Isiah Rankin opens the scoring at West Brom. Picture by Action Images/Stuart Crump) Wanderers

3-5-2

JUSSI JAASKELAINEN 7 Routine stuff until three minutes from time when he denied Sneekes with a smart reaction save. GUDNI BERGSSON 9 Outstanding in a defence that was under the cosh for long periods but never buckled. ANTHONY BARNESS 8 Serious questions are being asked about the Londoner, like 'why was he a free transfer?' MARK FISH 8 Over-elaborated at times but he got away with it; his tackle on Quinn was a match saver. JOHN O'KANE 7 Started on the right, switched to the left when Charlton was injured; sound on both sides. PER FRANDSEN 8 Got in a tremendous amount of work, most counter attacks were directed through him. FRANCK PASSI 8 The little general did as much as anyone to frustrate Albion, breaking up play with his ball-winning. GARETH FARRELLY 8 His well-taken goal was a reward for one of his best performances for the club, on and off the ball. SIMON CHARLTON

Losing another player after only 10 minutes was the last thing Wanderers needed. BO HANSEN 7 Cursed himself when he didn't cash in with an early header but he continued to graft up front. ISAIAH RANKIN 7

Took his goal like an expert finisher - calm, confident and deadly accurate; made way for Holdsworth. Subs: Leam Richardson (7) for Charlton 10 mins, Dean Holdsworth (7) for Rankin 54 mins, Ian Marshall (6) for O'Kane 67 mins, David Norris, Steve Banks. ALBION

4-4-2 Brian Jensen

Des Lyttle

Tony Butler

Matt Carbon

Neil Clement

James Quinn

Derek McInnes

Richard Sneekes

Jason Van Blerk

Lee Hughes

Jason Roberts Subs: Bob Taylor for Van Blerk 60 mins, Adam Oliver for Quinn 60 mins, James Chambers, Justin Richards, Chris Adamson. Referee: Phil Joslin (Newark).

Attendance: 17,316.

Goals: Wanderers - Rankin 23 mins, Farrelly 75 mins.

Shots/headers on target: Albion 5, Wanderers 5.

Corners: Albion 9, Wanderers 2.

Fouls committed: Albion 11, Wanderers 12.

Offsides; Albion 3, Wanderers 3.

Bookings: Albion - Hughes 35 mins (foul on Bergsson); Wanderers - Hansen 17 mins (foul on Roberts), Passi 32 mins (re-entering play without permission). MAN OF THE MATCH

GUDNI BERGSSON OUTSTANDING in a defence that did its job well, keeping the Albion strikeforce of Hughes, Roberts and Taylor, in the last half hour, out of harm's way.

The skipper made a string of vital interceptions, on the ground and in the air, and solid tackles. Anyone questioning the wisdom of extending his Reebok stay for another season got their answer at the Hawthorns. On this form he will be a major influence once again. MAGIC MOMENT

THE two goals were delightfully taken and ultimately secured the points but they might not have been so decisive if Mark Fish hadn't raced back to make a magnificent saving tackle - we've seen them so often - on James Quinn 30 seconds into the second half. MOAN OF THE MATCH

SAM Allardyce blamed the referee for 'forgetting' Franck Passi after ordering him off the field to take off his neckchain. Wanderers were under the cosh and couldn't afford to wait for permission to send the Frenchman back on. The result ... a yellow card. It's the law but it isn't half irritating. ACTION SHOTS

5 mins: Frandsen and Passi combine but Rankin's header from the Frenchman's cross lacks power.

7 mins: Albion appeal for a penalty as Fish concedes a corner under pressure from Hughes.

8 mins: Hansen gets on the end of O'Kane's cross but curses himself as his header is straight at Jensen.

GOAL!

23 mins: Richardson sends Frandsen away on a counter attack which ends with a neat back-heel by Hansen and a confident, low finish by Rankin.

27 mins: Barness gets a saving block on Hughes' cross after Sneekes pounces on Fish's loose clearance.

Half-time: 0-1.

46 mins: Fish makes one of his trademark saving tackles to get the block on Quinn after the Albion man had raced clear.

50 mins: Carbon gets a vital block on Farrelly's goal-bound shot after the Dubliner plays a smart one-two with Hansen.

67 mins: Passi feeds and Holdsworth slips past his marker before unleashing a right-foot screamer narrowly wide of Jensen's left hand post.

GOAL!

75 mins: Farrelly makes it look easy with a confident low strike after Holdsworth's shot is blocked by Carbon.

83 mins: Taylor is just too high with a back post header from Clement's corner.

87 mins: Jaaskelainen is forced into his first serious save, denying Sneekes at close range.

89 mins: Hughes meets Taylor's cross and rattles the crossbar with a header.

Full time: 0-2.