[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Albion observe a minute's silence for the late WG Richardson before playing Manchester City, 31st March 1959

The less said about Liverpool away, the better.

The less said about Tony Pulis's new contract, the better.

The less said about most of last weekend's results going against us, the better.

The less said about us ideally needing a win from one of the next two games to avoid an uncomfortable November, the better.

The less said about the next two games being against the usually imperious Man City and at fortress Leicester, the better.

Admittedly, this approach to Albion's current fortunes does risk reducing this entire match thread to the realms of "once upon a time there was a lovely little sausage called Baldrick, and it lived happily ever after," but to be honest, that might be for the best. Of course, Pep Guardiola is feeling the pressure at the moment with a winless run and derby defeat fresh in his mind, but we've become pretty renowned in recent years as the side against whom ailing teams can always revive their season, and though the return of Jonny Evans is a boost, the suspension of Yacob will be a huge blow to us.

You might have gathered that I'm not overly filled with hope for this one. Obviously fingers crossed for the result we want and need, but I reckon we're going to end up keeping our powder dry for the reigning champions instead. Let's see how it goes.

Former Albion favourite Asa Hartford returns to the Hawthorns with Man City, 2nd April 1983

[Baggievicar]

I can't help feeling that's a dive in the second picture....

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

I can't help feeling that's a dive in the second picture....

That's no way to talk about the Smethwick End

[talkSAFT]

Who can name the eleven on the 1st photo?
What about the 12th man in the middle?

[Arcane Astral Aeons]

ever the optimist me
wouldnt surprise me if we nick a 6-0 win
......ok maybe a 1-0

[Baggievicar]

All pretty excited, then?

[talkSAFT]

Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Nyom; Chadli, Fletcher, Evans, Brunt, McClean; Rondon.
Myhill; Robson-kanu, Morrison, Gardner, Phillips, Galloway, Leko

So, Evans for Yacob, and Brunt for Phillips. Changed my mind from 0-4 to 0-3. That's more like it, Tone.

---

F****** embarrassing

[May68]

My God Fletcher is awful.

[Zinman]

So our best central defender plays in midfield with the inevitable result. on the plus side, according to BBC, our possession is up to 23%. Pity about the 2 goals though.....it could be a long afternoon.

[BaggieSteve]

Quote from Lawrenson on Five Live "This is a training game for City". I know we are playing one of the two most skilful teams in the League but we give up before we start. Middlesbrough went to the other most skilful team last week (Arsenal, in my opinion) and, whilst they rode their luck, they also attacked, created some very good chances and could have won it. Pulls would never do that. I am sick to death of pundits telling us that we need to be realistic and should be grateful to have Pulis as if this is the only feckin' way to play football if we want to stay up. It's absolutely, bloody awful. This is not just about City having better individual players, which I fully accept, but it's an attitude of mind on the part of Pulis. It's just out and out negativity. I'd almost buy it if we only played this way against the top teams but what you see today is what you'll see next week at Leicester and, sadly, the week after against Burnley. Just so hacked off.