West Brom tour diary day three: A win rightly enjoyed by travelling faithful

It was a very good way to sign off what has been an excellent week for Albion and James Morrison.

Friday night’s 4-1 victory over Bromley in Albufeira was professional and workmanlike.

Morrison admitted to me in an interview afterwards he had mixed feelings on the performance with some he liked and some he didn’t.

I think that was another example of something we are being accustomed to with Morrison as head coach at Albion - standards.

It was a comfortable, handsome win but there were bits the boss was not enamoured with and he believes they can be ironed out easily enough, as he said in my post-match interview, available to read on our website.

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There was a cracking atmosphere and vibe around the ground. My Uber was a little late dropping me at the provincial stadium - modest home of a lower league club - but Baggies fans had already made the bar opposite their home.

It was great to chat to some fans beforehand.

I had been unable to make the Broadway Pub in Albufeira’s old town earlier in the day, which was disappointing as it was heaving with hundreds of supporters. The colour and sound in some videos I saw looked great.

We were opposite there for Wednesday’s England semi-final and I believe one of the establishment’s owners is an Albion fan, which is a nice link.

I was too busy in my accommodation writing up a Barney Stewart feature. It is available to read now, as is a piece I penned with Max O’Leary - online from Saturday.

My Friday was not too glamorous. In the morning before work I had what started as a stroll but became a trek down to the beach.

Little did I quite realise it would be a five-mile round hike to the suburbs of Alporchinhos and Vila Lara and back!

It was a nice chance to unwind a bit after a busy Thursday and get some steps in. I didn’t have much time but was glad I went because the little cove beach at the end between cliffs was stunning. It is so easy to see why this is a Brit holiday haven.

Then it was back up the many lanes to work before wolfing down a burger and chips - it was hard going finding hot food in my village - before hailing an Uber for the stadium.

I knew it was warm, but I saw before my early dinner that it was 36c around 4pm. Incredibly tough conditions and they remained until the friendly.

I hope my morning sun cream stuck around to do the job!

To sign off, covering the fixture was great. Local staff were helpful, as were Albion’s media team. Interviews with Morrison and Jimmy-Jay Morgan afterwards - a lot to come from both - were brilliant. Thanks all for reading!