City EDS beat Baggies in final home game of season

It took City an intense 39 minutes of dominating football to break through a resolute West Brom. 

Taylor’s volley from close range nestled into the bottom corner to give Brian Barry-Murphy‘s side a deserved lead. 

And City skipper Hamilton saw off any potential danger of a  Baggies’ fightback with a fine solo effort 15 minutes from the end to extend our lead.

WHAT HAPPENED

The sun made a surprise appearance to set over the Joie Stadium as City’s final home game of the 2023/24 season got under way against West Brom.

And it began no differently to City’s other league battles, with Barry-Murphy’s team holding the ball for lengthy spells.

While West Brom tried to ease their way into the game, City were looking to pounce quickly.

After just six minutes Nico O’Reilly registered our first shot on target with a low strike which was smothered by Ben Cisse.

Then Jaden Heskey, who bagged a brace in our 3-1 win over Leicester City on Monday, thought he had put City ahead when he slotted a neat finish into the bottom right corner.

Celebrations, however, were cut short when the referee’s assistant signalled for offside.

Just under 15 minutes before the break, Barry-Murphy made a tactical change to try to increase City’s tempo with Tai Sodje replacing Joel Ndala and taking up a right wing position with Hamilton moving to the left. 

City continued to poke and prod West Brom’s box and more slick build-up by the young Blues saw Josh Adam find space to turn and unleash an effort towards goal but Ben Cisse collect the ball with Adam frustrated to not see his shot test the keeper more.

It seemed like City might be frustrated going into the break until the opener arrived in the 39th minute.

Kian Breckin’s goalbound shot was blocked by  team-mate Jaden Heskey, deflecting to left-back Taylor who volleyed the ball beautifully into the bottom corner.

City almost had a second before the break with Cisse twice denying Sodje.

A slower start to the second half, saw West Brom enjoy some  spells of possession but our defence stood resolute.

A flurry of substitutes from both teams just after the hour injected a new lease of life into the game as City looked to put the game out of reach for the visitors.

A quick attack by West Brom was stopped by Max Alleyne, on his welcome return to football after a lengthy spell out through injury.

City instantly countered with a long ball to Hamilton and his quick feet left Alex Williams feeling dizzy and on the back foot as the City forward cut in onto his favoured right foot which curled the ball into the back of the net on 75 minutes.

A spill at the back from West Brom almost put Adam through on goal on 83 minutes but Cisse managed to correct the error made by his defenders.

More brilliant play from Hamilton a minute later gave O’Reilly the chance to add his name to the scoresheet but his thumping strike rose high and over the bar.

West Brom failed to test True Grant in the final 10 minutes as City secured a fourth win of the season and a second clean sheet at home along with all three points. 

HOW WE LINED UP

Grant was in goal and protected by a back four of Michael Okeke, Kian Noble, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Taylor.

In City’s engine room, Breckin was positioned centrally with Adam and O’Reilly either side of him.

City’s attacking line was led by Heskey with Ndala and Micah tasked with testing the visitor’s full backs.

City: Grant, Okeke, Noble (Alleyne 67), Simpson-Pusey, Taylor, Breckin, Hamilton, Adam, Heskey, O’Reilly, Ndala (Sodje 31, Tibidi 67)

Subs not used: Wint, Galvez

West Brom: Cisse, Gordon (Williams 62), Shaw, Richards, Hall, Harper-Bailey (Cleary 69), Bostock, Whitwell, Maja (Sule 62), Heard, Malcolm (Higgins 69)

Subs not used: Foster  

WHAT IT MEANS

Barry-Murphy’s squad move up to 20th in the table, two points ahead of West Brom who drop to 23rd.

UP NEXT

City’s Elite Development Squad will end our Premier League 2 campaign at Reading on Monday 29 April, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 (UK).