What a weekend for the Midlands big four clubs – one result in particular piercing the darkness like a searchlight in a wartime blackout.
Yet despite Blues pulling off that tremendous, against the odds, win at Wembley (a performance leaving the name of Birmingham splashed around the world’s footballing circles) for Baggies fans the ‘miracle’ was seeing Albion defying tradition, and very long odds, to return from the Potteries undefeated. This was made even better knowing that for the first time ever, we managed to score a (albeit disputed) Premier League goal against Stoke City!
Whatever opinions fans had, and may still have, over the appointment of Roy Hodgson one thing’ thing has immediately become very clear: He’s recognised the defence was the worst in the Greed League and without a radical change in tactics, application, and sheer hard work, there was very little, if any chance, of avoiding relegation.
Roy’s starting line up including a return for Abdoulay Meite to partner Jonas Olsson, which turned out to be the correct decision, as was the choice of Steven Reid. These are players with the necessary height to negate the usual Stoke approach. What was surprising was seeing Fortune in the starting line up and Peter Odemeingie sitting among the substitutes.
From the kick -off it was as if nothing had changed whenever the Baggies face their ultimate bogey team. Rugged aggression, numerous free-kicks, plus those Rory Delap missile throws that can terrify the best of defences. Amazingly this time we coped with them better than I can ever remember, with a display of sheer determination and willingness to actually win the majority of the aerial battles that counted. It’s just a pity they couldn’t win the one that mattered, early in the second half. Delap found himself unmarked a few yards out to promptly head home what many thought would be a goal to guarantee a Stoke victory.
For once that wasn’t the case and with probing and passing from Graham Dorrans, allied to positive attacking, Albion did enough to feel disappointed that they failed to come home with the three points.
Yes, Tony Pullis must have been as sick as the proverbial parrot when substitute Carlos Vela scored that late equaliser – but then he should have a medal struck for his keeper Asmir Begovic,.who with his defence falling apart and looking likely to concede an Albion winner, made three stunning saves to prevent Roy Hodgson celebrating his first win as our manager.
But for all that, and despite Villa and Wolves handsomely winning their games and West Ham seeing off Liverpool, the one point was enough to take Albion out of the dreaded three relegation spots.
So on to mid-day Saturday and the visit to St Andrews.
Without doubt there will be rapturous congratulations as Alex McLeish and his team parade around the pitch waving the Carling Cup. Logically, that should set them up for this important local derby, but with so much at stake for both teams, and Albion hoping Blues may still be on cloud nine, should the home side become frustrated we could be in with a good chance of continuing Hodgson’s unbeaten run and renewed hope.
If not? Now who’s next for West Bromwich Albion?
Just the team that managed to confound everyone, apart from the Blues team and their supporters, that the Carling Cup was as good as theirs, namely Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.
A final plea to Alex McLeish, although doubt he’ll respond kindly to it. Please do NOT play ‘Super Kevin’ Phillips as Albion supporters recognise only too well the damage he can inflict on any opposition. He did it often enough for us.
Come on you Baggies
Terry Wills.
