Late Baros winner gives Robson spot of bother
Robson was upset Villa midfielder Gareth Barry was allowed to take a quick free-kick with 12 minutes remaining after blocking attempts by his own side to employ the same tactic throughout the 90 minutes.
Barry’s curling effort was handled by Steve Watson and Baros made no mistake from 12 yards to complete an unbeaten festive period for David O’Leary’s side.
Robson’s gripe was not with the penalty award but with Styles for back-tracking on his policy towards free-kicks earlier in the game.
He said: “I am disappointed with the first-half performance. We didn’t play but in the second half we turned it around, were more positive and put Villa on the back foot.
“When we got the equaliser, we looked the more likely team to go on and win the game.
“But every time we had free-kicks, the lads said we had to play to the whistle. Yet when Barry asks to take a free-kick quickly he was told he could do it, so there seems to be one rule for one team and another for the other.
“That’s the only gripe we have got. The referee hadn’t allowed us to take free-kicks quickly where Villa were allowed to. That decision cost us. It was a handball but Barry shouldn’t have been allowed to take the free-kick like he did.
Robson admitted West Brom had missed the presence of injured midfield duo Junichi Inamoto and Ronnie Wallwork, while Diomansy Kamara will depart today for African Nations Cup action with Senegal. But Robson is hoping Nigeria will allow Kanu to remain with Albion until after the Wigan game on January 15.
He said: “We are speaking to the Nigerian FA this week so hopefully we will have him for another two games. But Kamara leaves tomorrow.”
O’Leary praised the consistency of his side who have been beaten only once in their last nine league games.
“Since November 5, we have had only one defeat in the Premiership,” he said.
“A few people came out of the woodwork after the Carling Cup defeat against Doncaster and started writing articles and opinions. We let ourselves down in that game but, before that, even with all the injuries, our form has been excellent.
“I still think four games in eight days over Christmas is a joke and I can say that because I am not making excuses because we have done well. Our form has been superb, not just in this little period but since early November.”
O’Leary added: “The best team won by a mile. At half-time we should have been well up.
“We got off to a good start to the second half but then a goal from a set-play brings them back into the game. We didn’t want to make it a battle. It is about getting the ball down, passing and moving. That won us the game.
“We should have won the game by more. We have become consistent in November and December. We are showing that now.”
Steven Davis headed Villa ahead early in the second half from a James Milner cross, but Watson levelled with his first goal for Albion before Baros tucked away the decisive penalty.
: Kuszczak, Albrechtsen, Curtis Davies, Clement (Horsfield 83), Robinson, Kamara, Watson, Carter, Greening, Kanu, Ellington (Campbell 88).
: Taylor, Hughes, Delaney, Mellberg, Barry, Davis, Bakke (Angel 62), McCann, Milner, Moore (Gardner 85), Baros.
: R Styles (Hampshire).
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