and out-muscled Rangers right-back Michael Mancienne before finding Gera with a pin-point left-foot cross.

Albion then comfortably ran down the clock to head back up the M40 with all three points.

QPR (4-4-2): Camp; Mancienne, Culip, Stewart, Bignot; Ainsworth (Ricketts 83), Bolder, Idiakez (Lomas 15), Cook; Furlong, Nygaard (Blackstock 61). Subs not used: Cole (gk), Kanyuka.

Jason Koumas
ON THE RUN...Koumas skips past Cook
ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; McShane, Sodje, Clement, Robinson; Koren, Greening, Carter (Ellington HT), Koumas; Phillips (Gera 77), Kamara (Chaplow 86). Subs not used: Daniels (gk), Albrechtsen.

GOALS: QPR - Blackstock (63). ALBION - Phillips (48), Gera (84).

BOOKINGS: QPR - Blackstock (over-celebrating 63), Ainsworth (foul 81), Camp (unsporting behaviour 90+4). ALBION - Gera (over-celebrating 85).

REFEREE: P Armstrong (Berkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 14,784.

ALBION STARMAN: Dean Kiely.
http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10366~33980,00.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE MATCH REPORT

Paul Furlong's missed spot-kick proved decisive, as Zoltan Gera broke Rangers hearts with a late, late winner.

The R's succumbed to a first defeat in four outings, when the Albion substitute powered home a stunning back post volley in the 84th minute.

Earlier, Kevin Phillips put Albion in front inside three second half minutes, only for R's substitute Dexter Blackstock to equalise with his first touch of the afternoon 14 minutes later.

Furlong was denied from the spot by Dean Kiely soon after, before Gera came up trumps for the visitors in the dying embers of a truly enthralling second period.

In truth, Rangers created the better opportunities in a free-flowing opening 45 minutes.

Gareth Ainsworth was at the heart of the R's positive display, providing chances for both Furlong and Marc Nygaard.

Furlong's effort from eight-yards on the quarter hour finished inches wide of the post, while Nygaard headed over from close range.

Albion were restricted to shots from distance, with Diomansy Kamara and Robert Koren firing wide.

The second half began at an electrifying pace, as the Baggies stormed into a one goal advantage on 48 minutes - courtesy of Phillips' 13th goal of the campaign.

Rangers weren't behind for long though, with Blackstock heading home at the far post on 62 minutes, just seconds after he entered the fray from the bench.

Hope suddenly sprang eternal and when Furlong was sent crashing to ground inside the box on 65 minutes, a third goal appeared inevitable.

Kiely hadn't read the script though, as he dived full stretch to his left to tip Furlong's spot-kick round the post.

Gera entered the fray soon after and came up with the decisive winner, to leave Rangers embroiled in the scrap for survival.

Buoyed by the victory against Leicester City last time out, John Gregory named an unchanged line-up.

Rohan Ricketts had to make do with a place on the bench after his loan move from Wolverhampton Wanderers, as did the fit-again Blackstock.

It was Rangers' hero of the hour at Leicester a fortnight earlier - Marc Nygaard - that created the R's first chance inside the opening 90 seconds.

The Great Dane's commanding presence spelled panic in the Albion area and when he fed Cook, the livewire winger left two in his wake before thrashing an enticing ball across the face of the six-yard box.

The Baggies were by no means second best though, with Diomansy Kamara firing a yard or so wide with an audacious 25-yard strike that had Lee Camp diving at full stretch to his left.

Long range shooting was certainly the order of the day for the visitors in the opening exchanges.

On nine minutes, Inigo Idiakez's misplaced pass fell at the feet of Robert Koren, whose dipping 30-yard half volley arrowed inches over the bar.

Albion were enjoying the lion's share of possession as the clock ticked towards the 11th minute, with Jason Koumas seeing his deflected free-kick well saved by Camp.

Rangers were forced into a change on 13 minutes, with Steve Lomas replacing Idiakez - who appeared to be the victim of a hamstring injury.

The substitution did little to deter the R's though, with Ainsworth's bustling run ending with him feeding Paul Furlong. Arriving on to the ball at pace, the evergreen striker poked his eight-yard effort a yard or so wide of Dean Kiely's left hand post.

Ainsworth was enjoying a productive afternoon from the right flank and when he pounced on Sam Sodje's weak defensive header and delivered an excellent cross midway through the half, only a vital defensive header from Paul McShane denied Furlong a certain tap-in at the far post.

The R's right winger was in formidable form. On 38 minutes, his out-swinging cross caused yet more panic in the Albion rearguard, from where Sodje produced a magnificent goal-saving header to thwart the on-rushing Furlong.

Referee Mr Armstrong thought otherwise though, awarding a Baggies goal-kick, when it appeared for all the world as though the Reading loanee got the final touch.

The second half was just three minutes old when Albion took the lead.

Moments after Furlong squandered a golden opportunity from yet another Ainsworth cross, the Baggies broke at pace.

Kiely's long throw found Jason Koumas, whose neat, threaded pass ripped open the Rangers defence.

Phillips - with time to turn - left Damion Stewart for dead, before smashing the ball beyond Camp with a powerful right footed strike from 12-yards.

Buoyed by his goal, Phillips forced Camp into a fine one handed save a minute later, before half-time substitute Nathan Ellington did the same from fully 25-yards on 51 minutes.

Undeterred, Rangers created a chance of their own on 56 minutes, with Lomas' rising half volley forcing Kiely to dive full stretch to his left to tip the ball to safety.

Sensing the game was slipping away from his side, Gregory introduced Blackstock at the expense of the tiring Nygaard on the hour.

The substitute made an immediate impact.

Ainsworth yet again proved to be the catalyst, racing to the by-line before pulling the ball back across the face of goal.

Blackstock arrived bang on cue, heading the ball back in the direction from where it came, giving Kiely absolutely no chance.

The R's had vocal appeals for a spot-kick waved away moments later, when Furlong appeared to be dragged to ground.

Referee Mr Armstrong had no qualms about awarding one 60 seconds later though, after Furlong broke into the box and was sent tumbling to ground by a combination of Neil Clement and Paul Robinson.

The same player picked himself up, brushed himself down, only to see his left footed effort saved by Kiely, low to his right.

Despite the missed penalty, Rangers were enjoying a purple patch, with Blackstock heading a yard wide of the far post from Cook's corner kick and Lomas forcing Kiely to gather at the second attempt after his pop-shot from distance.

But it was Albion who bagged the all-important third goal of the contest six minutes from time, when Ellington left Mancienne trailing in his wake and sent an inviting ball to the far post.

Substitute Gera made no mistake, smashing an unstoppable six-yard volley into the roof of the net, to the delight of the 3,000-plus Albion fans.

QPR: Camp, Bignot, Cullip, Bolder, Ainsworth (Ricketts 82), Cook, Stewart, Idiakez (Lomas 13), Furlong, Nygaard (Blackstock 61), Mancienne.

Subs: Cole, Kanyuka.

Scorers: Blackstock 62

Bookings: Blackstock 62, Ainsworth 81, Camp 93

WBA: Kiely, Robinson, Clement, Greening, Kamara (Gera 85), Koren, Carter (Ellington 46), Koumas, McShane, Phillips (Gera 77), Sodje.

Subs: Daniels, Albrechtsen.

Scorers: Phillips 48, Gera 84

Bookings: Gera 84

Referee: Mr P Armstrong

Attendance: 14, 784
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10373~33980,00.html


INDEPENDENT

QPR 1 West Bromwich 2: Top Gera wounds Gregory
By Conrad Leach at Loftus Road
Published: 01 April 2007

This result will have come as a devastating blow to QPR and a heartening one for West Brom. At opposite ends of the table, the struggling hosts fell behind but recovered, only to miss a penalty which would have given them the lead before ultimately losing to a late strike by Zoltan Gera. It leaves them one place outside the bottom three.

The Baggies manager, Tony Mowbray, conceded that Dean Kiely's save from Paul Furlong's penalty made their eventual win possible. He said: "That save gave us the impetus to go on and try to win. At 2-1 down it would have been very difficult."

Having fallen behind to a Kevin Phillips strike, the QPR manager John Gregory executed a masterful substitution in bringing on Dexter Blackstock for the struggling Marc Nygaard. With his very first touch, the club's top scorer, who has been recovering from injury, met Gareth Ainsworth's cross and his header beat Dean Kiely.

That was 15 minutes after Phillips had given the visitors the lead after a pass from Jason Koumas, but five minutes later Gregory's most experienced player engineered and then squandered a chance to give Rangers real hope of getting out of relegation trouble.

Latching on to a long ball over the defence, Furlong outsprinted two Baggies defenders before being brought down inside the area. The former Birmingham forward took the penalty but Kiely dived full-length to turn the ball around the post.

Mowbray then flexed his muscles as two of his substitutes combined for the winner. Nathan Ellington crossed to the far post and Gera was there with a volley six minutes from time.
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article2411305.ece


MAIL - Gera nets late West Brom winner

Dean Kiely produced a fine second-half penalty save before Zoltan Gera netted a late winner to help West Brom leapfrog midlands rivals Wolves in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Kiely, signed from Portsmouth in January, kept out Paul Furlong's 66th-minute spot kick with the scores level after substitute Dexter Blackstock had cancelled out Kevin Phillips' opener.


Gera then struck six minutes from time with his seventh goal of the season as Albion secured a priceless victory in the scramble for promotion.

The Hoops, however, now find themselves in deep relegation trouble just one point and one place above the bottom three.

Manager John Gregory resisted the urge to hand on-loan Wolves midfielder Rohan Ricketts his full debut, while defensive duo Neil Clement and Paul Robinson shrugged off heel and groin injury problems respectively to start for Albion.

The hosts went into the game buoyed by a three-game unbeaten streak that had seen them run out convincing 3-1 victors at Leicester last time out and they started brightly, Lee Cook firing wide from 12 yards inside 90 seconds.

Diomansy Kamara flashed wide from distance moments later in a blistering opening before midfielder Robert Koren curled just over from 25 yards.

Wales international Jason Koumas has been the cornerstone of Albion's push to rejoin the Barclays Premiership after reviving his career under boss Tony Mowbray.

He crashed a 25-yard free-kick straight at on-loan Derby goalkeeper Lee Camp as Albion continued to dominate proceedings while the home side were dealt a blow when playmaker Inigo Idiakez limped off injured and was replaced by Steve Lomas.

Kamara continued to cause problems with his pace and his cross-shot brought a fine sprawling save from Camp shortly before the half hour, with Phillips also testing the goalkeeper with a dipping 20-yard volley.

Kiely comfortably collected Adam Bolder's tame 25-yard effort shortly afterwards as a lively opening 45 minutes came to a close.

Mowbray opted to introduce Nathan Ellington at the interval in the hope of mustering an opening and it worked as Phillips broke the deadlock three minutes after the restart with a clinical finish.

Koumas played in Phillips after Albion broke quickly and the former England international beat two defenders before coolly placing the ball high past Camp from 12 yards.

Only a fine parry from Camp denied Phillips a second from 20 yards two minutes later before the England Under-21 stopper thwarted Ellington from a similar range as Albion threatened to run riot.

On the hour Gregory threw on youngster Blackstock and it proved an inspired decision as the former Southampton striker restored parity with virtually his first touch of the game.

Gareth Ainsworth made inroads down the right wing and whipped in a teasing cross to allow Blackstock to ghost in unmarked at the back post and head home convincingly from six yards.

The home side were then gifted the perfect opportunity to take the lead when Kiely clumsily upended Paul Furlong in the area and referee Paul Armstrong had no choice but to award a penalty.

Furlong dusted himself to take the spot kick himself but his low effort was dramatically tipped round the post by Kiely.

Veteran striker Furlong was then made to pay for his miss as Albion snatched the winner six minutes from time as Ellington produced an inch-perfect left-wing cross and Gera steered a six-yard volley past Camp to clinch all three points.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=445860&in_page_id=1779

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