West Brom - 1 Leeds United - 3 For a team whose recent success has been founded almost entirely on parsimonious defence, West Bromwich Albion find themselves in a position of some difficulty. Of their 27 league wins last season, 15 ended 1-0. The last time they conceded three goals at home was in December 2000, more than a season ago.
But those clean sheets are proving somewhat harder to come by in the Premiership. "We've got to find a way of playing that keeps us tight at one end and creates chances at the other," said Gary Megson, their manager. Simple as that.
As Megson pointed out, there is little chance of winning 1-0 without scoring first and West Brom will rarely have a better chance than on Saturday.
Andy Johnson and Jason Roberts were principal culprits, blazing wide and high respectively, each from less than eight yards, during an opening 35 minutes of impressive domination. "All that happened was that in the first 40 minutes, when we played as well as we have in my time here, we didn't score," said Megson.
"It's a fine dividing line." His opposite number Terry Venables admitted: "It was a bit hairy."
In the end the Baggies' dogged resistance was ended by Leeds' own golden retriever, Danny Mills, who sprinted down the right wing, head down and hopeful, before pulling the ball back for Harry Kewell to score.
It was their second chance, and came just two minutes after Lee Bowyer had missed the first. From that moment the visitors came alive, and proceeded to produce a display of attacking football so scintillating that the title pretenders will once more be looking to Leeds with respect and no little fear.
At the heart of their display was Lee Bowyer, who despite the pleas from fans, continues to stall on a new contract and promises to become one of the greatest bargains inspired by Bosman at the season's end.
Bowyer, for his part, said he was glad he did not move to Liverpool. "I didn't feel it was right for me to go there," he said. "It was like I was running away from my problems. Everyone else seemed to be saying I wanted to go, wanted to leave to further my career, but I didn't see it that way.
"I know people would think it was a good move for me and that I would be stupid to turn it down, but it is going to take more for me to leave here."
Bowyer played much of the match with a smile on his face and scored one of the most joyous goals of his career in the 53rd minute, running on to Kewell's back-heel flick and sending a swerving shot over and, just to be on the safe side, around Russell Hoult.
It was the most eye-catching of Bowyer's contributions in a display of incessant energy (predictably) and discipline (surprisingly). Soon afterwards he went scampering down the right wing before finding Mark Viduka, who strolled round Hoult before scoring the third.
Lee Marshall's last-minute consolation, meanwhile, gave West Brom the dubious privilege of becoming the first midlands' Premiership team to score a goal.
But tomorrow night at Highbury they continue their nightmare start, which has already seen them lose 1-0 at Manchester United.
"If we can defend as well as we did at Old Trafford and attack as well as we did today, we'll start getting results," said Megson. Not many will be the familiar 1-0. Not to them, anyway.
Guardian Service
WEST BROM: Hoult, Moore (Dichio 60), Gilchrist, Sigurdsson, Balis, Clement, McInnes (Wallwork 73), Johnson (Marshall 73), Gregan, Dobie, Roberts. Subs Not Used: Jensen, Taylor. Booked: Sigurdsson. Goals: Marshall 90.
LEEDS UNITED: Robinson, Mills, Woodgate (Radebe 61), Matteo, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke, Barmby, Kewell (Keane 82), Viduka, Smith. Subs Not Used: Martyn, Kelly, Dacourt. Booked: Woodgate. Goals: Kewell 39, Bowyer 52, Viduka 70.
Referee: S Dunn (Avon).
