[themaclad]

West Bromwich Albion
The Hawthorns 1/1/2025 15.00 Hrs

How splendid M6/M5 on New Years Day always a favourite, apparently going to be hammering down, pr match entertainment a couple of laps round the ground and down the the cricket club and back, got to get your steps in.

https://www.wba.co.uk/

Manager for the time being



Christopher Colin Brunt (born 14 December 1984) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and is the current West Bromwich Albion loan player manager and interim manager. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in the club’s history.[4]

A versatile player, Brunt featured primarily as a left winger, but could also operate as a left-back or attacking midfielder. Brunt started his career with Middlesbrough but did not manage to make an appearance for the first team. He joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2004 and amassed 153 appearances for the club before joining West Bromwich Albion in 2007, where he went on to feature in over 400 matches.

Brunt earned 65 caps for the Northern Ireland national team between 2004 and 2017. He also represented his country at youth level.

LAST TIME OUT





FORM GUIDE

WBA 8 PNE 12

IN FORM



CHAMPO STUFF





THINGS TO DO ON A WET NEW YEARS DAY IN WEST BROMWICH



The Oak House is a timber framed building dating from the early sixteenth century that is located in West Bromwich, England.

The Oak House was built in c. 1620, and while the original owners are not known, the family most closely associated with it are the Turtons, who were living there by 1634; the Turtons also built brick additions to the rear of the house during the 1650s. The house remained in the Turton family until 1768 when it passed to William Whyley, the "natural son" of John Turton.

It is thought to have taken its name from an oak which stood on the green in front of it and was burnt down around 1800, though it could have been named after the oak woodland that once surrounded the house. The last John Turton advised William Whyley to fell the trees, and in 1768 many were used to make lock-gates for the Birmingham Canal, which was then being built through West Bromwich. Very few oaks remained in 1836. John Wesley preached at the house on two occasions in the late 18th century when it was in the ownership of William Whyley. It remained in the Whyley family until 1837. Following a succession of owners, Reuben Farley (three times Mayor of West Bromwich) purchased the property[when?].

Alderman Reuben Farley was one of the towns greatest benefactors. He purchased the Oak House with the intention of making it his private residence, but resolved to present it to the town as a museum. The leading architects in West Bromwich, Messrs. Wood and Kendrick, were employed with the task of restoring the house. Skilled craftsmanship ensured the outstanding quality of the restoration and the museum was formally opened on 25 July 1898; gardens and a bowling green were also laid out.

To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the gift, the corporation decided to convert the Oak House into a period house with antique furnishings; the formal reopening took place in 1951.

In 1949 the house was protected as a Grade II* listed building.[1] It became a Grade I listed building on 27 September 2024.[2]

[talkSAFT]

Interesting stuff, Mac. Thanks.

ps I'm forecasting a nice 4-0 result tomorrow. (Could be 5 or 6 if we get into gear).
pps I'm a Baggies fan.

[themaclad]

Ha

[talkSAFT]

Enjoy your pleasant day out, Mac. (I'd like to buy you a pre-match pint, but I live deep in Cornwall now and visits are very rare these days.)

[themaclad]

The Fitness Test

Brad Potts missed the victory over Sheffield Wednesday with a knee injury which is likely to keep him out for this match as well.

Robbie Brady is also expected to be unavailable again after recently suffering two cracked ribs.

There are no other injuries for Paul Heckingbottom to worry about.

The Baggies

West Brom are in something of an in-between period right now following the recent departure of Carlos Corberán, who has taken over La Liga side Valencia.

In the absence of a permanent boss, Chris Brunt, Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill have overseen their last two matches – a defeat to Derby County and a draw away to Sheffield United.

The Baggies currently sit right on the brink of the Play-Offs and whoever takes charge at The Hawthorns will be hopeful of being able to break into that top six come May.


The Officials

Referee: Bobby Madley
Assistant Referees: Blake Antrobus and Johnathon Bickerdike
Fourth Official: Sam Allison

Bobby Madley will take charge of his fourth PNE match of the season on Wednesday.

One of the three he’s already refereed was the incredible 17-16 penalty shootout victory over Fulham in round three of the Carabao Cup.

In total during the 2024/25 season, Madley has shown 58 yellow cards and one red in the 16 matches he’s refereed.

MACS VIEW

Can we bag the Baggies? Tough ask even in their state of flux at the moment, well and truly hammered on our last couple of visits here. Hopefully better prepared timorrow than in recent games, be happy with a point
Highest ground in England, weather will be crap, will our new striker be involved?



Very much a utility player,can do anything

[themaclad]

West Bromwich Albion 3 Maja 2 Styles Preston North End 1 Ledson

Attendance: 24,320 (905 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr B Madley.

HECK

Paul Heckingbottom felt his side gifted West Brom their goals in the 3-1 defeat at The Hawthorns.

North End travelled to the Midlands on the opening day of 2025 looking to build on back-to-back wins on home turf.

The Baggies, though, found themselves three goals up at half-time, leaving PNE with a mountain to climb. They came out and put in a positive second-half display which included a goal from Ryan Ledson, but the deficit was too big.


Hecky said: “The damage was done. It’s one of those games where you’ll look back and statistically, when people assess the game, there'll be nothing between the teams.

“But we gave them three goals. We were in as many dangerous positions as them in the first half, but we lacked quality or they defended better than us.

“The three goals that we gave away are really poor from our point of view. It was an uphill battle after that.

“The pleasing thing is the response was good. We're never going to lie down. We're always going to keep trying to win the game and play on the front foot, but the damage was done.”

After conceding those three first-half goals, the manager opted to make two changes at the break and that seemed to really bring North End to life.

The equaliser from Ledson was then followed by a spell of real pressure, but the Baggies weathered the storm and ensured they didn’t let the Lilywhites get back into the game.


While Hecky was pleased with the reaction he saw from his group who'd been struck by illness, the main takeaway was the disappointment from the performances in the first period.

On the second half, the manager said: “It would have been positive if it was still 0-0 and we'd won the game. I expect the mentality to be there. I expect us to keep playing.

“I've spoken to the boys who were playing who were ill today as well and fair play, you're playing, but the energy levels were there in the second half that weren't there in the first.

“There was no drop-off, it's just a mentality thing. So whilst I appreciate people standing up and performing, there's an expectation there that players do that when you're not 100%. It's a credit to them, but when players cross the white line, whether it’s training or a game, you can't have excuses.

“You can't feel sorry for anyone because if you do that, you're letting the other squad members down. There were lots of little challenges, lots of little tests today, but it's always the result that dictates how I feel.”

TO BE BRUNT

Chris Brunt spoke of his pride at helping guide Albion to three Sky Bet Championship points against Preston North End on New Year’s Day.

The Baggies recorded a 3-1 triumph in what was Brunt’s third match as part of a group leading the first-team while the hunt for a new manager continues.

Josh Maja scored twice and Callum Styles notched his first for the club before the break, with Ryan Ledson scoring a consolation for the visitors 20 minutes from time.

Wednesday’s encounter was the fourth in 12 days for Albion and although they were unable to hit the same standard of performance in the second 45, Brunt insisted the first period was very impressive and was a major factor in achieving a positive result.

Chris Brunt applauding Albion fans after the win against Preston
He said: “Using the word perfect wouldn’t probably be the right word for today.

“We were good in the first half and then in the second they put us under quite a lot of pressure, but it was great to get the three points.

“I think we probably deserved three points for that first-half performance, but there were a few hairy moments in that second 45. I’m glad we were able to get over the line and get the win.

“The lads are so well-drilled from the previous two years. They know their jobs and they know what they have to do.

“Scoring goals is about being positive in the attacking areas. That’s one thing we’ve tried to say over the last few days. We’ve told the lads to be positive when they get into the right area of the pitch and get shots and crosses off, take people on and just be positive and make things happen.

“In Mikey Johnston and Tom Fellows, we’ve probably got two of the best at doing that in the league. Jayson’s energy coming from midfield was brilliant. Josh Maja is just a clever football player and he gets himself in the right areas and took his two goals really well.

Chris Brunt congratulating players after beating Preston
“The first half was a lot more comfortable. They changed their shape in the second half and put us under a lot more pressure and played a lot more direct.

“At this time of year there are tired legs everywhere and you could see it in their team too. They coped with that first 20 minutes in the second half better than we did and just as we were about to make some changes and do a bit with the shape, they scored a goal and that threw things up in the air a bit.

“To be fair to the lads, they responded well and we’re very proud of them.

“When the team that’s losing 3-0 gets the next goal, you know you’re in for a game. That was the case today, but to be fair to the lads they defended really well. All of the lads did really well today. Nothing will ever go your way for the full 90 minutes and the lads showed another side of themselves today and at Sheffield United – showing they can grind games out.

“I’m trying to do my best as part of a group leading the team, just as I did my best a player here. I’m trying to help as much as I can, but it’s a team effort. There are lots of staff working in the background to get players ready for games. It’s a tough period and everyone has pulled together.

“I’m very proud to get this result today. It’s great to win the game.”

[talkSAFT]

Thanks, Mac. Did you go for a pint? Which boozer?

[themaclad]

No beer, will refer to a pub when I do match blog after I finish work

[themaclad]

Well the traditional thumping at the Hawthorns although will give them credit they did not give up, like they would have done under Fantastic. We did have defending absences, no excuse but losing Hughes who was ill, was a big miss, thorougjly exposed on the right hand side, Bowler going forward can be dangerous defending is not his strength. It was a bit shambolic in the first half but we basically gave three goals way.
Arrived early as per usual this time wandered down the picturesque boulevard of Cambridge Road, the Wagon and Horses pub has seen better days, have to say the amount of discarded litter is disgraceful.
For a change managed to sit during the game, blagged a couple of seats above one of the exits.
As for the game strangely going forward ctually played all right, he issues were at the other end.
First, Johnston down the Albion left, dummied two defenders, ball into corridor of uncertainty, Thor balls up with clearence 1 down Maja
Second, seemed like a planned move, corner to Styles on edge of 18 yard box, Thor again cuplable, Styles shot think it may have taken a deflection, third, ended up with our top scorer having to fill in at left back, no chance with Albion attacker, ball 10 yards out Maja, game done and dusted by half time
Two changes at half time, yes Albion took the foot of the gas, but credit where credit is due we had a go, pulled one back through Ledson(a rarity) Riis had a shot well saved by Palmer, if that had gone in, it might have been interesting.
Wasn't to be, cannnot gift goals and expect to ake something from the game.
Albion deserved to win, playing a higher tempo than under Carlos, suits them better.
Onto Mr Madley, Styles possibly lucky not to see red for a tackle on Whiteman and Barclay throwing Riis over the boards at the end was a red.
He found it easy to book our lads as per.
Never mind Rowett next, we have never beaten one of his sides

[talkSAFT]

Cheers, Mac. (You nearly got a repeat of '54).