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Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Full Record of Spurs -v- West Bromwich Albion
Prem Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 1 1 0 0 3 - 1 3
Away 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
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Total(Prem) 1 1 0 0 3 - 1 3
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Football Lge
Home(Div 1) 45 22 11 12 79 -46 55
Away(Div 1) 45 12 7 26 54 -94 31
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Total(Div 1) 90 34 18 38 133 -140 86
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Football Lge
Home(Div 2) 8 3 3 2 12 -10 9
Away(Div 2) 8 1 1 6 14 -20 3
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Total(Div 2) 16 4 4 8 26 -30 12
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Total(Prem) 1 1 0 0 3 - 1 3
Total(Div 1) 90 34 18 38 133 -140 86
Total(Div 2) 16 4 4 8 26 -30 12
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Grand Total 107 39 22 46 162 -171 101
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By the time Spurs take the field for this match, the Baggies are likely to
have been relegated with Sunderland. (Ed: They sure have. Despite beating Sunderland, West Brom cannot catch the fourth from bottom side (Bolton), who have 38 points)They achieved promotion on the back of a long run without defeat, pipping neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers in the process. West Bromwich Albion were one of the founder members of the Football League in September 1888 but yo-yo'ed between the top two
Divisions until being relegated to the old Third Division at the end of
season 1990-91. They were still there when the Football League was
abandoned by the Premiership clubs but gained promotion from the newly
named Division 2 through the play-offs. At the end of last season, they
returned to the top flight for the first time since season 1985-86.
The paths of West Bromwich Albion and Spurs have crossed a few times. In
1908-09, Spurs pipped the Baggies to promotion to Division 1 on goal
average. In season 1930-31, West Bromwich had the last laugh, pipping
Spurs to promotion, after Spurs lost leading goalscorer Eddie Harper at a
vital stage of the season. As far as I can recall, this is the first time
there has been the possibility of relegation being attached to this
fixture.
Over the years, the Baggies have had some very good players. The team that
was managed by former Spurs defender Vic Buckingham came very close to
achieving the League and Cup Double in season 1953-54. The Baggies won the
Cup but lost the League to rivals Wolves. In that side was Ronnie Allen,
who was a marvellous centre-forward, and who scored two of the three goals
that day. He was a player who preferred to play football rather than to
intimidate the opposing goalkeepers. Allen was later one of a long line of
managers (including Keith Burkinshaw and Ossie Ardiles) who tried to bring
the Glory days back to the Hawthorns.
Graham Roberts wound down his professional career at the Hawthorns. His
last FA Cup match was West Brom's 4-2 home defeat by Woking. Roberts had a
nightmare of a game, in which Woking came from behind (0-1 at half-time)
to win 4-2, mainly thanks to a hat-trick by Buzaglo.
West Brom, like many clubs these days, are cash-strapped. They resisted
the temptation to strengthen the side by mortgaging the future and are now
paying the price of doing so. Having seen some of their games on TV, I
must say I feel they have not enjoyed the best of fortunes. There have
been mistaken decisions by the match officials that have lost the Baggies
some valuable points. However, the Baggies are clearly NOT Premiership
class, though they are better than the last side to represent the Baggies
at this level. Russell Hoult, for all his clanger, has undoubtedly worked
hard to give them a chance of survival. I have always liked his approach
to the game and feel sad for him that he has not enjoyed the best of luck
at times.
Over the years as, the statistics show, honours have been divided between
the two clubs. Spurs have done better at Tottenham but fared poorly at the
Hawthorns. But Spurs did have a habit in the 1960s of losing crucial home
games to West Brom. Had they beaten West Brom in their final home game of
season 1960-61, they would have created a new record for a 42-match League
season under two points for a win. It would have been a chance to erase
THAT other lot from the record books!
Given Spurs poor record against relegation haunted sides, I suspect that
Spurs will continue to be generous and donate the points to the Baggies,
possibly by 2-1.
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Cheers, Brian
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