Blog: Albion's cup to runneth over?
Ever since Roy Hodgson and Brian Finney paired balls 3 and 4 at Deepdale around a fortnight ago in the FA Cup 6th round draw, the thoughts of most Baggies will have been pre-occupied by the week that we're about to embark on...writes blogger Warren Stephens.
It's a week in which Albion travel to Villa Park twice in the space of just five days, each trip carrying its own significance and importance way above and beyond local pride.
Tuesday's trip is about Premier League survival while Saturday's represents an opportunity to go on and contest an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley next month, potentially against lower-league opposition. Each game in its own separate context is huge, collectively it promises to be a week of emotional turbulence that begs the question, which game is the most important?
Our recent upsurge in league form has probably distorted the significance of Tuesday's meeting slightly – just one month ago Albion and Villa were separated only on goal difference, both peering perilously towards the relegation drop zone beneath.
Saturday's resilient 1-0 triumph over Southampton stretched the gap between the sides to 8 points and you might argue that, for Albion, Premier League safety is on the horizon. A tough run-in, however, dictates that we need points on the board sooner rather than later.
That said, losing the league fixture probably now isn't terminal from Albion's perspective; from Villa's it's certainly more so. You might further argue that when the final whistle blows on May 24th, whichever teams find themselves relegated to the Championship will attribute their demise to various factors over the previous 9 months other than one particular fixture.
The cup meeting has a greater feel of accountability attached to it. Losing to Aston Villa at any time is incomprehensible, the thought of being beaten and sending them to Wembley as a consequence sends a sharp, sickening pain through the pit of my stomach.
Personally, given the choice, I'd take a win in the cup over one in the league. It'd be interesting to hear if Wigan Athletic, Birmingham City and Portsmouth supporters agreed!
For me, whilst Premier League status has become the modern-day barometer of a club's prosperity – the chosen few aside – life as a supporter of 'one of the rest' in the Greed League can become a little tedious.
Finishing 11th, 10th and 8th was a rewarding achievement but it's not the dream that we all brought into on the terraces as a youngster, it's not the pinnacle of a supporter's life cycle and it's not the things we'll tell our Grandchildren about later in life.
As a 33-year-old, I gaze with starry eyes flicking through the programmes and newspapers my Granddad kept from 1968 where every butcher, welder or mechanic in the region leaves their message of good luck to the Baggies in the 'upcoming FA Cup Final'; the tales of 1954 where the victorious players take the trophy to Norman Heath's hospital bed – these are the things engrained into the club's history.
We might get beaten at Villa Park on Saturday or we might sneak through and draw Manchester United in the semi-final but, as a supporter, the FA Cup dares us to dream.
In an ideal world we'd win both matches, just like we did in 1925. More recent history, and one win in 16 at Villa Park since 1982, suggests two in a week might be a little fanciful.
In truth, history won't mean a great deal and Albion are the form team. Our recent away performances have erred on the side of caution. I'd like to see us have a real go at a team struggling for confidence. I certainly wouldn't like to see us sit deep, allow them to develop a rhythm in possession and attract crosses into Christian Benteke into our penalty area.
If we are to impose ourselves then the fitness of Brown Ideye and Saido Berahino is crucial. Of our strikers I think Brown is the only one who defends from the front, harrying defenders and allowing us to push higher as a unit. Without either, our task will magnify considerably but it's certainly not one this group of players isn't capable of.
Come on you Baggies!!!
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