Football: BAGGIES HART BEAT; CocaCola CHAMPIONSHIP Big John insists debut double is just the start as he bids for dream Premiership return with West Brom.Byline: By STEVE ROGERS The name Steve Rogers can refer to:
West Brom Albion 2 Hull City 0 JOHN HARTSON John Hartson (born April 5, 1975, in Swansea, Wales) is a professional footballer,currently playing for Norwich City on loan from West Bromwich Albion. He is in the mould of a traditional centre forward and "target man". has a burning ambition to prove he can still cut it in the Premiership - and it looks set to help 'boing-boing' the Baggies back into the big time. Hartson quit life in the comfort zone at Celtic to take a gamble by dropping into the unforgiving environment of the Championship but already looks a shrewd bit of business by Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE (born 11 January, 1957 in Chester-le-Street, County Durham) is an English football manager and former player. . The ex-Wales international is desperate to make sure that it will only be a 12-month stay outside the top flight and kicked off his Albion career in perfect style by hammering Hull with a deadly double. Hartson's first strike was his 200th career goal and any fears that he would struggle on his return to English football were swiftly dismissed after a classic centre forward performance. And Hartson - a pounds 500,000 steal - has admitted that he is on a personal crusade to end his glittering career back among the elite of English football. He said: "I've played over 500 games at the top level and it's part of my dream to play back there again, in the Premiership. "I've come here to help them back there and that's the challenge for me. "We are the second promotion favourites behind Birmingham but the pressure is a compliment to us and we've got to be able to exist with that. It's good to have a bit of pressure, there's no need for us to be scared of it and we've got to be able to thrive on it. I've had pressure all throughout my career and it's good for your game. "From my point of view it was satisfying to score on my debut because that's what all strikers want. A goal takes pressure off you straight away. "I was mindful of the fact that they were my 200th and 201st career goals and personally that's a great milestone. But I still feel I've got a lot of football and goals left in me yet." Hartson could not believe that Albion went in at half-time goalless after laying siege to Hull's goal in the opening half an hour. Zoltan Gera, Jonathan Greening Jonathan Greening, (born January 2 1979 in Scarborough, England), is an English footballer. He began his career in 1996 with York City, has also played for Manchester United and Middlesbrough, and since 2004 he has played for West Bromwich Albion. and Steve Watson For other uses, see Steve Watson (disambiguation). Stephen Craig Watson (born April 1, 1974 in North Shields) is an English footballer, currently playing for Sheffield Wednesday, whom he joined on a 2 year deal on 10 July 2007. all came agonisingly close to ensuring new Tigers boss Phil Parkinson's reign got off to a nightmare start. But after Hull new boy Dean Marney nearly stunned the Baggies by hitting the post with a freak cross just minutes after the re-start, Hartson finally settled the nerves with a cool lob after Nigel Quashie's lofted pass. And then the 31-year-old secured the points with another close range finish to give boss Robson the opening day win he so desperately wanted. Hartson admitted: "It's a good start but that's all it is. I'm sure the fans went home satisfied but we're not over-excited about the performance. "We felt a bit disillusioned at half-time because we hadn't gone in front. It wasn't a good game but it was a perfect start and that's what is all important." Parkinson was still seething seethe intr.v. seethed, seeth·ing, seethes 1. To churn and foam as if boiling. 2. a. To be in a state of turmoil or ferment: at the disallowed penalty near the death with the score still 1-0. Hull mounted a late bombardment on the Albion defence and had claims for a foul on John Welsh There have been several well-known people named John Welsh:
Parkinson had cause for complaint and moaned: "It was the clearest cut penalty I've seen in a long time and it was turned down and the lad should have been sent off. "That was cruel on the lads for all the effort they've put in but it will all be positive from me. "Albion are my tip for the division and we've matched them and come off the field disappointed. We had chances to go in front but didn't take them." CAPTION(S): GIFT OF THE GRAB: Team-mates hug Hartson' PUT YOUR FEET UP: Junichi Inamoto sends Hull's John Welsh flying' NICE ONE SON: John Hartson is desperate to get West Brom back in the big time |
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