Baggies fail to bridge the great divide

TONY MOWBRAY knows that his hold on Premier League status is slipping by the week, but the West Bromwich manager is determined not to go quietly.

The Albion manager could not hide his annoyance at not playing “on a level playing field” after this result, which all but confirms the club’s demotion to the Championship. Robert Koren’s drive, which deflected in off Danny Shittu to cancel out Matt Taylor’s well-struck opener, might have spared Albion ultimate embarrassment but a seven-point gap looks too wide to make up at this late stage.

Mowbray is aware most of Albion’s opponents have splashed out big sums of money on players, as highlighted by Saturday’s opponents Bolton who spent more than £8million on Sweden striker Johan Elmander last summer.

That is nearly double the record amount the Baggies have spent on a single player, playmaker Borja Valero, who moved from Real Mallorca last summer.

“We have found the Premier League tough,” Mowbray said. “I could ask the question whether it is a level playing field.

“I know we shouldn’t get judged as if it is a level playing field and in my own mind we are playing Bolton who have got a near £10million centre-forward playing against us.

“I don’t take it too hard or too personally, but I don’t think it is a level playing field and I am proud of the team when they perform like they did against Bolton.

“They were facing a team with more experience, are more expensive and, at times, are better players than ours — and yet I don’t see the gulf on the pitch.”

Gary Megson admits he was touched by the warm reception he received from Albion fans, who still remember his time in charge of the club with affection.

“The reception I got was quite humbling,” he said. “If we can get to where we want to be, there will be no-one more pleased than myself to see West Brom stay in the Premier League.”

WEST BROM (4-4-2): Carson 8, Zuiverloon 6 (Valero 74, 5), Martis 6, Olsson 6, Robinson 6 (Dorrans 74, 5), Morrison 5, Koren 7, Greening 6, Brunt 6, Fortune 6, Simpson 5 (Bednar 57, 5).

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Cech, Moore, Filipe Teixeira.

BOLTON (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen 7, Steinsson 6, Cahill 6, Puygrenier 5 (Shittu 59, 5), Samuel 6, Taylor 8, Muamba 6, McCann 6, Gardner 6, Elmander 6 (Smolarek 90, 5), K Davies 6.

Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Riga, Makukula, Cohen.

REFEREE: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire) 6: The dismissal of Megson late on for dissent was the only vaguely controversial moment in a humdrum game.

MATCH RATING: ** Albion looked doomed if this is the best they can do in a match they simply had to win.