Albion stay in Grail hunt

FULL marks to the marketing genius who juiced up a mundanelooking FA Cup tie by comparing West Brom’s campaign to the hunt for the Holy Grail.

“And now! At last! Another game against the same team that we played against a few days ago,” trumpeted the programme cover in wonderful Monty Python style.

The clubs certainly met a few days ago,

Albion 2-0 winners in the Championship, but it would be inaccurate to suggest the same players were involved.

Coaches Darren Moore and Paul Cook made 16 changes from the League fixture, resting weary minds and heavy legs while the second string got on with the Grail-hunting.

Enter Bakary Sako, his first goal for the Baggies since his October arrival turning out to be the difference between the two.

“Wonderful,” was

Moore’s verdict afterwards. “He has had to sit and watch and all the others have been scoring goals. We have got him here, got him fit and we’re starting to see the speed and mobility of him and he is understanding what is required from us.

“I’m delighted for his goal and he could have had a second one. He was a constant menace and nuisance and that game and goal would have done him good.

“It was a perfect afternoon, I’m pleased with the result and the performance. If I had one small critique we could have won by a second or third goal, with the chances we created.”

Sako has the weaponry but sometimes looks like he is not quite sure what goes where and his finish can be a tad frustrating for fans.

The forward has an extra challenge having spent three years at Black Country rivals Wolves.

Goals tend to gloss over awkward moments and Sako delivered on that.

Credit is due to Chris Brunt, though. It was his free-kick which was pushed out by Jamie Jones for a corner.

From that, Brunt crossed for Sako to head goalwards. Jones got a touch to divert the ball on to the crossbar but could not keep it out.

Wigan’s best moment came early when Jonathan Bond denied Will Grigg, and Chey Dunkley headed over from the subsequent cross.

Wigan boss Cook insisted injuries had shaped his selection, adding: “It was a tough game in general.”

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