Albion captain Jonathan Greening will have history in his sights when he leads the Baggies into battle tonight in search of a Premier League return.
Greening and Co effectively need just a point against Southampton at The Hawthorns to clinch top-flight status for next season.
But the skipper already has half-an-eye on becoming the first man for almost 90 years to lift a championship trophy for Albion.
The club’s one and only title success came in 1920 but four points from the last two matches would effectively seal top spot.
“It would be absolutely amazing to lift that trophy,” said Greening.
“Obviously we still have two games to go but we’re in good form and we know if we win those two games then we go up as Champions and that’s our main aim.
“To go up as Champions would be brilliant. We are focussed on finishing the job off and winning the league.
“It’s something the boys have all spoken about and it’s in our own hands too. It would be great to have that on our CV when we all retire.
“From a personal point of view it would be fantastic in what is my first year as captain.
“I was probably as surprised as most people to be captain - I wasn’t expecting at all - but I’ve enjoyed it and that would be the perfect way to end the season for me.”
A win against the struggling Saints this evening would wrap up promotion mathmatically but Albion’s superior goal difference means a point this evening would effectively take Albion up by giving them a three-point lead over third-placed Hull.
The Tigers extended the promotion race into this evening when captain Ian Ashbee headed a late winner against Crystal Palace on Saturday when a draw would have sent Albion and Stoke up.
Greening is in confident mood and he says he is desperate to help land the title for long-serving defenders Neil Clement and Paul Robinson, who missed out on top spot when they lost the last three matches of the season in 2004 and finished as runners-up after clinching promotion.
“We were talking about it last weekend,” said the captain. “ We were all wondering how good the feeling would be to be Champions .
“ Our main aim is to go up but we know that if we get the result tonight hen we can go out without pressure and maybe play some good stuff at QPR.”
16 Comments
Having been a Baggies fan for longer than I care to remember, I hope, for once, they don´t stuff this one up. Saying that, I´ve every confidence that they will get the job done. Not doing my blood pressure much good though. Onwards and upwards, as they say. COME ON YOU BAGGIE BOYS!!!
HERES TO A WBA WIN TONIGHT AND A SMILE ON MY MATES FACES, GAVIN PUNFIELD AND REG PRESCOTT, BIG ALBION FANS, I AM A WOLVES FAN BUT STILL WISH YOU WELL. HOPE TO BE PLAYING YOU NEXT SEASON IN THE PREM, PERHAPS GAVIN WILL BY ME A HALF AND CHANGE A HABIT OF A LIFETIME.
JAMIE LANYON HOLIDAY PARK SUNNY CORNWALL
We had the chance to be champions 6 years ago under SGM but he blew it with 4 games to go and Norwich took the title.
In a Kevin Keegan-esque sounding rant “I’d love it if we won it, LOVE IT!”
Boing Boing - sending the Saints down for a second time!!!
Let’s just get the job done and win tonight. I’m confident without being cocky, a bit like the Albion team. They appear to be very focused with being over confident. I think we will get the result we need tonight and go up. 3-1 Albion tonight (Miller, Phillips and Gera)
Can’t wait till tonight I’ll be Boinging in the Smethwick!!!
Boing Boing
Jonno…. Not so much as I want to see you lift it mate.
its sweaky bum time,my head tells me no problem,but in my heart i always know the baggies never do it the easy way,but never the less,lets do the bis,and get back to the promised land were we belong.IN TO,MO WE TRUST.GOOD LUCK U BAGGIE BOYS.
Greening has been an inspiration this season. To my mind he was man of the match at the Molineux recently and the captaincy has seemingly inspired him. He has a very important role tonight.
Hope the Hawthorns’ faithful give Nigel Pearson a good reception. He did a fine job for this club.
Come on you Baggies!
Comon Jonno do it.
You know it makes sense.
Doing it the Mowbray way, Oh Yes
Spoken like a true captain il b boinging up and down East Stand 2nite 3-0 2 the Albion
Will b hillarious 2 see the Saints go down 2 League 1 hahahah my dad wants Leicester 2 go coz of Lee Hendrie!
Lets finish the Job 2nite!!!!!
Come on you Baggies
From a wolves fan good luck tonight hope you win and go onto lift the title you are the best footballing side since Man City won promotion under keegan, hope you do it.
Come on you Bagieeeeees!!
Romsley. I’ll be boinging in the Smethwick end too!!
My only concern is that Stern John always scores against us, but i also beleive Hull will struggle to beat Ipswich next week. I can honestly see us losing tonight just to make the last game of the season a nail biter. Oh i cant take it, please do the job tonight boys my nerves cannot take anymore, going to the Sportsman and then the Vine, settle my nerves!!
wbabomber, come on mate where’s the confidence?, we are going to do it mate so sit back and enjoy the ride. The players have worked too hard to let it slip now. Look at the previous few weeks. Had to beat Blackpool and did, had to beat Wolves and did, Went to Norwich they needed a victory for safety and beat them in 2nd gear. We will win tonight i’m not saying it’s going to be a walkover but we will win. Come on mate enjoy the moment we have had a fair share of disappointment over the last 12 months with 2 Wembely losses and we were all there to witness them both, this is our moment enjoy it. 3-1 (Stern John may score but it wont be enough)
Boing Boing
Come on Baggies only 5 hours to go, can hardly contain my excitement!!!!!!!!!!!
Boing Boing
Come on lads,lets have all 3 points tonight,then onto winning the league,Boing Boinging at Romsley and Hunnington CC this evening….
Losing in the semi’s was a blessing in disguise,to feel that dissapointment again at wembley must have clicked with the players NO PLAYOFFS FOR US BOYS!!CUM ON MI BABBIES LETS GET THE JOB DONE TONITE PARTY TIME OR WOT BOING BOING!!BLUE AND WHITE TILL I DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!