14th September 2003: It's the
Latics next, a team that, on early season form at least, appear to
be one of the main contenders. With money to spend, they look to have
a strong squad although I think Geoff Horsfield is a poor replacement
for Jason Roberts. Having said that, he did the business with Blues
in division one and did score the winner against us at St. Andrew's
last season - maybe I shouldn't criticise too much.
It will be a tough test on Tuesday night, and I trust that we'll put
in a better performance than we did in the Worhtington Cup last season.
At least, it'll be a stronger team! The defence will have to be on
form as they have a number of good strikers with Ellington, in particular,
looking to get another hat-trick against us. A point would be satisfactory,
a win is what we should get if we are going to win this league.
Six games in, the league is shaping up much as expected with West
Ham and Sunderland finding form, and Reading, Nottingham Forest and
Sheffield United all there or thereabouts. It remains to be seen what
effect the departure of Alan Pardew will have on Reading, but I don't
see it being positive.
Cardiff are another team with money to spend and they have started
strongly having made a very astute purchase in Alan Lee. They, along
with Wigan, will probably push for a play-off spot, but it's the other
two relegated sides that I see as Albion's main challengers for the
automatic spots. I must admit, I though the Black Cats would struggle
this year, but their first win of the year has galvanated the team,
and they now look like a real force.
There's a long way to go, but with the Baggies sitting pretty at the
top, it's looking good. And given that we know there's more to come
from this side, it should get better!!
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