This site contains details of all the latest Albion news, including match reports. Come on you Baggies!
Click here to e-mail me if you have any comments!
Date: 29/11/97
Albion's winning streak finally came to an end at The Riverside, but a battling Baggies team can count themselves unlucky not to pick up at least a point. Middlesbrough started the game well and almost went ahead when Townsend hit a 25 yard drive, which was tipped away by Miller. Albion soon took a grip on the game and Sneekes missed a gilt-edged opportunity to score when one-on-one with keeper Schwarzer. The Dutchman seemed certain to score, but somehow hit his shot wide of the post. Kilbane also went close for the Baggies, but it was Middlesbrough who went ahead when Sneekes was dispossessed by Merson and Beck chipped a shot over Miller. The second half was a scrappy affair with neither teams managing to get a grip on the game. The best chances fell to the Baggies, with Kilbane going closest with a 30 yard free kick that just went wide of the post. Middlesbrough often found it difficult to cope with the Albion attacks and certainly did not look as good a team as some quarters suggest.
Team: Miller, Holmes (Evans 80), Smith, Sneekes (Hughes 68), Burgess, Mardon, Coldicott, Hamilton, Butler, Hunt, Kilbane. Sub (not used) Dobson Attendance: 30,164 Steve's View: A defeat, but a good performance against one of the favourites to win the league is still encouraging. We need to get back to winning ways in our next two home games to set us up for Christmas. Man of the Match:Kevin Kilbane - possibly his best performance in an Albion shirt to date.
Date: 23/11/97
Scorer: Sneekes 83
Albion were totally outplayed and outfought by Blues, yet still picked up yet another three points to maintain their promotion push. However, more performances like this will surely see the Baggies lose to more talented sides. The game started in the vein it was destined to continue, with Blues dominating the midfield and running with pace at the Albion defence. Chances started to be created before too long and Miller had to be at his best on several occasions, especially when diving low to his right to push out a McCarthy shot for a corner. Albion totally failed to string any semblance of their passing game together and a Kilbane cross met by no-one was all they had to show for a poor first period. The second half began in the same way with Blues probing at every opportunity. Miller again was called on to make two vital saves, pushing a fiercely struck free kick away for a corner and tipping a low drive around the post. Furlong also went close with a delicate chip, but Mardon was well positioned on the line to head clear. In the final quarter, Albion at last showed something like their recent form with Hunt and Hughes, brought on as a 52nd minute substitute for Flynn, unsettling the Blues' defence. In the 83rd minute, Sneekes disposessed Ndlovu, turned the ball out wide to Hunt and made a bee-line for the box. Hunt's return ball fall to the Dutchman's feet and he rifled the ball beyond Bennett as the Hawthorns erupted.
Team: Miller, Holmes, Smith, Sneekes, Burgess, Mardon, Flynn (Hughes 52), Hamilton, Butler, Hunt, Kilbane. Subs (not used) Dobson, Coldicott. Attendance: 18,444 Steve's View: Probably Albion's worst performance of the season saw them pick up yet another three points. You have to feel sorry for Trevor Francis, but we'll take whatever we can get. A sweet victory. Man of the Match:Alan Miller - can this man do no wrong. No points were turned into three by a fantastic goalkeeping display. Top stuff.
Alan Miller - goalkeeper extrordinaire
Date: 15/11/97
Scorers: Hunt 57, Hamilton 68
Another solid performance saw Albion move level on points with table-topping Nottingham Forest and second placed Swindon. The Baggies were always in control of this game, with Sneekes and Hamilton dominating the midfield and always looking capable of stepping up a gear. After a goal-less first half, it was Vale who broke the deadlock when Mills headed home after 48 minutes, but this only served to stir Albion into more direct action and Hunt pounced on a mis-directed Vale header to bring the scores level just nine minutes later. The Baggies then took complete control and flooded the midfield. It seemed inevitable their dominance would pay off and Sneekes, again pouncing on a mis-directed Vale header, put the away team ahead on 68 minutes. The Baggies then sat on their lead, stroking the ball around nicely, to record their fourth away victory and maintain their promotion push.
Team: Miller, Holmes, Smith, Sneekes, Burgess, Mardon (Dobson 45), Flynn, Hamilton, Butler, Hunt, Coldicott. Subs (not used) Taylor, Hughes. Attendance: 11,124 Steve's View: Another great performance underlines Albion's strength this season. We may all be surprised, but Ray Harford really seems to have instilled a belief in the team that has not been seen for many years. Let's hope the wheels don't come off after Christmas, particularly not next week against the Blue Noses. Man of the Match:Richard Sneekes - how many times has he been my man of the match? Yet again, a dominant performance from the Dutchman.
Ian Hamilton - secured victory
Date: 8/11/97
Scorer: Hunt 34
Albion's fourth consecutive clean sheet saw them rise to third in the table after a victory against high-flying Charlton Athletic. The Baggies' victory was hard-earned against an impressive looking Charlton side, who found Albion's defence in it fine form. The teams were well-matched for the most part with Albion often looking threatening when going forward, but wasting too much possession. The break through finally came on 34 minutes when Andy Hunt latched onto a through ball and slotted past the keeper. Charlton manager Alan Curbishley later claimed Hunt was offside when he picked up the ball, but the referee didn't agree and the Baggies went into the break a goal to the good. The second half was nip-and-tuck stuff with both teams showing the form which has made them promotion candidates. But Albion held firm and moved level on points with Forest, just three behind table-topping Swindon
Team: Miller, Holmes, Smith, Sneekes (Hughes 65), Burgess, Mardon, Flynn (Coldicott 73), Hamilton, Butler, Hunt, Kilbane. Sub (not used) Dobson. Attendance: 16,124 Steve's View: Six points from two homes and two clean sheets. You can't get much better than that. The fact Albion are playing below the high standards they set earlier this season and still winning is very encouraging indeed. Man of the Match:Richard Sneekes - worked hard in midfield to thwart a competitive Charlton side
Date: 4/11/97
Scorer: Hughes 85
A poor game resulted in Albion picking up a hard earned three points to maintain their challenge at the top of the table. Much of the first half was poor as a well-organised Norwich midfield nullified much of the threat of Sneekes and lone striker Andy Hunt. Norwich did manage to hit a post in the half, but it was Albion who did most of the probing without finding a cutting edge. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Hughes working hard after replacing Kilbane at half time. As against Sheffield United, he spurned a couple of gilt-edged chances, but the super-sub's reward finally came just five minutes from time when he lashed home for his first goal in front of the Brummie Road End.
Team: Miller, Holmes, Smith, Sneekes, Dobson, Mardon, Flynn (Coldicott 84), Hamilton, Butler, Hunt, Kilbane (Hughes 45). Sub (not used) Murphy. Attendance: 13,949 Steve's View: Can we start dreaming? A poor performance compared to recent games, but three home points will do very nicely, thank you. Man of the Match:Lee Hughes - tireless work in second half capped by well-deserved goal
Date: 1/11/97
Another clean sheet from the Baggies kept them in the promotion hunt against high-flying Bradford City. Albion started the game the same way they finished against Sheffield Utd and put immediate pressure on the Yorkshire. Hunt was again deployed alone up front and saw a scorching fifth minute shot well saved by keeper Walsh. Bradford should have scored when Steiner broke through in the 18th minute, but he shot straight at Miller. Shortly afterwards, Sneekes was unlucky to hit the bar with a long drive. Albion should have gone into the interval with a lead, but a lack of cutting edge meant it was even at the break. In the second half, Bradford came at the Baggies and Miller was called upon to make several important saves. Albion pushed forward again towards the end, but were happy to settle for a well-earned away point.
Team: Miller, Holmes, Smith, Sneekes, Burgess, Mardon, Flynn (Coldicott 70), Hamilton, Butler, Hunt (Hughes 60), Kilbane (Dobson 77). Sub (not used) Dobson. Attendance: 16,212 Steve's View: A good away point, but Peschisolido's departure combined with Evans' injury gives cause for concern on the goals front. Another good defensive display though. Man of the Match:Paul Mardon - looking back to his solid best.