Terry Wills on Albion’s vital week.
An unexpected bonus for Baggies fans. Victory when a draw would have been perfectly acceptable, against a very talented Southampton side, means that we’re now eight points clear of the dreaded relegation spots.
Tony Pulis, for all the criticism levelled at him, has achieved a minor, no a major, miracle. He has transformed a shapeless team into a well-organised unit based on a solid defence. It may not be pretty on the eye but it spells out a clear message that if the opposition fail to score it guarantees a positive result. This, coupled with a welcome return to form from Saido Berahino plus a reborn Brown Ideye, now gives us a chance of troubling the best as the occasion demands.
And what a start against the Saints! Latecomers were still wending their way into the ground as Saido volleyed home a 70 second match winning screamer. In fact, if a couple of other reasonable chances had been accepted the win could have been more comprehensive. Time for the ‘new’ defence led by Joleon Lescott to repel the many Southampton attacks, but for all their possession Ben Foster had a relatively untroubled afternoon
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But, and it is a big but, the main worry was the sight of both of our only strikers hobbling off with injuries prior to the most vital five days of the season.
Aston Villa versus West Bromwich Albion – need more be said? A vital Greed League clash followed by an FA Cup quarter final to determine which Midland team will be strutting their stuff in a Wembley semi. Prospects? As Ron Atkinson has said, it’s too close to call but for me the fact that Villa are at home has to give them an advantage.
Villa’s failure to score goals is well documented but against Newcastle they created chances, leading Tim Sherwood to claim they could avoid relegation. Albion will surely find themselves on the back foot in both games with Villa led by Benteke desperate to make progress while Tony Pulis’ defensive strategy will be severely tested.
Much will depend on whether Berahino and Ideye are fit enough to play. If so,which at present seems unlikely, our scoring options are severely limited.
Forecast (and I sincerely hope to be proved wrong), Villa winning the League game while possibly the cup clash could need a Hawthorns replay. But again it’s the fitness doubts that leave me feeling apprehensive. I could be way off-beam, and if so next week’s column will reflect this!