Town will feel unlucky to have lost an action-packed encounter 3-2 to West Bromwich Albion. A suspiciously offside looking injury time goal from Geoff Horsfield finally won a game which had swung first one way and then the other with a number of vital refereeing decisions going against the home side.

The Blues lined-up as in the last few games but with Georges Santos replacing John McGreal at the heart of the defence, the Liverpool-born player having twisted an ankle in training on Friday.

Former Blue Thomas Gaardsøe was in the West Brom back three and received a warm welcome from his old fans and several of the Town players.

Town had the first chance of the game, Dean Bowditch running on to a quickly taken freekick on the right and crossing for Ian Westlake, who headed straight to Russell Hoult.

Shortly afterwards Lee Hughes sent a dangerous ball across the Town box but Geoff Hosfield failed to get on the end of it, the former Wigan man claiming he had been impeded by Fabian Wilnis.

Darren Bent went very close to a goal in the 12th minute, flicking a Matt Richards cross just over the bar from 10 yards out.

On 24 Horsfield went close with a 20-yard shot which hit the stanchion of the goal and went into the sidenetting, the away support erroneously celebrating a goal.

A minute later Jim Magilton forced Hoult to make a good save with a low 25-yard shot, the keeper tipping the ball round the post for a corner.

From the kick Hoult collided with Sean Gregan and dropped the ball, the pair of them left on the ground nursing injuries. With Town players desperately trying to latch on to the loose ball, referee Graham Laws inexplicably gave a West Brom freekick much to the annoyance of the North Stand.

Hoult needed treatment for several minutes to a leg injury and afterwards looked a long way from full mobility, Thomas Gaardsøe having to take the Albion freekick.

Just after the half hour Macedonian midfielder Artim Sakiri took a freekick from a dangerous position to the right of the Town area. With The Blues' record from set pieces poor, there was a collective sigh of relief when the ball went harmlessly into Kelvin Davis's arms.

Town were awarded a freekick on the right after a foul on Dean Bowditch in the 37th minute. Jim Magilton's took the kick which was headed wide by a combination of Georges Santos and Darren Moore.

On 41 Sean Gregan picked up a yellow card for throwing the ball away after a freekick had been awarded to Town, referee Laws moving the kick 10 yards nearer goal.

A minute later Town had the ball in the net. Jim Magilton corner was cleared to the edge of the area, Jermaine Wright knocked it back in and Darren Bent headed home, but from an offside position.

However, a goal which counted wasn't too long in coming. Jim Magilton played the ball wide to Matt Richards, the full-back bringing it forward before feeding Tommy Miller. The midfielder took the ball into the area between the hesitant Gaardsøe and Darren Moore, before slipping the ball past the immobile Hoult.

Town deserved to go in one-up at the break having enjoyed the best of an entertaining half. Portman Road had also been livelier than on most occasions this season, the importance of a win perhaps helping create the more positive atmosphere.

At the break West Brom replaced the clearly ailing Hoult with Joe Murphy, a decision which probably ought to have been taken much earlier, Hoult looking well out of sorts after his collision with Gregan. Also sent on was Jason Koumas for Artim Sakiri.

Kelvin Davis was quickly into action after four minutes of the new half, blocking well from Andy Johnson. Soon after Geoff Horsfield tapped in a cross from close range but was offside.

On the hour, Matt Richards was shown a yellow card for a foul on Lee Hughes, Shefki Kuqi entering the fray for Dean Bowditch soon after.

Kelvin Davis saved well with his feet from Horsfield on 66, after a sharp break from Koumas who had vastly improved the visitors' midfield since coming on at the break.

Ian Westlake went down in what appeared to be a lot of pain on 69, the youngster having mistimed a tackle on James Chambers, who also needed attention. Eventually, both players returned to action and Westlake was lucky to avoid a yellow card for the challenge.

West Brom were back on terms on 71 after Matt Elliott had harshly been adjudged to have fouled Horsfield 25 yards out, most in the ground feeling the freekick should have gone the other way. Jason Koumas curled a trademark effort in off Kelvin Davis's left post.

Within two minutes Albion were ahead. Sub Lloyd Dyer ran on to a Horsfield ball and beat Davis from close range. While West Brom had improved after the break, Town hardly deserved to be behind, but had been caught sleeping for the second goal.

Town introduced Martijn Reuser for Westlake, who may have been feeling the effects of his earlier knock.

Reuser had an immediate effect, creating a Town equaliser four minutes after coming on. The Dutchman crossed from the left, Shefki Kuqi getting in ahead of the keeper in the air, the ball running loose for Darren Bent, who netted his sixth goal in five games.

The Blues were having more of the play as the game entered the last 10 minutes, having seemingly come through a spell where the visitors had had the better of the match.

Reuser hit a shot straight to Murphy on 79, but three minutes later Gregan headed a Koumas cross over Davis's crossbar.

The pacy Lloyd Dyer tried to add to his earlier goal but first headed on to the roof of the net and then forced Davis into a save.

With two minutes remaining Lee Hughes probably ought to have been shown a red card after kicking out at Kelvin Davis. The Town keeper had comfortably grabbed the ball but as he ran past him Hughes lashed out a foot.

Seemingly, neither referee nor linesman saw the incident and Mr Laws decided to show a yellow card.

As is often the case in circumstances like this, Hughes would play a large role in Albion's winning goal in the third of four minutes of injury time. Koumas broke forward and ran unchallenged at the Town defence and played the ball wide to Hughes. The controversial striker crossed low to Horsfield — well offside when Koumas had passed to Hughes — who tapped home.

With only seconds left there was no time for Town to hit back. Unusually after a game which Town had lost, the side was applauded and not booed at the final whistle.

Town probably deserved at least a point from the game, having had much the best of the first half. The addition of Jason Koumas to the Baggies' line-up was crucial as was the failure of the Town midfield to track back when the Blues were without the ball.

The loss leaves Town in ninth place with a victory at Rotherham next week very much required to get the play-off challenge back on track.

Town Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Santos, Elliott, Magilton, Miller, Wright, Westlake (Reuser 73), Bent, Bowditch (Kuqi 60).

Photo: Action Images

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