[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Jeff Astle scores at the Shed End, Stamford Bridge, 1st March 1969

After a relatively relaxed Christmas and New Year schedule, January propels us into the realm of some serious fixture congestion.  Wednesday night brings us the first of four Albion matches within a week and a half, and it's probably the hardest of the bunch, even if our opponents are (hilariously) three points and two places below us in the table.

Our squad - if defined as 'players who are actually likely to ever be handed a place in the starting line-up' - is threadbare, and you have to wonder how this will affect selections in the coming fixtures.  Is it time to rotate a couple of young names in and give them a chance?  Would doing so at Stamford Bridge be chucking them in at the deep end (or giving Abramovich ideas about who to go plying with free ice-creams and blank contracts)?

The result for me is pretty much secondary in this one; we lost to Chelsea back in August when they were awful, and now they seem to be getting their act together, so a customary defeat wouldn't come as too much of a surprise.  If we can take something from the game, all the better.  But above all, we need to avoid injuries and suspensions and keep the lads in the best possible shape to play: in the offing is a more winnable away game, a continuation of our cup run... oh, and a certain nail to hammer into a certain coffin.  Priorities, Tony.  Priorities.

[drewks]

....just LOOK at the asbestos sheeting in the old stand

[aries22]

Left to right, Tony Brown, David Webb, Jeff Astle, Ron Harris, Allan Harris (I think) (on his 'arris).
From the changed strips and the date, this was the FA Cup 6th round game. I was there but I don't remember much about it.

[RainbowTurnedEastStand]

I`d go with this 11 and just go for it giving Rondon something to work with

Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt, Yacob, Fletcher, Morrison, Sessegnon, McManaman, Rondon.

[tidy]

Goal difference might take a hammering tonight....

3-0 Chelsea.

[Tibby Baggie]

This one is a really tough game to call.

On one hand Chelsea looked back to near their best against Palace recently, but on the other hand Palace also made Villa look like Brazil last night so that makes me question just how well Chelsea did play in that game.

I'm going for 2-1 to the Albion, Rondon and McAuley both to score.

COYB!

[Forever Young]

2-0 Chelsea win unfortunately! Park the bus, 1 o/g and a dodgy penalty! I hope I'm wrong

COYB

[Beefy 1965]

This one is a really tough game to call.

On one hand Chelsea looked back to near their best against Palace recently, but on the other hand Palace also made Villa look like Brazil last night so that makes me question just how well Chelsea did play in that game.

I'm going for 2-1 to the Albion, Rondon and McAuley both to score.

COYB!

Like your optimism Tibby,
If Chelski play like they did against C Palace and IF we concede early i reckon it could end up 4-0,
However don't concede early at best we could scrape a 0-0,
I hope to come on here and bow to your superiority if you're right though Tibby.
And will be delighted to do so 

[Wrigley]

just heading off to get train for Chelsea game id take a draw now but a win would be great im in the upper shed if ne one else going lol COYB

[WBA-Josh]

GK - Myhill

RB - Dawson
CB - McAuley
CB - Evans
LB - Brunt

RM - Sessegnon
CM - Fletcher
CM - Yacob
LM - Gardner

AM - Morrison

ST - Rondon