Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Albion blog: Now win the league
Tuesday 8th April 2008, 8:59AM BST.
Saturday was simply a fantastic day out, fourteen of us headed down to Wembley in jubilant mood, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
When we arrived at the Green Man pub it was clear the Albion fans were in carnival mode and the atmosphere was unbelievable.
See also: Albion blogger’s Wembley video diary
I thought the boys played well without ever really creating enough clear cut chances, the best chance fell to Miller but he snatched at it and when Koren hit the bar with a great effort you could sense we were not going to score.
Portsmouth’s goal was controversial to say the least, due to where I was sitting I did not realise that Baros had quite clearly handled the ball in the build up to the goal, it is disappointing that neither the referee nor the linesman spotted it.
It turned out to be the defining moment of the game, Baros had already been booked for deliberate handball and had the officials seen it he may have walked.
I know its all ifs and buts but in such a close game it is the small things that change history.
We had a lot of possession but failed to get in behind a very experienced and well marshalled defence, a number of pundits have said we were the better team for long periods of the game but we needed a goal.
My seat was right next to the Portsmouth fans and I thought both sets of fans were excellent, the atmosphere was far better than last season’s game against Derby and even after the game although disappointed, the Baggies fans were still rocking.
I just hope the disappointment now acts as a catalyst for us to push on and achieve automatic promotion, starting with Blackpool tonight.
The hurt felt by the players could see a backlash at the seaside and three points is a must, Bristol City are starting to stutter under the pressure of being top and it is still anyone’s guess who can conquer their nerves and claim top spot.
It would be a shame if we had nothing to show for a season which has been so memorable and the players deserve it, but we need to have one final push for the finishing line.
It is now that the team spirit which now exists within this squad of players will be most important, the experience of Phillips, the desire of Bednar, and the brute strength of Robinson needs to come together and ensure we gather enough points to avoid going through the play offs.
I would like to thank the manager and the team for their efforts and giving us the chance to have such a fantastic day out. It was disappointing to lose, but we still have so much to play for.
Blackpool are no pushovers and have adapted to life in the Championship well this season, but if we are to make the top two we need to be winning games before we run out of time.
And with teams still having to play each other and teams like Wolves and Hull hitting form, however we play or however we do it, the three points are a must.
Always proud to be a Baggie!
Albion fans have your say below
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2nd i think for ulot,watford to win it? alot will depend on the game at your ground! PRESSURE!
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I think tonight is a vital game for you guys. Win it and I think you’ll go straight up. Draw or lose and it’ll be the playoffs at best.
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one thing to say to that !!! come on Blackpool
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after last nite 3 points would set us on our way nicely,boing boing boing going to top of the tower and the league
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when i looked at the table on the txt this morning i noticed there was a red line above the dingles,what is it there for boing boing
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i like to be known as TWB but now we have lost at wembley i cant think of a 6 letter word that begins with W any ideas anyone,boing boing blackpool go for it
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Put your money on Blackpool tonight!!!
Whenever the results have conspired to be in our favour we always seem to mess it up.
Would be too boring to do it the easy way would’nt it ?
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Hi Jarrod,
Given the type of postings that have been left here recently I have waited till it was possible to address the Albion fans directly before adding my thoughts – (the amount of pure hate on here is quite disturbing).
Firstly I had an excellent day saturday – the atmosphere was incredible throughout the day – including the good banter with the pompy fans.
Although the result was not what we wanted I feel nothing but pride for the team – we matched abd often outplayed a decent premiership side for the whole game – and one scruffy goal was the only difference.
We defended well, we created and moved the ball around, but we were marshalled by a very good defence. However we still had 2 or 3 chances to score and Koren’s rocket would have been goal of the decade.
Having been at Highbury in 78 and 82 when we froze and didn’t do ourselves justice, the team did EVERYONE proud, and proved that we ARE ready for the premiership. ToMo has built a team capable of playing football with the best,and a little more confidence will see us really rip teams apart.
There are no tears here, just a sense of pride, achievment, and a real belief that we are going in the right direction.
Glad you enjoyed the day – I certainly did and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.
LOVIN IT – BOING BOING !!!!!
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Looking at the fixtures for all teams, I’d say Watford were dead certs, three home games, two against Scunthorpe and Barnsley.
Bristol City look like they’ve come to the end of the road, with an in-form Wolves and difficult trips to Stoke and Sheffield United in their last 4 games.
With Stoke only having 4 games, I’d say 4 wins from 6 and we’re there.
The only obvious worry is Hull, hopefully the pressure of being right in there will take its toll.
Either way, it’s in our hands. A defeat like Saturday’s will affect the team in one of either two ways, we’ll know more about which way we’ve gone in 11 hours time!!
COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!!
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Jarrod,
Agree with your summary of the Semi we needed to score when we were on top and didn’t. good luck to Pompey in the final. Watching Stoke last night its clear that the pressure is getting to all of the top sides with no team seemingly having the run of form to win it. If we win tonight and again on Saturday It should give the team the confidence for the final four games. Whoever can stand the pressure will prevail. All we can do is get behind them and see what happens. Enjoy the ride.
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Another big day out.This time in Blackpool.Enjoy the day.Enjoy the coach trip.You can talk about how unlucky you were in the semi,how you hit the bar,how you played the best football and how expensive the food is at Wembley…The wheels are coming off the Albion bandwagon and if Blackpool beat you your season is over.BUT enjoy the day out.
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As long as we go up i couldn’t care less if we finish second or top, though would prefer to avoid play offs, good result for us last night not so good one for the wolves, we have gotta win tonight ill be there tonight at bloomfield road, everygame from now to the end is a cup final. boing boing
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I think tonight is more important than the Watford game to be fair. If we can get the win against a side that have only lost 3 times at home this season, it will send us top and will give us the confidence to finish the season strongly. Hopefully the taste of Premiership opposition on Saturday will have left a desireable taste for more in the mouths of the players.
If i’m honest, i think the hardest game we have remaining this season is the Wolves, its the only game i’m particularly concerned about. Mind you if we win the rest of our games i wouldn’t mind Wolves winning if it would allow them to join us in the greed league. Lets put the Black Country back on the footballing map!!
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Last nights result has again given us a chance to cement ourselves in the top two, nobody seems to want to win this league, all the games now are huge starting with tonights. So many twists and turns to come, and i am talking about the league not the rollercoasters at Blackpool!!!
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Terry when Sandwell play the Wolves are you gonna call yourself “Terry Wolves baggie” you’ve got more faces than a box of kippers.
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8 wolf, and how you dropped out the play off places and how we gunna hammer you next wik boing boing oh i do like to be beside the seaside,
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Terry.
After your recent obsession with the fairer sex, how about wanton.
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11,keith,no no no i only call myself after famous places,wembley,blackppol,walsall,bilston, now do you get it,boing boing blackpool go for it
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14.What time are you leaving Sandwell then for your big day out in Blackpool.Better hurry,it’s getting late.
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14.What time are you leaving for Blackpool then Terrystayathomeandwatchchampionsleaguebaggie.
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17,wilf,not till arf 2,so sorry to say there will be no more post from me till 2morra,i can txt you if you care to give me your number boing boing up the tower n up the league
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Unlucky albion fans hop u enjoyed your day at wembly. Well done to gera for passing the ball to Kanu. I here some albion fans saying Gera is the best player outside the premiership what a load of rubbish that is. He is not a patch on the likes of Kightly of Ebanks-Blake. Come on you Wolves lets make the playoffs and maul sandwell town at wembly in the final.
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Terry where on earth is (Blackppol) haven’t they got enough Asses there without you turning up. Get a life and get a dictionary.
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22,kieth,tiepin errer not spelin mistek boing boing
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22kieth,i got a life,a very good one thanks,boing boing going up the MOWBURY WAY
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Yet another game tonight which could define our season. There’s been more than I can remember. All the top teams are playing pass the parcel. Nothing would surprise me so no real point in predicting tonight’s result, but a win would more that make up for Saturday.
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Great Day at Wembley.Our Fans were fantastic even after the game.Makes you Proud to be a Baggie.Most people say er are the best team in the league, now we need to prove it! Cum on you Baggies. Good luck to the Dingles…but not against us ..eh?
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