LIVE FROM THE HAWTHORNS

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0
BARNSLEY 0

REDS boss Mark Robins had demanded a performance to end the season on a high and his side delivered with an outstanding display in the opening 45 minutes at The Hawthorns.

The Reds ended what had really been a rollercoaster of a Championship campaign looking to crash West Brom's promotion party at the Hawthorns. There were changes to the side again as Mark Robins hoped to end a recent run of poor results which had taken a little of the shine from what had been an outstanding recovery to secure safety.

In came Ryan Shotton and Carl Dickinson while Stephen Foster and Luke Potter dropped to the bench. Darren Moore skippered the Reds against his former side and received a fantastic ovation from the Baggies faithful ahead of kick off. Luke Steele, another ex-West Brom star, was also given a great reception from the home supporters. Homegrown youngsters Luke Potter, Alastair Taylor and Jamil Adam were amongst the substitutes. Reds keeper Luke Steele

Barnsley started brightly and Bobby Hassell and Hugo Colace had West Brom rocking a little with three minutes on the clock. The ball dropped nicely for Martin Devaney in the area but the winger dragged his low shot through a crowd of players and wide of Scott Carson's goal. It was a positive moment for the men from Oakwell.

Moore then did brilliantly well at the other end two minutes later to deny Roman Bednar as the Baggies striker looked to turn and shoot in the area.

Giant Baggies defender Jonas Olsson had the better of his marker on eight minutes as he rose under pressure to meet Graham Dorrans' corner but his header looped high over the top. West Brom were quickly getting a foothold in the game and Chris Brunt had Steele scrambling on nine minutes as he cut in from the left before smashing a shot inches wide of the far post.

Barnsley should have grabbed the lead though seconds later at the other end as Hugo Colace broke well and found Iain Hume in the centre but the striker opted to turn and shoot when Devaney and Jon Macken were better placed an unmarked to his left. Jacob Butterfield smashed a shot into a crowd as the ball broke to the edge of the box.

Devaney was in the thick of it again in the Albion area on 12 minutes as he stole a yard to meet Hassell's cross but his goalbound header smacked into Gabriel Tamas and the chance went begging. It was an end to end start to a game played in a real party atmosphere and the Reds were certainly giving it their all in the opening exchanges.

Bednar created and wasted a decent opportunity on 14 minutes as he broke well into the area but lashed a shot high over the bar.

Shotton had to be alert to deny Bednar on 15 minutes before the Reds again had West Brom struggling six minutes later as Iain Hume and Devaney delivered dangerous crosses into a crowded area that the home side just about managed to get away.

The loudest cheer of the first half came from the Barnsley fans on 26 minutes as news of Alan Lee's opener for Crystal Palace at Sheffield Wednesday filtered through.

There was a worrying moment for Moore on 28 minutes as he struck his clearance into Dorrans and it looked as though West Brom would be in on goal but the ball rebounded to Steele.

West Brom should have been in front on 38 minutes as Bednar and Dorrans combined to split open the Reds defence and give Brunt a tap in at the back stick but the ex-Sheffield Wednesday winger somehow hammered the ball wide. At the other end Hume was only a foot or so away from testing Carson with a curler from 22 yards but his effort flew over the top.

Butterfield then almost netted a spectacular goal on 44 minutes as Colace and Macken combined brilliantly to give the youngster a yard of space on the edge of the box but his audacious flick looped wide of the target.

Macken then bought a save from Carson seconds later after volleying goalward from the edge of the area but his effort was never really going to trouble the Baggies keeper.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Carson, Reid, Cech, Olsson, Tamas, Koren, Brunt, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Cox, Bednar.
Subs: Keily, Meite, Wood, Barnes, Mattock, Morrison, Miller.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Hassell, Shotton, Moore, Dickinson, Devaney, Colace, Doyle, Butterfield, Macken, Hume.
Subs: Preece, Gray, Potter, Foster, Kozluk, Taylor, Adam.

REFEREE
Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Kevin Mattocks (Lancashire) and Dave Naylor (Nottinghamshire)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Peter Davies (Cheshire)

Match Report By Rob Knowles.

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