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 and the undeserved red card for Paul Robinson. Steve Bruce's comments about Robbo after the game will be hard to forgive.

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 Hillsborough 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 another 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 deficit.

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. But with the transfer window closed, many Albion fans were again criticising Jeremy Peace as the club had failed to sign the extra steel in midfield that the side desperately needed.

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


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February 2007

Won 3 Drew 4 Lost 0
Hull City (A) 1-0, Southampton (H) 1-1, Colchester United (A) 2-1, Middlesbrough (A) 2-2 (FAC5), Cardiff City (H) 1-0,
Leicester City (A) 1-1, Middlesbrough (H) 1-1 pens 4-5 (FAC5R)

February may have been an unbeaten month in some respects, the FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough on penalties was perhaps one of the turning points of the season.

The month opened with a hard-fought win at the KC Stadium before form team Southampton ended Albion's run of 9 successive victories at the Hawthorns when they earned a point, although the point for the Baggies meant that they moved in the automatic promotion places for the first time in the season. A tough test awaited at Colchester United, a side that had remained unbeaten at Layer Road for 14 matches, but Albion produced what was arguably their most impressive performance of the season. With John Hartson making a rare start, Albion battled their way through the first 45 minutes refusing to be bullied by their more physical opponents and struck twice in quick succession just after half time to secure the points. Automatic promotion, it seemed, was beckoning.

Albion then had a break from league action with a trip to the Riverside in the FA Cup. The visitors outplayed 'Boro and were unlucky not to win the game after coming from behind twice. A red card for Curtis Davies late on was the start of what was to become a worrying disciplinary problem in the run in. The following week saw a narrow win against Cardiff plus a draw away at Leicester which put Albion on top of the league. And then the slide began.

When Middlesbrough returned to the Hawthorns for the Cup replay, Albion were once again the better side and took the lead through Darren Carter in the first half. A Viduka equaliser sent the game into extra-time, which was made even more energy-sapping when Ellington was given a straight red card. That also meant that Albion's best penalty-taker was not on the field for the shoot-out and, with one miss each already, on loan striker Sherjill MacDonald blazed his effort over the bar to send the Premiership side through to the quarter-final.

So at the end of February, Albion were on track for promotion, but out of the Cup and very drained ahead of the visit of THE form side in the Championship.


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March 2007

Won 1 Drew 1 Lost 3
Sunderland (H) 1-2, Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) 0-1, Crystal Palace (H) 2-3, Birmingham City (H) 1-1, Queen's Park Rangers (A) 2-1

March was the month that ultimately cost Albion promotion, and in three of the games, against Wolves, Palace and Blues, the reasons for the failure were apparent. There was no shortage of ability as Albion outplayed the opposition in all three games, but a combination of poor defending and poor finishing meant that a return of only one point was achieved, when nine should have been secured.

Sunderland ran out deserved winners in the first match of the month as a tired Albion side were no match for Roy Keane's men who were full of confidence on a remarkable run that would secure the league title. At Molineux a week later, the Dingles got their revenge for the FA Cup drubbing, even if it was undeserved on the balance of play, before Palace somehow managed to get three points at the Hawthorns after Albion lost Davies injured, Albrechtsen to a red card and the lead to a two goal burst all in the ten minutes leading up to half time. Phillips grabbed a second half equaliser only for the visitors to score the winner in stoppage time.

Albion did at least manage to end their run of successive defeats against Blues in the televised game the following week, but a late equaliser from Damien Johnson earned the visitors an undeserved point, a game in which late loan signing, Sam Sodje from Reading, made his debut. At Loftus Road a week later, Albion finally managed to get back to winning ways but they had lost ground to the leaders during March and were lying in fifth place some six points off second place.


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April 2007

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

Having remained unbeaten at home for so long, Albion suddenly couldn't find a win at the Hawthorns. By the end of April, Albion had failed to win in six home games and successive home defeats to Stoke and Sheffield Wednesday ended Albion's hopes of automatic promotion. April saw impressive away victories at Norwich and Coventry which at least kept Albion in the hunt for the play-offs, but the home form had deserted them.

Red cards for Carter and Clement against Wednesday and one for McShane at Burnley were severely testing the strength of Albion's squad. McShane's dismissal, which came when Albion were comfortably in control at Turf Moor, was later rescinded but it did cost Albion the points in that match. But at least Albion could field a defence against Coventry, which was looking unlikely at one point, and secure the win in front of 6,000 traveling Baggies that left Albion a win away from securing a play-off place.


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May 2007

Won 3 Drew 0 Lost 1
Barnsley (H) 7-0, Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) 3-2 (POSF1), Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) 1-0 (POSF2), Derby County (N) 0-1 (POF)

Albion ended their dreadful home run in style with a seven goal thrashing of Barnsley which secured a fourth place finish and a play-off semi-final against their Black Country rivals. A hat-trick from Kevin Phillips, a brace from Ellington, one from Gera and a first Albion goal for Robert Koren secured the Hawthorns as the best place to see goals in the Championship.

The run-up to the play-off semi was dominated by the row over ticket allocations as Jez Moxey manufactured a reason for not giving Albion the South Bank, a move that so infuriated Wolves fans for the Cup match, and one that was repaid in kind by Jeremy Peace. The first leg was a tight affair which Wolves dominated in the first half, but a wonder strike from Phillips gave Albion the lead. Goals either side of half time put the home side in front but another from Phillips and a late solo effort from Kamara gave Albion the win that all felt would secure Albion's place in the final at the new Wembley stadium.

The atmosphere for the return leg was good, but no match for the Swansea game in 1993, but the result was the same as Phillips made it six goals in three games to send Albion to Wembley. There were complaints about the ticket allocation method, aimed at both Albion and the Football League as many genuine fans missed out despite there being 15,000 empty seats at English football's new showpiece stadium.

And on a day that resembled February more than May, it was a cold place to be a Baggie as Phillips missed Albion's best chance and, despite all their best efforts and the majority of possession, the boys went down to a Derby goal on the break in a match that was very reminiscent of the game at Pride Park in November, and somewhat indicative of Albion's entire season.


So despite playing some superb football and scoring a hundred goals, Albion couldn't quite manage to get back to the Premiership at the first time of asking. Not sacking Robson last summer, the failure to strengthen properly in the January window, poor finishing, poor defending, bad luck - all played their part in the failure. At times it was great to watch, at times frustrating, at times disappointing - but never boring.

If football is about entertainment, Albion's fans have had their fair share this season - if it is about success, it is just another failure. The difference is just a point of view.



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