Town failed to return to second position in Division One with a stuttering display at the Hawthorns. Town lined up playing 4-4-2 as John McGreal and Fabian Wilnis had failed to reach fitness. Gary Croft played left-back whilst Mick Stockwell came in at right-back and Jermaine Wright and Jamie Clapham played the wide midfield roles.
Town started slowly, but largley dominated the first half. Some very poor defending from West Brom gave several chances to Town the best perhaps fallig to David Johnson when he instinctively headed when he had enough times to take the ball down and take his time over a shot. Johnson also had two efforts well saved by WBA keeper Jensen. The first was a curling left-foot effort tipped wide of the WBA post and the second was tipped over when Johnson found himself with the ball twenty yards out. Town's other efforts were either cleared or were snapped up by keeper Jenson. Once more Town's crossing was poor with 75% of balls played in going to the keeper.
The half was drawing to a close with Town fans frustrated by the lack of goals when against the run of play West Brom scored. Tony Mowbray was caught in posession by Richard Sneekes (although there was the possibility of a foul) and he played a neat ball through which slid under Mark Venus' foot and through to Lee Hughes who slipped the ball under Richard Wright. Hughes was to take no further part in the game as he collided with Wright as he slipped the ball home. The goal was a big blow for Town, although Hughes' injury could ultimately prove as big a setback for the Baggies.
The second half began with West Brom looking much brighter. Clearly Gary Megson had had a few words. Town, however, probably had the best chance of the early part of the second half when Johnson rounded Jensen after Magilton had played a ball into Scowcroft who headed down for Johnson. He did everything right until he hit the ball two foot wide of the post. Admittedly there were two defenders on the line and the ball had spun off Jensen, but there is no denying that it was the best chance Town had created. It seemed that Jim Magilton pointed this out to Johnson a minute or so later as Johnson was caught on camera pushing Magilotn in the face and James Scowcroft and Matt Holland intervened. Johnson is clearly a frustrated man at the moment and there have been stories circulating for some time that he is not happy at Portman Road and that he has had the odd fall out with team-mates. This however, was going too far for George Burley and Johnson was immediately substituted with Marcus Stewart taking his place. It could also see him in further trouble with his manager. Mick Stockwell had already gone off with a recurrence of his ankle injury with Martijn Reuser replacing him.
Town looked much the better side after this and created a succession of chances, most of which fell to Matt Holland. A header flew well wide, a shot crashed againsy Scowcroft and another shot went throught to Jensen tamely. Just as it was starting to seem that Holland was as profligate as Johnson had been earlier the Town captain equalised. A ball through from Jamie Clapham caught the West Brom defence at sea and Holland ran inside a defender before putting the ball over Jensen and into the net.
The rest of the game saw Town putting on most of the pressure but getting nothing for their efforts. Ironically it was West Brom who came nearest to scoring when a bouncing ball in the six yard box ended up hitting Bob Taylor and crashing off the post and into Richard Wright's arms. Both sides might have argued for hand ball as the ball appeared to hit first substitute De Freitas and then Gary Croft.
The game drew to a close with several talking points aside from the Johnson incident which will probably see him missing at the weekend, a fine, apologies all round, and then a return to the team. Town once again showed their worrying tendency to dominate a side and fail to do them any damage. Town were streets ahead in the first half, but only began to look really threatening after Stewart (who himself missed a good chance when he tripped over the ball) and Martijn Reuser came on. Town also seem to have more problems scoring when playing 4-4-2 than with five at the back. There could be a few changes at the weekend and I'm not just referring to David Johnson.
R Wright 7 Little wrong
Croft 8 Did well getting forward
Mowbray 6 At fault on goal
Venus 6 Dreadful passing
Stockwell 6 Some weak crosses (Reuser 7 A couple of nice touches, added width)
Clapham 6 Poor crossing
Holland 7 Scored, but missed several more
Magilton 8 Frustration with Johnson led to row?
J Wright 6 Largely anonymous
Johnson 7 Got in the positions, couldn't score and then that row... (Stewart 7 Did OK)
Scowcroft 6 Quiet performance