Terry Wills talks about recent events at the Hawthorns.

Taken all round it’s not been a particularly comforting week for the club or the supporters.

The death of Derek Kevan, better known as ‘The Tank’ was sad news. He was a great guy in the truest sense of the word – always with time to mix and chat to fans and his goalscoring record speaks for itself.  A true legend who will be sadly missed by everyone connected with West Bromwich Albion.

On the field the inability to hold on to a 1-0 lead at Queens Park Rangers was very disappointing. Controlling the game virtually from the kick-off, missing chances and then conceding an added on time goal, left fans cursing the need for a very much unwanted Hawthorns replay.

Pretty football is all very well but that alone doesn’t win games and if you fail to take your chances you’ll inevitably suffer the consequences as ‘Arry  Redknapp’s struggling team proved.

This was compounded by yet another serious injury to Zoltan Gera and his future in the game has to be open to question. Will he make yet another return next season? Difficult to say but the odds must be lengthening considering his age and the necessity to be at full fitness to play Greed League football. But good luck Zoltan, we’re with you all the way.

There’s a difficult series of games on the horizon starting with the visit to Shane Long’s old club Reading. They’re desperate for points to avoid relegation back into the Championship and unless a few of our walking wounded players are fit then who knows what will happen.

Then there’s the cup replay against Queens Park Rangers and one when I assume some of our top players will be diplomatically ‘rested,’ due to Steve Clarke’s confidence that his squad players will be good enough to take us into the fourth round and then take advantage of playing either Sheffield Wednesday or Milton Keynes at home.

Then comes THE clash against our greatest rivals from down the road – Aston Villa! Agreed Villa are struggling and their fans are becoming increasingly worried as to whether they can avoid relegation but as I’ve always said local derbies are difficult to predict and they’ll be going flat out to prove that they can cause an upset. For all that I still feel that Villa will avoid the drop although naturally I hope that doesn’t include a win at the Hawthorns.

Come on you Baggies.

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