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28 January 2013
Last updated at 17:33 GMT


West Brom manager Karl Robinson gave out his battle cry as his Baggies take on Manchester United on Wednesday, Robinson knowing that anything less than a win will probably see the title slip away.

'Now we are this close we want to keep the pressure on them. If we beat them we go one point behind, lose and it is seven points. That is what football is all about, margins of victory and losing. We of course want the game to turn out in our favour.'

West Brom look on course to finish in the top four of the league but Robinson insists that he wants more than that.

'All the players want success now. We are only inches away from it and we can almost touch it. We have to stay grounded for now though as even a win against United doesn't mean anything it is still not in our hands.'

'Though a win will put pressure on them and give us the impetus to move forward at pace and really challenge them. We want them to know that if they slip up we will be right behind them.'

30 January 2013
Last updated at 22:11 GMT


West Brom completed a real smash and grab victory, answering their managers plea to keep the title alive as they secure a 1-0 win over Manchester United.

If you had been told at the start of the season that 25 games in and just 13 to play West Brom would sit one point behind Manchester United at the top of the Premier League, most would have laughed and rightly so.

Manchester United have been the kings of English football in recent times, though were knocked off their perch by near neighbours City last season. Though a win today would have given them a healthy seven point lead over nearest rivals West Brom, though as it is they are now cautiously looking over their shoulder as Albion continue to be a thorn in their side.

Losing Wayne Rooney midway thorough the first half would not have helped their cause at The Hawthorns, though you would have still backed United to get a win here and put daylight between them and their opponents.

The closest they came in the first half though was through Van Persie who saw his shot from Foster tipped wide by the slightest touch from his finger tips to keep parity between the teams.

Just before half time there was another chance for the Dutch international, though this time his composure let him down as he did the hard work but managed to stroke the ball wide of the mark when the goal was at his mercy.

West Brom came out in the second half with the same tactic, sit back and wait for the chance to come. Just minutes in to it they saw De Gea pull of a wonder save from Lukaku as the striker thundered a shot towards the United goal.

Manchester United however should have taken the lead once again, Vidic managing to get his head on the ball following a corner, though he got under it and the ball went well over the bar. The defender should have done better as he was unmarked.

Missed chances came back to hurt the leaders, Shane Long scoring one of the most important goals of the season so far for West Brom.

After a number of passes accurately met their target in the middle of the park for the home team, Chris Brunt saw an opening and with it an opportunity to play the ball through to Long who confidently rounded the keeper and with it the opening goal came.

West Brom survived a number of minor scares, one of which saw a shot from Hernandez bounce down off the bar but outwards away from goal leaving the Manchester United players to wonder if in fact it would be their day.

It certainly would not be as Karl Robinson fist pumped the air at full time revelling in the thought that his side were now sitting just a point and a place behind United.



Karl Robinson Said: 'I am over the moon with the players efforts today, they have really shown what they are capable of today and even if we don't win the league now we have proved a point tonight.'

'We didn't have many chances but that was the whole idea of the game plan, sit back and contain and then hit them on the counter attack, so I am pleased that it worked.'

'Shane has scored a wonder goal in the end from the edge of the area, no keeper in the world would be saving that one so we are absolutely delighted for him too.'

Sir Alex Ferguson Said: 'There is no way that we should have lost that game, now it is up to us to pick up and move on.'

'Losing Wayne early to injury is a real negative but when he went off we seemed to lose a bit of attacking power and that was a bit of a worry.'

'We should have had a penalty too but the ref was having none of it, what can you say, if you don't get decisions what can you do about it?'

West Brom Line Up: Foster, Matthews, McAuley, Bennett, Popov, Gera (Sub Dorrans 76 mins), Yacob, Mulumbu, Brunt, Long, Lukaku (Sub Austin 81 mins)

Unused Substitutes: Gordon, Blind, Tamas, Thorne, Ridgewell

Goal Scorers: Long 64

Man United Line Up: De Gea, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand (Sub Evans 81 mins), Evra, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Rooney (Sub Valencia 23 mins), Kagawa (Sub Hernandez 64 mins), Van Persie

Unused Substitutes: Lindegaard, Welbeck, Young, Smalling

Goal Scorers: None

Venue: The Hawthorns

Attendance: 26,445

Published
11.45 31st January 2013

West Ham defender Jordan Spence has today signed for Albion for a fee believed to be around £1.2m on transfer deadline day.

Spence has enjoyed a rich vein of form this season with the club had has been with since youth level but he is delighted with the switch.

'I am over the moon to be here. West Brom are a club going places and I want to be a part of that, there was no way that I would pass up that chance.'

'I have played in 19 games in the league this season so it is nice that other clubs have been looking at me. I have signed knowing that games may be few and far between but I just want to better myself.'

Karl Robinson was delighted with the deal and told Albion TV, 'it is superb for us and Jordan. I am so pleased to get him for relatively little money also.'

'The young lad has tremendous talent and ability and he will be a very good addition to the side that is for sure.'

'I am still in the market for a couple of others however, though if they do not come off I will not be too disappointed.'

31 January 2013
Last updated at 22:21 GMT


Jelle Vossen has secured a last minute move from Genk to West Brom in a deal reported to be worth £6m to the Belgian club.

Vossen has scored 17 goals in 27 appearances for Genk this season so far and Robinson was delighted to get his man. 'There was a lot of offers sent to them that they rejected.'

'Finally we settled on the fee and we were able to get the man we wanted, the key target from the transfer window.'

West Brom were only able to sign him following the departure of three players from the club. Rosenberg left for a fee of £1.5m and then Thomas soon followed him out the door going to Huddersfield for £750k.

Though in a surprise move Robinson sent Romelu Lukaku back to Chelsea, sighting the players wages as the problem.

'He was earning £40,000 a week from us whilst he was here, we simply can't afford to pay that. He was always going to go back if we signed Jelle.'

Vossen himself was delighted with the move and was pleased it could be sorted out. 'I am delighted to be here. It seemed to take ages for the deal to be agreed by Genk but I have been in England with my agent all day waiting to be told I can go and have talks.'

'It is a dream of mine to play in the Premier League so I am pleased to be here. West Brom look good to be getting into the Champions League next season too so it is a delight to be here.'

That is a shame, think your really good at these type of updates buddy!

Great win over United, title is certainly still alive

Thanks for your kind words Dan, I would rather however play and be able to update regularly than a few times at the weekend.

After a few weeks at my new work place I may be able to get back to the old style. Thanks for continuing to follow mate!

Fantastic win against Manchester United and Jelle Vossen could turn out to be a bargain.