Town's 2006 ended in defeat as West Brom ran out 2-0 winners at the Hawthorns. The result flattered the home side a little with the Blues dominating possession for periods but Diomansy Kamara, following up a penalty saved by Lewis Price, and Jason Koumas scored in the second half to settle the game.

Jim Magilton was able to name an unchanged side for the fourth game running. Heavy rain throughout made the surface slippery for the most part but with an increasingly boggy area in and around the centre circle.

The Blues started strongly and Alex Bruce sent in a promising cross in the seventh minute but Jon Macken mis-timed his shot which went well wide. Soon after, Gary Roberts cut in from the right but failed to test Russell Hoult.

On 13 Owen Garvan had the ball in the net from a Bruce pass, but the linesman's flag had already been raised. Town continued to have most of the play but Sylvain Legwinski's edge of the area shot was easy for Hoult.

West Brom's first serious opportunity came in the 17th minute but Koumas sent his 25-yard freekick over the bar.

The Baggies were becoming more involved and Koumas was close to putting his side in front on 19 when he was played through on the West Brom left and hit a shot which Lewis Price pushed onto the top of the cross bar. Referee Clive Penton awarded a goalkick to Town, a decision which was illustrative of the official's overall performance.

Gary Roberts felt he was pulled back in the area in the 22nd minute but Penton gave only a corner. Soon after, the official and his assistant on the Town left failed to see Kevin Phillips push Dan Harding before breaking away into the Blues' area. Fortunately, the former Sunderland man isn't as quick as he used to be and Richard Naylor got back to cover and force him into a weak shot to Price.

Summer Town target Paul McShane received the game's first yellow card just before the half hour for a tackle from behind on Alan Lee.

Jason De Vos almost opened the scoring at the wrong end in the 31st minute, inexplicably heading towards his own goal from a Darren Carter corner. The Canadian will have been grateful for Price's sharp save on the line.

Carter picked up the game's second yellow card for a foul on Gavin Williams, before Macken turned and shot wide from inside the area from a Lee lay-off.

Town had enjoyed the better of the first half hour or so, but without creating too many clear-cut chances. The home side had improved as the half had worn on and had carved out the better of the opportunities.

Kevin Phillips had a great chance to put his side in front three minutes into the new half. Alex Bruce played the ball straight to the former England international who was left one-on-one with Lewis Price, the Wales keeper doing brilliantly to hand the ball away from goal. Kamara seized on the loose ball but could only shoot into the sidenetting.

Two minutes later the Albion were awarded a highly contentious penalty. Kamara beat Bruce and cut in from the left before hammering his cross against Sylvain Legwinski's arm. The Frenchman could hardly have reacted quick enough to remove his limb from the ball's path, but referee Penton, having initially given a corner, appeared to react to West Brom protests and pointed to the spot.

Price saved Kamara's spotkick, but the ball rebounded to the former Portsmouth man, who completed the job at the second attempt.

Town went looking for an equaliser, Roberts sent a ball flashing across the box, then Williams shot wide from 30 yards. Soon after, Simon Walton took over from Alex Bruce at right-back.

Kamara was sent away in space on the West Brom left in the 65th minute, but was held up by a number of Town defenders and in the end his shot failed to test Price.

Albion increased their lead three minutes later. Koumas was found all alone 25 yards from goal, the Welshman taking a touch before lashing a shot into the top right-hand corner of Price's net.

There seemed little way back for the Blues but, after De Vos had headed a Roberts freekick wide, Billy Clarke and Danny Haynes were introduced for Macken and Roberts as Jim Magilton switched his side to an attacking 4-5-1 formation with the two young strikers in wide roles.

On 75 Garvan played in Lee on the right of goal but the Irishman's shot into the sidenetting typified the Blues' afternoon in front of goal.

De Vos headed a Clarke corner over, then Haynes missed his kick when found inside the area by his fellow sub.

Richard Naylor was booked for handball and is now only one more yellow card away from a ban, prior to Jonathan Greening adding his name to Mr Penton's book for a series of fouls on Danny Haynes. From the resultant freekick, De Vos laid the ball back to Legwinski but his 25-yard freekick flew over.

Price made another excellent save at Phillips's feet with the striker through as the Blues pushed forward in vain hope of a goal.

At the final whistle a number of Town players, led by Jason De Vos, surrounded the referee complaining about the penalty decision, which had handed the initiative to the Baggies at a time when the game was finely balanced.

Town had enough of the match in the first half to have gone in a goal up at the break, but as so often lately failed to create too many good opportunities. Any half chances which were eked out were sent high or wide and Russell Hoult was never forced into anything above the ordinary.

At the other end, Lewis Price pulled off one or two excellent saves, particularly after the first goal as the Blues went looking for an equaliser and were on occasion left short at the back.

Town's performances continue to illustrate the dire need of a goalscorer, something which, hopefully, will be addressed during the transfer window.

Town: Price, Bruce (Walton 63), Harding, De Vos, Naylor, Legwinski, Garvan, Roberts (Haynes 68), Williams, Lee, Macken (Clarke 68). Unused: Supple, Richards. Att: 20,328.

Photo: Action Images

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