COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: WBA (A)

New shirts ? Same flaws

We took to the field resplendent in our new ?Old Gold? away top safe in the knowledge we had little or nothing to play for; with the Baggies in the same boat, we got an open game but, despite lots of talk from players during the week, nothing was produced to set pulses racing. Both sides created plenty of chances but the execution was almost non-existent. The one goal that was scored was the result of real dodgy defending rather than any exhilarating move.

There was a party atmosphere about the place which was typified by Scharner having his hair dyed Everton blue and white. Is he looking for a move? Also, their tormentor in chief Odemwingie was presented with a Player of the Month award from Barclays.

It was Odemwingie who had the first chance when a ball over the top saw both Distin and Jags look less than comfortable and the striker raced on but thankfully for us fired into the side netting. We did not learn the lesson as, on the 10 min mark, Brunt tried a similar ball over the top which Odemwingie again raced for, caught Distin wrong side and then left Jags on his backside and squared for Mulumbu to tap home. The sort of defending that gives managers and fans nightmares.

Chances came and went at both ends as the half rambled on. Big Vic burst into life and spun superbly in the box leaving him one-on-one with the keeper but, like a lot of our one-on-ones this season, he hit the keeper?s leg with the ball and got only a corner. Then Howard made a great save by tipping a Brunt free kick over the bar.

Strangely the crowd went quiet for a while... even though both teams took it in turns to attack; perhaps it was the fact an end product looked unlikely with each sortie that dampened the crowd?s ardour. Then some chances occurred and looked promising: Heitinga headed narrowly wide from a Coleman cross when better was expected... then, at the other end, Jags and Distin got in a mess again and Thomas skipped around Howard and shot at what he thought was an empty net but the alert Hibbert had read the situation expertly and cleared from the line. Howard then made a great point-blank stop from a Odemwingie header. It was then Carson?s turn to deny Big Vic who had got his head to a great cross from Hibbert and the keeper turned it away diving low.

Half-time and it felt like an end-of-season game when no-one really talked about the game but more of what should be done for next season. The opinions on that one if recounted here would run to about the same number of pages as ?War and Peace?...

Second half and no changes saw the first action being Neville getting a yellow card for a late tackle.

Where the first half had been open, the second started and continued in tighter fashion. Everton were on top;  from a right wing corner taken by Arteta, the ball went right across the area and found Osman unmarked but, after bringing the ball down, his hurried shot went high and wide. We then had another boring patch so I looked around to see if the protest scarf had resonated with away fans... but I saw none.

Then Neville had a shot and an appeal for a penalty when the ball seemed to be handled by Scharner; the Ref would have none of it... Just a little later, Arteta had a fierce shot blocked in a crowded box. Hibbert, who was having a steady game, was felled by Thomas, who was booked; then the manager took off the unimpressive Coleman and replaced him with Beckford. "Ah... 4-4-2," I thought... but no: Big Vic went right and 4-5-1 it stayed.

Scharner then had a good chance when he headed a cross to the far post into the side-netting; he could have done better. Maybe Hibbert?s last-ditch dive in put him off. We forced a corner and Arteta fired it in and Jags headed over. We had chances and territorial advantage yet never really looked like scoring... so, on the 70-min mark, the manager took off Neville and introduced Bilyaletdinov, who should have done much better when Hibbert put in another good cross but the Russian fired well over from no more than 10 yards.

We hardly had time to say hello to the Russian and berate him for his prolificacy when he got himself sent off for a rash late lunge. From my seat, I thought it was a bit harsh.

With 10 mins to go, the manager sent Rodwell on for Big Vic who had visibly tired after putting in a decent shift in the trying department. Nothing really happened even with 4 mins of added time... except for the stadium announcer to inform the home fans not to come onto the pitch and let the players do their end-of-season wave to the crowd. MotM ? Hibbert; at least he was steady and got forward and delivered some good crosses while others quite frankly disappointed me today.

Overall I thought a lack-lustre performance from players and fans as all seemed ready for the beach, to put a poor season behind us. Chelsea next week and another game with nothing on it; no one will want to get injured so we will have to make our own fun and hopefully enjoy the day out and hope for some hope in the transfer window, a good pre-season, and a better start to next season...

See you there!
UP THE BLUES

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