Terry Wills is a very happy Baggie.
What an atmosphere – up there with the best in modern times. The sense of achievement, the realisation that when full the Hawthorns is up with the best atmospheres the Greed League has to offer. And how we ecstatic Baggies fans enjoyed it!
Ex-coach Roberto Di Matteo bought his billionaire Chelsea squad to the Hawthorns looking to edge closer towards the top spot, but left feeling suitably under the weather. Naturally the national press, and media in general, didn’t accord too much credit to Steve Clarke’s Baggies. Yes, some of them, probably reluctantly, conceded that “West Brom’ played well” but in the main the post-match verdicts were that was a case of Chelsea losing the points as opposed to West Bromwich Albion winning them.
They can think want they like but you’ll never convince any Baggies diehard that we didn’t deserve the points after a tremendous end to end battle that lifted us to FOURTH(!) place in the table. Every player gave 100%, epitomised by the sight of Youssoff Mulumbu hobbling around following an injury.
And what a display from Shane Long. Absolutely fabulous with his non-stop running and grafting to worry the footballing lives out of the Big City ‘Pensioners’ Fernando Torres? No thank you!
That’s not to say that they weren’t a good team. Slick passing and movement off the ball, constant pressure in the closing stages, it was all there but thanks to a dogged ‘We won’t give in’ attitude from every blue and white striped shirt they left B71 for the second successive season pointless. Another bonus was the performance of Boaz Myhill, surely one of the best number two keepers in the game and when needed to slot into Ben Foster’s place he certainly won’t the team down.
Yes, euphoria in abundance with talk of European competition next season being pursued. Exciting times BUT it’s still far too early. The path is long and it only takes a turn in fortunes to change. The next three games are far from easy. Sunderland may be below us but following their win at Fulham, preceded by a defeat against Everton (when they missed a host of chances) Martin O’Neill will feel that they have a chance to continue this improvement. Then on to an in-form Swanse who did the double over us last season, and rounded off by the visit of the team going by the name of Stoke City…enough of them for now!
Just heard that Di Matteo has been sacked by Abramovitch! Yet another manager, or Head Coach, to discover that losing to little old West Brom is equivalent to requesting a P45. Mind you I daresay that picking up his severance pay will be something of a consolation.
Come on you Baggies.
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