[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Twelve months ago this week, an embattled Steve Clarke - who'd just coaxed Albion to five points from five league matches following a crucial first win - had to tackle the eternal stumbling block of the League Cup third round.  A valiant 120-minute effort ultimately came down to penalties, and unfortunately once again proved a hurdle we couldn't cross.  It was soon forgotten with a win at Old Trafford days later, but a year on, it's deja vu all over again as an embattled Alan Irvine looks to build on the weekend's triumph by negotiating an obstacle which has been an almighty embuggerance for us in recent years.  Having reached the FA Cup final last year, Hull perhaps have that bit more experience in the art of muddling through the rounds - you'd struggle to find a worse cup team in the top two divisions over the last five years or so than Albion - but with Jeremy Peace insisting that cup comps are a priority, and Irvine presumably wanting to prove himself in every way possible, could this year be our year?

Let's take it seriously and get the job done.

Classic Matches

Various League Cup Third Round