West Bromwich Albion v. Sheffield Wednesday (13 April) [R]

[DevilDave]

Just about twelve hours from the time I write this, Albion will take one more bow before the Sky cameras on a Friday night when they play Sheffield Wednesday at home.

The scary thing about this fixture is that the Owls are not yet mathematically eliminated from contention for a play-off place. Since drawing with the Dingles a month ago, they've won three on the trot and will hope to make us their next scalp. Our form at home of late has not been nearly as formidable as the early part of the season, and our lads will need to play at their best to prevail in the end.

I have the afternoon off work so I will be watching the match via Setanta. I've seen the Baggies win a few times this season... hopefully tonight that will be the case.

[DevilDave]

I would like to apologise in advance for my excessive use of caps.

WHAT THE F*** DID I JUST WATCH??? WHO THE HELL ARE THOSE IMPOSTORS WEARING THE BLUE & WHITE STRIPES?! HAVE WE SOMEHOW GOT THE W***VES TEAM FROM 2001-02 PLAYING FOR US?? IT LOOKS LIKE IT!!! :mad:

Our final touch deserted us all night. Wednesday defended well, but their attack wasn't consistent. We did give them a few decent chances and they took one of them well.

The effort was clearly there during the first half and the start of the second. The problem, however, was that we completely fell apart after the Owls score. THE TEAM CANNOT ALLOW A SINGLE GOAL TO UNNERVE THEM. We were not the same team, and the late two sendings-off were proof that our lads lacked the bottle to grind out a result tonight.

We can pretty much forget about any hopes of an automatic promotion place. Worse, we've presented a gift to the sides below us to potentially KNOCK US FROM THE PLAY-OFF PLACES TOMORROW!!!

INEXCUSABLE!!!! :mad:

[DevilDave]

Somehow, we remain in fifth place in the Championship as both Stoke and W***es both drew today. We're out of the running for second, and the best we can hope for at this point is probably finishing fourth, or third if Blues stumble badly.

We didn't want to do it via the play-offs. However, in order for us to even get there - let alone ponder a day out at the new Wembley - we need to GET GOALS.

Burnley away, Cov away, Barnsley at home. Those are three clubs hovering in the danger zone, but all quite winnable matches. Our fate is in our own hands. This team will look completely different if we fail to go up this season, and I doubt it will look as strong.