August 2006

Won 3 Drew 2 Lost 1.
Hull City (H) 2-1, Cardiff City (A) 1-1, Southampton (A) 0-0, Colchester United (H) 2-1, Leyton Orient (A) 3-0 (CC1), Sunderland (A) 0-2.

Jeremy Peace surprised many last summer by keeping the relegated squad together for the most part, and Robson's additions were promising on the face of things. John Hartson and Chris Perry were undoubtedly talented if a little long in the tooth, and the signing of Paul McShane as part of the deal that took Kuszczak to Manchester United seemed very promising. Although I was prepared to give him a chance, many others thought that the signing of Swiss international goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler was a mistake - I'll take that one on the chin. Another player who was a virtual new signing was Jason Koumas. After a traumatic summer, he finally signed a new contract although he wouldn't be match fit for a few weeks.

The season opened with John Hartson flattering to deceive with a debut brace against Hull. The results at Cardiff and Southampton were encouraging, even if the performances were not, and the three victories in August were achieved with only limited spells of good football. The defeat at Sunderland, just after Roy Keane had been announced as their new manager, was almost inevitable, but no one really expected such a dreadful performance.

The chairman's decision to give Robson a chance was already looking like a poor one, although the signing of Kevin Phillips in late August was well received.


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September 2006

Won 3 Drew 2 Lost 1.
Leicester City (H) 2-0, Preston North End (A) 0-1, Southend United (H) 1-1, Cheltenham Town (H) 3-1 (CC2), Luton Town (A) 2-2, Leeds United (H) 4-2.

Two late goals, including a home debut penalty for Phillips, put the gloss on an unconvincing performance against Leicester, and after defeat at Deepdale, the draw at home to Southend, which left the Baggies in 9th place, proved to be Robson's last game in charge. The results had not been impressive, but the rumours were abound that the final straw for Jeremy Peace was seeing Mr Robson laughing and joking with Tomasz Kuszczak at Old Trafford on Sky TV the day after the dreadful result against Southend. Whatever the reasons, most Albion fans breathed a long overdue sigh of relief at his departure, even if Robson's friends in the media regarded the decision with disbelief, and the search for a successor began.

In the meantime, Nigel Pearson took the reigns and, with Robson's defensive shackles removed, Albion suddenly started scoring goals and entertaining with the breathtaking 4-2 ten-man win over Leeds a fine way to finish the month. That match saw Joe Kamara's return to action after being injured in pre-season, which he marked with a brace from the bench.


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October 2006

Won 3 Drew 1 Lost 2
Ipswich Town (A) 5-1, Crystal Palace (A) 2-0, Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) 3-0, Arsenal (H) 0-2 (CC3), Birmingham City (A) 0-2, Queen's Park Rangers (H) 3-3.

Albion started October in the same way that they finished September, winning games and scoring goals, despite playing their first three games under three different managers. Nigel Pearson's unbeaten reign came to an end after the thumping 5-1 win at Portman Road. With the announcement that Hibs manager Tony Mowbray was to take over after the Palace game, he decided to step down leaving Craig Shakespeare to take charge of the team for the match at Selhurst Park. In both games, Albion played some sublime football and won both comfortably. Kevin Phillips made his mark with a hat-trick at Ipswich and Kamara made it six goals in four games with another brace in that game and a goal in each of the next two. The second of those was the first Black Country Derby for five years, and Mowbray's first game in charge, and it was a walk in the park as the Baggies ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

It became clear as the season went on that Mowbray was not to have it all his own way in the dressing room. Whether that started straight away is unclear, but that victory over the Dingles proved to be Mowbray's only win in his first month in charge. Losing to Arsenal in the Carling Cup was perhaps understandable, but the 2-0 defeat at St Andrew's was harder to take, particularly given how many chances the Baggies created. The fragility of Pascal "Zuberhowler" as he had become known was plain to see in the home match against QPR as Albion surrendered a 2-0 lead to drop another two points. It proved to be the Swiss international's last Championship game for the club as Mowbray opted for Russell Hoult to start at Pride Park in the next game.


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November 2006

Won 1 Drew 0 Lost 4
Derby County (A) 1-2, Norwich City (H) 0-1, Burnley (H) 3-0, Stoke City (A) 0-1, Sheffield Wednesday (A) 1-3

If one game was symptomatic of Albion's season, the one at Pride Park was it. Albion outplayed their hosts and looked fairly comfortable at 1-0 up, but a screamer got Derby level and Albion's soft underbelly was exposed as they went on to grab an undeserved three points. Against Norwich, Albion hit the woodwork on six occasions, with the mercurial Jason Koumas accounting for three of them, but they couldn't find the net, and as so often happens in such games, a former Baggie popped up to grab the winner. It seemed that what we hoped would be normal service had been resumed when Burnley were dispatched comfortably in the next match at the Hawthorns with Koumas grabbing his first goal of the season, but two more away defeats left Albion languishing in 10th spot at the end of November. The second of those at Hillsbrough was a result of some dreadful defending and, so rumour has it, was the scene of an alleged spat between Chris Perry and assistant manager Mark Venus which left Perry out in the cold until injuries saw him back in the side for the run in.


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December 2006

Won 4 Drew 2 Lost 0
Derby County (H) 1-0, Barnsley (A) 1-1, Coventry City (H) 5-0, Plymouth Argyle (A) 2-2, Preston North End (H) 4-2, Ipswich Town (H) 2-0

Mowbray's impact at the Hawthorns had been seen with performances on the pitch, but it wasn't until December that the flowing football started to produce results. An unbeaten month was just what the doctor ordered even the new manager's first away win remained elusive. A late cameo from John Hartson earned Albion their revenge over Derby in a tight match, before anothe goal from Koumas earned the Baggies a point at Oakwell. Kamara and Koumas tore Coventry apart in the next match as Albion romped to a 5-0 win, their biggest win since they beat Portsmouth by the same scoreline in 2002. The next match at Home Park seemed to be another disappointing result away from home until Kevin Phillips popped up with two goals in first half stoppage time to recover a two goal defecit.

The holiday programme saw Albion beat Preston 4-2 in an excellent game at the Hawthorns, with Nathan Ellington grabbing a rare brace from the bench, as the Shrine was fast becoming THE place to see goals in the Championship. Another comfortable 2-0 win to complete the double over Ipswich pushed Albion back up into fifth place to end the year, ready to pounce for the push for automatic promotion.


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January 2007

Won 5 Drew 0 Lost 1
Southend United (A) 1-3, Leeds United (H) 3-1 (FAC3), Luton Town (H) 3-2, Leeds United (A) 3-2, Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) 3-0 (FAC4), Plymouth Argyle (H) 2-1

After finishing the year well, hopes were high that the away day blues could be banished in the first game of the New Year at bottom club Southend. It was not to be as some dreadful defending saw Albion 3-0 down before half-time and heading for another defeat. But it was a mere blip, so it seemed, as Albion went on to win every other game in January scoring fourteen goals in the process. Troubled Leeds United were put to the sword twice, once in the FA Cup at the Hawthorns and again a fortnight later at Elland Road where Kamara scored a wonderful curler from about 25 yards. It meant that Albion had put ten goals past Dennis Wise's men in three games. Those two games were split by a rollercoaster televised encounter with Luton on a Friday night. Koumas opened the scoring in the first half with Albion well on top, but Mike Newell's men came back in the second and found themselves 2-1 up with only a few minutes remaining. But two late goals from Phillips turned the match around once more and had me believing that it could be Albion's season.

The fourth round cup draw saw Albion paired with their Black Country rivals at Molineux and a combination of FA rules and police requirements meant that Albion fans were to occupy the South Bank for the first time since it was built. The massive noise made by the Baggies faithful roared the side on to a comfortable 3-0 win as Wolves were comprehensively outplayed. Many Albion fans were relieved that Mick McCarthy's men offered little threat as the suspension of Russell Hoult meant that the "Howler" was in goal for the final time in an Albion shirt, but he thankfully had nothing to do.

Albion finished the month off with a nervy 2-1 win over Plymouth with new signing Dean Kiely making his debut. The other January addition, the unknown Robert Koren, had made his debut at Elland Road and was already an established starter.

The Baggies were up to fourth just one point behind second placed Birmingham City.


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February 2006

Won 1 Drew 0 Lost 2
Blackburn Rovers (H) 2-0, Fulham (A) 1-6, Middlesbrough (H) 0-2

The disappointments of the transfer window were temporarily forgotten as Albion started February with an excellent display against Blackburn. The added bite of Nigel Quashie in midfield seemed to make all the difference and, with Kanu, Kamara and Gera still to return, hopes of a recovery were rekindled once again.

But once again those hopes were short-lived. A suspension to Paul Robinson and an injury to Steve Watson meant a recall for Thomas Gaardsoe at Craven Cottage- it all went horribly wrong. Gaardsoe's mistakes were obvious, but Clement, Davies and Albrechtsen must all share the blame for an abysmal defensive performance. That result meant that all the pressure was on for the visit of Middlesbrough ahead of a tough run of games against the top four clubs and rivals Birmingham City.

It was once again a poor performance at the back which was made worse by Nigel Quashie's inexplicable decision to stamp on George Boateng that ultimately led to a five match suspension. Defeat left Albion still out of the bottom three, but precariously close given the fixtures coming up in March.

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March 2006

Won 0 Drew 1 Lost 3
Chelsea (H) 1-2, Birmingham City (A) 1-1, Manchester United (H) 1-2, Tottenham Hotspur (A) 1-2

March 2005 had been the real turning point for Albion's season last year, and so it was this time - although it turned the wrong way. The first month that Albion didn't win a game, it was perhaps ironic that Albion played probably their most consistent football. The team produced good performances in all four games, but mistakes, either defensively or in front of goal, meant that only one point was added to Albion's total and relegation was becoming a distinct possibility.

The Chelsea game will be more remembered for Drogba's diving and the row between Robson and Mourinho than it will be for the two awful errors that cost Albion the game. At St Andrew's, misses by Kamara, Campbell and Ellington meant that what would have been a valuable three points was turned in a solitary one from a match that Albion dominated. But perhaps the most disappointing moment was the mix-up between Kuszczak and Robinson that gifted Spurs a late winner at White Hart Lane after an excellent battling performance from the Baggies.

With Portsmouth now beginning their remarkable run of form, Albion's charmed position outside of the bottom three was looking ever more precarious.

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April 2006

Won 0 Drew 2 Lost 3
Liverpool (H) 0-2, Aston Villa (A) 0-0, Arsenal (A) 1-3, Bolton Wanderers (H) 0-0, Newcastle United (A) 0-3

The defeat to Liverpool was not as "heroic" as those against Chelsea and Spurs, but with games against Villa and an out of form Bolton side coming up, there was still some hope, but it relied on Albion finding some goalscoring form.

And therein lay the problem. Albion fans only chance to celebrate in March was Nigel Quashie's unexpected equaliser at Highbury, but even that was short-lived as the home side were back in front some four minutes later. Villa and Bolton were both there for the taking but Albion's lacklustre strike force could not find the net. A dreadful display at St James's Park was the final straw for many Albion fans as the side seemed to be surrendering their Premiership status with little more than a whimper.

Portsmouth's win on the last Saturday in April confirmed Albion's relegation with two games still to go. The only remaining unknown was the strength of the fans' protests in the last two games.

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May 2006

Won 0 Drew 1 Lost 1
West Ham United (H) 0-1, Everton (A) 2-2

As it turns out, the protests were fairly muted. The strength of feelings expressed on internet forums and radio phone-ins suggested that a majority of fans would wish to show their feelings of discontent in the final home game of the season, particularly in front of a television audience. In actuality, there were some white flags waved, some banners calling for the heads of Peace and Robson, but there were also some in support of them. And with a match offering little in entertainment, the fans kept themselves amused with old songs and Mexican waves to create something approaching a party atmosphere - quite surreal.

At Goodison on the last day, Albion took a two goal lead with the second goal coming from Williams Martinez in his first, and only, start for Albion. The atmosphere was positively exuberant and, although Albion surrendered their lead late on, there was a sense of acceptance and maybe some looking forward to a campaign when Albion win more than they lose once again.


And so a dreadfully disappointing Albion season came to a close. Blame can be applied to the chairman, the manager and the players and, in truth, all deserve their share. The squad assembled should have been good enough to stay up, but a combination of poor tactics, poor individual displays and the not insignificant influences of injuries and the African Cup of Nations means that Albion will play their football in the Championship next season.

At the time of writing (late May), it remains unclear how many of the current squad will stay to fight for promotion, but if the majority can be kept at the Hawthorns and some key additions made, there is surely a good chance that Albion can bounce back at the first attempt once again.

Boing Boing!!

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