Nothing compares to being a Baggie

Albion blogger Jarrod Hill is all partied out after attending two very different ceremonies to mark a fine season.

What a weekend, another win, another double, a clean sheet, a cocktail party and the player's awards night.

Yes, I was feeling a little pooped on Monday morning after being lucky enough to receive an invite to Sunday night's awards evening.

It was a rather glitzy affair at Birmingham's International Convention Centre which we all enjoyed, but it wasn't a patch on the cocktail party we had at the Vine after Saturday's game!

While the ICC had the likes of Adrian Chiles compering, chairman Jeremy Peace talking about our future plans and boss Roy Hodgson thanking the fans and players for a wonderful season, the Vine had Sir Terry Baggie compering, everyone talking about our future plans and us all thanking the cook that the barbeque was still on.

I hope a good time was had by all and it was great to finally meet and spend time with a number of regulars on here I haven't met before.

We were all in good spirits after another win for our mighty boys in stripes. The game certainly wasn't a classic but we did just enough to get the three points.

We had two further efforts cleared off the line and, although Everton had plenty of possession, they rarely opened us up. It was obvious Roy had the lads working on defending corners all week after the debacle at the Molineux and they held strong, even when Everton had 12 corners.

How we managed to beat Everton, plus a referee performance that was as bad as it gets, was down to some excellent displays.

Goalkeeper Scott Carson has his critics as we all know but he was, again, superb on Saturday.

When his confidence is high he looks every bit the exciting goalkeeper we all know he can be, he may divide opinion amongst Albion fans like a pot of marmite but the truth is I believe he is improving.

He has been better this season compared to our Championship promotion campaign and, if he improves and has a better season in 2011-12, I think he could become a great No 1.

Carson had little to do Saturday but what needed to be done he did with little fuss and he made two good saves to ensure our second clean sheet.

In front of him the defence stood strong, Jonas Olsson may not have received any awards this Sunday night but for me he is our most important player.

His desire not to be beaten is infectious and, even when his central defensive partners have changed over the season, his displays have been consistently high.

Chris Brunt came back into midfield and gave us that killer ball option, while Paul Scharner gave us the edge in a physical midfield tussle.

Peter Odemwingie is still on fire and caused Everton problems all gam, in yet another terrific team performance.

We still have one more game to go but I cannot make the game at Newcastle next Sunday, so for me the live football has come to an end for this season.

I must admit I am already feeling a bit down at the thought of football free weekends and, with no other tournament this summer to distract me, it looks like a summer perfecting my golf swing.

However, before we all sign off there is the small matter of survival Sunday this coming weekend.

Being the over pessimistic type, I am so glad we are not involved in the squeaky bum Sunday mayhem, as I would now be looking forward to a sleepless week and lots of trips to the toilet.

Blackburn, Wolves, Birmingham, Blackpool and Wigan all have to fight not to join West Ham through the Premier League trap door and I feel for their fans.

I must admit I did give a little chuckle when the Hammers went down, not that I dislike their fans, far from it, but their chairman and board have reaped what they have sown in my opinion.

It will be interesting to see what happens at the East End club now that their financial gamble to stay up has fallen apart.

Sunday will be full of excitement and there will be many a twist and turn over the 90 plus minutes and, although I am not sure who will be the two teams to join West Ham, I do think it will be two from three.

Wolves and Blackburn I think will be OK as I cannot see two of Birmingham, Blackpool and Wigan winning away from home, but this has been a crazy season.

Whatever happens it is set up to be a day of high drama, but not for us Baggies, we can sit back, chill out and watch it all unfold.

Cocktails at the ready, get settled and let the fun begin.

Its cool to be a Baggie!