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Date: 31/1/98
Scorer: Hunt (72)
A fantastic result against the old enemy gave Albion's season the lift it needed just as it looked as if things were going from bad to worse. The Baggies made their fans proud with a terrific fighting performance that fully deserved to result in victory, despite late pressure from the home side. The game opened with both teams tentatively testing out the other. Sneekes was carried off to be replaced by Coldicott on 14 minutes after two crude Wolves challenges, but the change didn't affect the Baggies' rhythm as Hamilton and Coldicott slowly began to boss the midfield and Murphy and Carbon looked solid in the heart of the defence. After the break, Albion concentrated on attacking with Stowell by far the busier of the two keepers. Hughes should have scored when one on one, but misses didn't matter when Hunt hammered the ball home from close range on 72 minutes after Stowell failed to hold a rasping Hamilton drive. Wolves desperately tried to claw back something from the game, but Miller was on hand to pull off a couple of fine saves to complete a fine double for undoubtedly the Black Country's best team (with Walsall in second place).
Team: Miller, Holmes, Nicholson, Sneekes (Coldicott 15), Murphy, Carbon, Butler, Hamilton, Hughes (Evans 89), Hunt, Kilbane. Sub (not used): Dobson. Attendance: 28,244 Steve's View: What a result! A hard fought victory will do wonders for confidence, especially as the Tatters were unbeaten at home all season until today. Let's hope this gives our season the lift it so desperately needs. Man of the Match:Ian Hamilton - a superb performance in the crucial central midfield role.
Date: 27/1/98
Scorers: Murphy (70), Flynn (72)
Another disappointing home performance left Albion fans shattered. The Baggies never fancy playing Ipswich and despite turning around a one goal deficit, inept defending still saw another vital three points thrown away. The teams were closely matched in the first half in an entertaining game that saw chances at both ends. But once the Suffolk club had taken the lead early in the second half, Albion began to try and claw something back. The breakthrough came on 70 minutes when Murphy equalised and there was even more joy when Flynn hammered home his first goal for the club two minutes later. But Ipswich failed to give up and with debutant Carbon failing to click with Murphy, the scores were brought level three minutes later. In the last few minutes of the game, it could have gone either way, but unfortunately for Albion, Ipswich managed to claim the all important goal to leave the home fans booing on the final whistle.
Team: Miller, Holmes, Nicholson, Sneekes, Murphy, Carbon, Flynn (Butler 76), Hamilton, Hughes, Hunt, Kilbane. Subs (not used): Dobson, Evans. Attendance: 12,403 Steve's View: With the game against Wolves looming on Saturday, it looks as if this could spell the end of our hopes this season. Not a terrible display and at least we're back on the scoresheet, but naive defending let us down. Carbon looks like he will be a good addition once he is settled in. Man of the Match:Ian Hamilton - workmanlike performance
Date: 24/1/98
Albion were knocked out of this year's FA Cup after being completely overrun by their Premiership neighbours. The game couldn't have started worse for the Baggies as Grayson put Villa ahead inside the first four minutes. The central defensive pairing of Dobson and Murphy were unable to cope with the skill and movement of Villa strikers Yorke and Collymore and the Baggies were lucky not to go into the break further down. Albion started the second half brightly and after hesitation in the Villa defence, Hughes saw a well-hit shot saved by Bosnich. Albion offered little else up front though until the introduction of Evans - but by then they were 3-0 down. Both goals came from the impressive Yorke, although there was a suspicion of handball for the first. Albion's day of misery was capped when Collymore beat Miller from a difficult angle at the near post 18 minutes from time.
Team: Miller, Holmes, Nicholson, Sneekes, Murphy, Dobson, Butler (Evans 69), Hamilton (Coldicott 78), Hughes (Flynn 78), Hunt, Kilbane. Subs (not used) Burgess, Crichton Attendance: 39,372 Steve's View: A sobering lesson. The gap between the sides was huge and underlines just how much Albion have to improve. This defeat is best forgotten. Man of the Match:Kevin Kilbane - threatened to produce, but failed. He was still Albion's most threatening player.
Date: 17/1/98
Another home defeat shattered the confidence inspired just three days earlier with victory over Stoke. Yet again, Albion failed to provide a cutting edge to some nice approach work and their lack of goals this season is now becoming a major worry. Crewe played some pretty football in this match, but any team with Premiership ambitions really should have proved too strong for them. Albion were lucky not to go behind as early as the second minute, when Crewe won a penalty after Dobson committed a foul in the box. Miller pulled off a fine save to the joy of the Albion fans. The visitors did go ahead little more than 20 minutes later when the Baggies failed to deal with a corner and the ball was easily headed home. Albion tried to pick up the pace of the game and Lee Hughes was particularly unlucky to hit the post in the second half. An all out assault in the last 10 minutes proved fruitless and resulted in another disappointing defeat.
Team: Miller, Holmes, Nicholson, Sneekes, Murphy, Dobson, Evans, Butler, Hughes, Hunt, Kilbane. Subs: Hughes, Flynn, Burgess. Attendance: 15,257 Steve's View: Albion look increasingly toothless and the team's decline from the high standards earlier in the season is both worrying and perplexing. The signing of Carbon may bring some defensive relief. Man of the Match:Alan Miller - a good performance capped by a fine penalty save.
Date: 13/1/98
Scorers: Sneekes (28, 32), Kilbane (78)
Albion put their Stoke hoodoo behind them to record their first win against the Potters in almost ten years and progress to a possible meeting with Villa in the FA Cup fourth round. New boss Denis Smith played one of the most attacking Albion formations for years, with Hughes, Sneekes, Hunt, Evans and Kilbane all in the team. However, Stoke started the brighter team and Miller was needed to make a good save to prevent a goal after 16 minutes. Albion went ahead on 28 when Sneekes fired home from 25 yards after receiving the ball from a free kick. Just four minutes later, the Dutchman scored again to send Albion into the break with a comfortable cushion. The second half saw Stoke come back at the Baggies and Albion can count themselves lucky when what appeared to be a good goal was disallowed. However, before long, Gabbiadini fired home to give Stoke hope. The Potters continued to pile forward and an equaliser looked likely until man of the match Kevin Kilbane headed home a Hughes cross with 12 minutes to go to kill off the game.
Team: Miller, Holmes, Nicholson, Sneekes, Murphy, Dobson, Evans (Butler 61), Hamilton, Hughes, Hunt, Kilbane. Subs (not used) Quailley, Burgess, Flynn, Crichton Attendance: 17,598 Steve's View: A great win to restore some confidence to the team. This needs to be capitalised on against Crewe on Saturday. Man of the Match:Kevin Kilbane - he gets better and better, this was his best Albion performance yet. Let's hope Dalglish wasn't watching!
Date: 9/1/98
Albion failed to capitalise against a poor Tranmere team that had not scored in its four previous games. The Baggies really should have picked up three points, but a lacklustre display resulted in a point that suited neither team. Albion started brightly enough and were the better team in the first half. The result would have been different had Ian Hamilton's goal, scored after good control and an intelligent pass from Andy Hunt, not been ruled unjustly offside. Albion went close on several occasions in the first half, a Hughes chance in the final minute producing a good save from the keeper. The second half saw Tranmere come more into the game and Miller was tested on many occasions as the home team surged forward. The withdrawal of Kilbane with a dead leg in the first half affected Albion's potency in attack and, at the end, the Baggies had to be happy with a point after Tranmere missed a golden opportunity just seconds from the end.
Team: Miller, Holmes, Nicholson, Sneekes, Murphy, Dobson, Butler, Hamilton, Hughes (Evans 82), Hunt, Kilbane (Flynn 34). Sub (not used) Burgess. Attendance: 8,058 Steve's View: A poor performance given the poorness of the Tranmere side. Wins against Stoke in the Cup and Crewe on Saturday are essential. Man of the Match:Andy Hunt - by far the best player on the pitch