Ideye finally hits top form at West Brom

Clearly, all Ideye needed was a manager capable of utilising the talent that persuaded West Brom to pay £10million for him in the first place.And while Tony Pulis may have to concede that Ideye might well have been heading for Qatar had Carlton Cole been signed in the last transfer window, the mere fact that […]

Clearly, all Ideye needed was a manager capable of utilising the talent that persuaded West Brom to pay £10million for him in the first place.
And while Tony Pulis may have to concede that Ideye might well have been heading for Qatar had Carlton Cole been signed in the last transfer window, the mere fact that Ideye is now performing as effectively as he is amounts to a triumph for both player and manager. Ideye marked his second of this FA Cup tie with celebratory somersault, having already demonstrated his athleticism with the power he generated from the header moments earlier.
Compared to a quite stunning first-half goal from James Morrison, Ideye’s opening 20th minute strike wasn’t much to look at. It was a poacher’s goal that owed far more to Craig Dawson and the quality of his cross as well as his success in winning an aerial challenge with Aaron Cresswell. Indeed Ideye might have been a fraction offside when he diverted Dawson’s delivery past Adrian from close range. The assistant referee saw nothing wrong with it, though, his flag remaining down.
In fairness to a side now boasting just one defeat in nine since Pulis took charge, it was no less than West Brom deserved. Set up to be aggressive by their manager, they attacked West Ham with real vigour to produce arguably their finest performance of the season.
Weakened by the loss of Andy Carroll to injury, Sam Allardyce’s side offered little in response; not a single effort on target in an opening half memorable only for a couple of free-kick opportunities squandered by Cresswell and Enner Valencia.
The second half was even more disappointing, and in the end uncomfortable for Allardyce. The travelling supporters not only booed his captain, Kevin Nolan, when he was hooked after an hour, but turned on Allardyce too with a few choice words.