Shedender's Journeyman Career

Aye I'd imagine you could put together a better team with West Brom.

Doing brilliant with this mate. Should be able to put a promotion push together with West Brom

I'm pleased with the work that I've done at Sheffield Wednesday, getting them promoted last season and overachieving this but I just thought the time was right to move on Dan and West Bromwich Albion are a much bigger club.

Haha, I had a feeling you would have liked the move Sam.

Correct Sean, the budget on offer was simply too good to turn down and signings will be made in the January transfer window.

Cheers Charlie, they're currently seventh and eleven points behind leaders West Ham so it's going to be tough to try and launch a promotion push this season but I'll try.



Following my appoint at the Hawthorns I eagerly anticipated my first game in charge and that would be a tough trip to Leicester City before a second straight trip would take us to St. Andrews to entertain Birmingham, my first home game would be against leaders West Ham United at the end of the month, it would be a tough but undefeated start to my tenure.


I couldn't have asked for a tougher start to life at West Brom as we headed to the King Power stadium to face Leicester and despite the hosts missing a fourth minute spot kick we powered to a four one away win as goals from Tarik Elyounoussi and Claudio Yacob had us two goals ahead at half time. The Foxes pulled one back in the fifty-seventh minute through Stipe Perica but late goals from Graham Dorrans and Yaya Sanogo sealed the win.

We then travelled to Birmingham City and despite strikes from Frankie Everitt and Nathan Baker inside the opening twenty-four minutes we couldn't hold on for the win as Dominic Poleon halved the lead on twenty-eight minutes before Steven Taylor equalised on sixty-seven minutes for a share of the spoils.

My first home game at the helm saw me unveiled to fans before our one all draw with West Ham and despite being the better side throughout we had to settle for a second straight draw as Yaya Sanogo put us in front from the penalty spot on the hour mark but Will Grigg levelled seventeen minutes later to level the scores and that's how it ended.


It's been a decent start to life at the Hawthorns as we've rose one place in the league rankings following five points from our three tough games, something that slightly annoys me as we had the lead in all three games but sure it's a start.


Signings needed to be made in the January transfer window as some positions (especially central defence) needed improvement so six players arrived at the club. Things started with a "mini-raid" of my former employers Sheffield Wednesday as I captured Tom Hopper and Robbie Thomson for a combined £2.3 million while attacking midfielder Ravel Morrison also signed on the first day, a bargain £185,000 from West Ham United.

I then went on attempting to improve the central defence as Marcao joined from Fluminense and Michael Chambers from Colchester United for £1.8 and £1.1 million respectively while Karlo Lulic joined from Osijek for seven thousand, he's a central midfielder who will nothing more than a squad player.

Shot stopper Orjan Haskjold Nyland and winger Kyle Bennett were released as they're simply not good enough while summer signing Ryan McGivern headed to Sheffield Wednesday for eight hundred and fifty thousand.

Took the tough three games well, good to see you raid your former club!

Great work mate best of luck with West Brom ! And gone back to raid your former club

Some decent signings there mate. MIght be too late for a promotion push this season but definitely for next season!

To be fair Dan, Robbie Thomson and Tom Hopper are good signings so I felt the want to bring them to the Hawthorns with me.

Thanks for the comment George, you have to raid your former club if the opportunity arises and they don't want to fleece you - would have liked to bring one more from them but decided against it.

Cheers Charlie, yeah I don't think we'll be getting promoted this season unless we get some unbelievable luck, at the moment I'd take a play-off spot and hope the board aren't expecting much from me this season as I've only took over.



On the back of a decent start to my reign at West Bromwich Albion, my side headed into the New Year looking to maintain the excellent start I've had in the Championship as we would face Stevenage, Norwich, Crystal Palace and Brighton while facing two FA Cup ties against Hull and Swansea City respectively.


The New Year started with a trip to struggling Stevenage and we disposed of them three nil. We took the lead on ten minutes through new signing Tom Hopper and that's how it remained until the sixty-sixth minute when Hopper's second made it two and Ravel Morrison also struck a début goal on seventy-one minutes to make it three nil.

We then travelled to Premier League side Hull City and caused an upset despite being second best throughout the game at the KC Stadium, Tom Hopper struck twice in between a Connor Wickham goal for Hull. Nathan Baker was sent off on fifty-three minutes for two yellow cards.

A home clash with Norwich City was up next and again despite being second best we managed to steal a two one victory as goals from Ravel Morrison and Tom Hopper had us two goals up at half time, we couldn't keep a clean sheet as Fabian Orellana pulled a goal back in second half stoppage time but we held on.

Crystal Palace at The Hawthorns was next as my side deservedly won four two. Claudio Yacob, Tarik Elyounoussi 2 (inc. 1 penalty) and Ravel Morrison scored for ourselves while Adam Johnson and James Collins struck for the Eagles.

We then faced a daunting home game against Swansea City in the FA Cup fourth round as we sensationally defeated the Premier League them 3-0 at Hillsborough as all the goals arrived in the space twenty first time minutes. Left winger Tarik Elyounoussi broke the deadlock on nineteen minutes and Claudio Yacob doubled the scores three minutes later before Tom Hopper added a third.

The first month of twenty eighteen came to an end as we defeated Brighton & Hove Albion by a single goal courtesy of Frankie Everitt who struck in the forty-ninth minute but we lost Natxo Monrael to a straight red following a dangerous tackle.


Despite my good start to life at West Bromwich Albion we haven't been able to rise up the league as we are still stuck in sixth place.

Great start mate, Hopper banging the goals in already! Automatic Promotion definitely up for grabs!

Good start with Albion. I had Tom Hopper in my Partick Thistle team last year, a natural goal scorer. Just one of those players that is underused by the AI.

Great work buddy! Keep that form going and you'll be fine!

Hopper has been fantastic Sam as I expected him to be. So far he's scored fifty times (for both West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday) in seventy-nine appearances and that's quite a good record. I'd love to get promoted and hope the board back us in the Premier League.

Thanks Sean, I don't get why Tom isn't really given an opportunity by the AI as he's as you've already said, a natural goal scorer.

Promotion is looking more likely Dan although I wouldn't be too fussed if we missed out this season.



Since being appointed manager of West Bromwich Albion I haven't tasted a single defeat in any competition as we have shocked Premier League duo Hull City and Swansea City in the FA Cup, could we take a third top flight scalp against Wigan or would the run end? The unbeaten league start in my tenure continued.


We would kick off February with an away game in Middlesbrough as we'd come from behind to be victorious with Callum Cooke giving 'boro the lead on thirty-four minutes but Tom Hopper equalised on the stroke of half time before winger Frankie Everitt struck in the sixty-second minute to give us the points.

We'd then welcome Blackpool to the Hawthorns as two second half goals sealed victory against the struggling side - Ravel Morrison and a Tom Hopper penalty sealing the win.

Next up was an FA Cup home encounter against Wigan Athletic and an absolutely stunning performance saw us deservedly win two nil at the Hawthorns as Tom Hopper broke the deadlock on twelve minutes before Callum Reilly added a second early in the second half to seal the passage.

A single goal from Ravel Morrison on nineteen minutes sealed a 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth but both teams ended with ten men, Joe Bryan saw red for the Cherries while Callum Reilly was shown a straight red card on sixty-one minutes.

Our penultimate game of the month took us to Charlton Athletic as we won an eight goal thriller, five three. Tarik Elyounoussi, Tom Hopper and Frankie Everitt all struck but every time we scored Charlton struck back through Alex Penny, Paddy Madden and Bradley Pritchard but late goals from Sergio Wanabo and Ravel Morrison secured three points.

Sheffield United away would conclude the month and it would end one all as Rhys Healey gave United the lead three minutes before half time with a stunning effort but Ravel Morrison made it one all on seventy-six minutes.


We've now moved into an automatic promotion spot following another excellent month at the club as I've still not a game (more importantly a league game) since I took the reigns. Norwich lead the table currently but it's only a solitary point that separate the sides and finally, former club Sheffield Wednesday are just about holding onto a top half spot.

The month of March would see me suffer my first competitive defeat as West Bromwich Albion manager as we would crash four one at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. They're only seven league games remaining following another undefeated Championship month as we now sit proudly at the summit of the league table.


Milton Keynes Dons away started the month and we could only draw three all away from home. Tarik Elyounoussi and Frankie Everitt both struck inside the opening quarter of an hour before the right winger would strike his second of the afternoon on fifty-three minutes. MK Dons managed to gain a draw though much to my annoyance.

Four days later we travelled to Derby County and picked up a fortunate two one win as Tarik Elyounoussi and Tom Hopper struck in the second half to seal victory, Derby pulled a goal back late on but we didn't surrender a two goal lead.

We then faced a daunting trip to Manchester United as our FA Cup run came to an abrupt end, losing four one as striker Tom Hopper scored our only goal of the Sunday afternoon from the penalty spot on twenty-nine minutes.

We would then host Huddersfield Town and edge a five goal thriller as Tarik Elyounoussi, Richairo Zivkovic and a Jordan Pickford own goal sealed the win with the own goal arriving in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time much to my delight as we messed up a 2-0 lead at The Hawthorns.

Richairo Zivkovic, in for the injured Tom Hopper was at the double as we seen off Watford 2-0 at the Hawthorns, the on-loan striker would score after fifty and seventy-four minutes.

A single goal from central defender Shaun Hutchinson was enough for victory away to Ipswich to conclude March.


We are five points clear at the top of the table with seven games remaining as we look to wrap up promotion ideally before the final day as I don't like drama. So far we've conceded forty goals but scored seventy times in thirty-nine games so we've been prolific and can defend well too at times.

Sitting five points clear at the top of the table we entered the penultimate month of the twenty seventeen twenty eighteen campaign looking to not only secure promotion back to the Premier League which is looking possible but I would have loved to have secured the league title before the final day - we head to Sunderland while Norwich are at Birmingham - how would the final day go? April first though.


I would suffer my first Championship defeat as West Bromwich Albion manager at the beginning of April and what a horrible game to do it in as we crashed to a three nil defeat away to bitter rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, we were brutal and got what we deserved.

We did bounce back though against former club Sheffield Wednesday as we had to come from behind to secure maximum points - Sheffield Wednesday took a shock lead but a hat-trick from former Wednesday star Tom Hopper sealed the win as he struck after fifty-six, fifty-seven and eighty-nine minutes at The Hawthorns.

Three days later we crashed to a disappointing defeat against Crewe, left back Nacho Monrael was sent off for a dangerous challenge before the visitors struck twice to seal victory.

We then travelled to Burnley on a Friday night to play in front of the television cameras as we produced a stunning comeback to draw three all, hosts Burnley were out of the blocks and raced into a three goal lead but Tom Hopper's goal just before half time proved the turning point, he would strike his second three minutes into the second half before completing the comeback and his treble from the spot on fifty-seven minutes.

We would then secure a single goal victory over Leeds United at The Hawthorns as Sami Santanhuhta struck the winner after only ten minutes, we weren't that good though but held on.

April concluded with a home game against relegation threatened Leicester City who we defeated four one despite Dean Hammond giving the Foxes a first minute lead but goals from Callum Reilly and Marcao turned the game around - Ravel Morrison and James Tavernier struck in the second half to put gloss on the score.


With just one league game remaining it's our league title to throw away as we're sitting two points clear at the top - ourselves and Norwich have already secured promotion to the Premier League but it's now all about the title. Watford, Brighton, West Ham and Charlton secured play-off spots.

So it's all comedown to this one game game and the question is, who will be crowned champions of the Championship? As stated in the last update, we will be Sunderland bound while Norwich face Birmingham City at St. Andrews, two tough games and ideally we need victory to secure the title as we can't be too careful, will we get it though or will Norwich pip us to the title on the final day?


As we headed north to Sunderland we had one thing on our minds and that was win, unfortunately we couldn't do that and drew three all. Tarik Elyounoussi, Frankie Everitt and Marcao scored for us but a draw was probably a fair result but slightly disappointed as when Marcao had given us the three two defeat we could've held on for the win.

Now, was the point enough to be crowned champions?




You can see we won the league title while Norwich had to settle to be runners-up. The play-off spots didn't change on the final as Watford came third, Brighton fourth, West Ham fifth and Charlton sixth while in more important, my former employers Sheffield Wednesday survived this season.

Saying "goodbye" to the league were Blackpool, Milton Keynes Dons and Stevenage but I'm sure they'll be back.

Fantastic mate! Very well done.

Congratulations on winning the league! Hopefully you will get some money to play with in pre-season, although it looks you've got a strong squad already!

Well done on the league mate. Need to be smart with your transfers. Any chance of a screenie of Hopper?

Appreciate the comment Charlie, I didn't think we would have gotten the league title but delighted we have, now it's all about survival in the Premier League and that's it.

I'd be disappointed if we didn't even get a decent budget as I do need to strengthen the squad in certain areas Sam, I've already agreed deals to sign some players but they'll be announced in not this update, not the best.

Thanks Sean, nine times outta ten I'm usually smart with the signings I make and this should be no different. Sure here is a screenshot of Tom Hopper.



With the Championship title being won on the final day of last season, I was about to start my first full season in charge of West Bromwich Albion amongst England's elite in the Premier League and I can't wait. It's expected to be a tough campaign although the media has us to survive this season, finishing seventeenth but as usual, I want higher and will be disappointed if we don't achieve that.


So the minimum expectation is to stay clear of relegation, that's fine because I know I can do that.

I'm pleased with the budgets that I've been offered for this season and three options too - Avoid relegation, Mid-table finish and a Top half finish but I've decided this season that I'm going to play it safe and told the board that we'll avoid relegation and that's seen me be given a £12.75 million transfer kitty and a one million wage budget.


A very busy pre season program has been announced as we'll play nine games.

We will start with five straight away games against Stourbrige, Swindon Town, Alfreton, Cheltenham Town and Barnsley before welcoming Billericay to The Hawthorns and then Spanish side Real Zaragoza too before heading to Wales to face Wrexham and then wrapping up with a glamour home friendly against AC Milan.

And the final piece of news:


Despite the chairman being stubborn to start with before I demanded it, I've signed a new four-year contract extension at West Bromwich Albion that'll see me "earn" seventeen thousand pound per week.

I had originally eleven months to run on my current deal but I wanted to commit my future as soon as possible so the players could "see" that I'm loyal for the foreseeable future. As part of the agreement, I've told Jeremy Peace that I don't want to be judged on playing direct football any more as it didn't seem to work.

People will probably question my decision making this summer as I made major changes to my Championship winning squad ahead of our Premier League return. The reason behind it is I just felt that some players simply weren't good enough to make the step up while I feel the signings I've made could help us have a successful season, if they gel.


Twelve players arrived at the club this summer, spending just £4.41 million in the process.

Our first signing saw Jake Forster-Caskey arrive from Scottish side St. Mirren for four hundred thousand before no more than eight players arrived on the first day of July after agreeing pre-contracts during the second half of last season and I've done well to get them in as they're quality. Philip Karimbi Jumane and Giles Cardon both arrived from French side Lyon while Lukas Haraslin, Adrian Crespo and Mattia Ferroglio also joined with Crespo being immediately loaned to Stevenage.

That wouldn't be the end of the summer signings as six more still have to be unveiled. Hervin Ongenda is a striker who has signed from French giants Paris Saint-Germain while I signed English midfielder Louis Hutton from West Ham and then winger Ricardo Kishna came from Dutch side Ajax.

Our last three summer signings had to cost money (unfortunately) but they're talented players who will be starters as they're quality - Andreas Pereira is a Belgian attacking midfielder who has joined from Manchester United while goalkeeper Fraser Forster will be first choice goalkeeper who has Champions League experience with Celtic and our last signing is right winger Nathan Redmond who has cost a bargain £2m from Crystal Palace.


Sammy Ameobi, Denzeil Boadu, Callum Jones, Ged Oldnall, Martin Howe and Glen Johnson have all been released, some because they were out of contract and a couple because I felt I couldn't guarantee them first team football and made better signings.

Liam Roberts headed to Southampton on a free while Graham Dorrans, Gary Martin, Gary Kenny, Andrew Westwood, Alex Palmer and Adrian Crespo all headed out on-loan to Yeovil, Blackpool, Hearts, Swindon and Stevenage respectively and Martin Harnik headed to Auxerre on a free, I wish all the loan players the best and hope they come back better players, particularly the young guns.


A massive TEN games was played in a busy pre season program and we only lost the one game.

We started our preparations with a six goal demolition away to Stourbridge before drawing one all away to Swindon and then we defeated Alfreton 1-0, Cheltenham 4-1 and Barnsley 1-0 before trouncing Billericay at home 7-1.

Spanish side Zaragoza was defeated four one at The Hawthorns before we eased to victory at Wrexham, we lost 4-2 at home to AC Milan despite being two goals up inside thirteen minutes and our program ended with a three nil away win over Halesowen with all goals in the second half.

You look to have signed some quality young players their mate! Great Pre-Season results as well! Hopefully you can secure a top 10 finish

Quality stuff! Will be interesting to see how that packed pre-season affects your team, hopefully positively

Cheers Sam, it's more surprising that I've not even spent five million this summer despite all the arrivals. Most of them are first choice so I'm just hoping they gel during pre season.

Thanks for the comment KEZ. I hope the successful enough pre season will get confidence ahead of the league season and that starts with a trip to Reading so not the easiest of starts for us.



With a long but successful pre season behind us bar the defeat to AC Milan, I felt the squad was ready for their return to Premier League football but the question still remained, could the players gel quickly and get us off to a dream start? We travel to Reading on the opening day before hosting Aston Villa and then playing a Capital One Cup second round game.


We travelled to Reading on the opening day of the twenty eighteen twenty nineteen season and a rearguard performance saw us pick up an excellent two nil away victory as two débutante were on the score sheet. Striker Hervin Ongenda took only eleven minutes to net on his debut and the lead was doubled on the hour mark courtesy of attacking midfielder Andreas Pereira.

One week later we welcomed Aston Villa to The Hawthorns and a stunning defensive display saw us defeat them one nil as Hervin Ongenda struck in the very first minute. Aston Villa had twenty-two shots at goal and eight on target while we only had five and two on target and less possession too so it had to be a top class defensive display from us and it was.

A Capital One Cup second round trip to Yeovil Town would complete a short opening month as we eased to a six nil away win as goals from Tarik Elyounoussi and Hervin Ongenda had us two up inside the opening six minutes before Elyounoussi's second on twenty-eight minutes made it three. Second half goals from Rory McKeown, Nathan Remond and Lukas Haraslin set up a third round trip to Middlesbrough.


Posting the table might not make a lot of sense now as we've only played two games but we're the only Premier League team yet to concede after two games as we're currently in third place but it's still going to be a very long season unless we keep this promising start up.

We have got off to a dream start in the Premier League, winning our opening two fixtures as we headed into the second month of the new campaign as we looked to continue our excellent and unbeaten start to the season but it was going to be tough.


September started with a trip to Nottingham Forest as our unbeaten start continued following a one all draw at The City Ground. Substitute striker Tom Hopper scored his first Premier League goal for the club when he equalised on seventy-nine minutes to cancel out Edin Dzeko's forty minute opener while we also had ten men following Marcao's red card four minutes earlier.

After the international break we welcomed Watford to The Hawthorns and defeated them two nil in front of just under twenty six and a half thousand supporters. We got off to a dream start when Tom Hopper struck after two minutes, Watford were reduced to ten men in the second half before Nathan Redmond sealed the win with a second with nineteen minutes remaining.

Our second away league game this month took us to Blackburn Rovers as we edged a five goal thriller as goals from Claudio Yacob and Hevin Ongenda had us two goals up inside the opening eighteen minutes but Blackburn pulled a goal back through Moussa Sow but Ongenda's second of the afternoon, four minutes into the second half had us three one up but Sow struck his second of the game on eighty four minutes to make it a tense finish.

We defeated Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup third round tie, winning two one at The Riverside Stadium - Hervin Ongenda and Philip Karimbi Jumane scored our goals while Jason Britt had originally equalise for the Championship side in the first half.

A home clash with Everton would finish a successful month as we picked up an excellent three nil victory as Hervin Ongenda struck his first hat trick for the club with goals after four, seventy five and seventy seven minutes.


It's been an excellent start to the Premier League season as we are currently sitting in third place but I don't expect us to remain their as our next two games are away to Arsenal and home to Manchester United.

I think it may be safe to say that the jam packed pre-season was a positive!

You seem to be correct KEZ but it's early days, I'm expecting a blip in form and soon.



Following an excellent start to life back in the Premier League, my side entered October expecting the unbeaten start to come to an abrupt end as we had to travel to Arsenal and host Manchester United back to back while a home game against Southampton and a Capital One Cup trip to Norwich City completed a short month.


We couldn't have asked for a tougher start to October twenty eighteen as we headed to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal and a stunning display saw us draw one all as Hervin Ongenda had gave us a twentieth minute lead and I thought we could have held on for a famous win in North London, Gonzalo Higuain spoiled that with a sixty sixth minute equaliser.

The tough start to the month continued as we welcomed Manchester United to The Hawthorns and had to strike three minutes from time to get a point in another good performance, Nathan Redmond struck the leveller to cancel out Javier Hernandez's twenty fifth minute spot kick.

We then welcomed win-less Southampton to The Hawthorns and suffered an extremely disappointing two one defeat despite Hervin Ongenda breaking the deadlock on eighteen minutes but Nathaniel Clyne made it one all on the stroke of half time before Argentine international midfielder Roberto Pereyra scored a sixty fourth minute winner to stun the crowd.

October ended on Halloween night with a Capital One Cup trip to Norwich City as we progressed to round five after a two nil win with Hervin Ongenda striking after eleven and eighty five minutes for the passage and that win has set up a quarter final home game against Manchester United, ouch but we've exceeded the boards expectations in this competition.


The shock home defeat to Southampton hasn't done too much damage to the league table as we're currently sitting in third position and continuing to exceed early expectations. Watford and Reading are now the only two win-less clubs in the Premier League.

KIU mate, after a good start Europa League is where you should be aiming for!

Great start mate, two draws against Arsenal and United isn't bad!... Wouldn't call it to much of a stutter!

We'll see how we're doing at the "business end" of the season Sean, as much as I'd love a Europa League spot I'd still be satisfied (at the moment) with a mid-table finish and just survive this season.

Maybe stutter wasn't the best word to use Sam but it's still three games without a win and that defeat to Southampton was highly annoying and we'll need to bounce back as soon as possible.



It's been three Premier League games without a victory but a two goal success away to Norwich in the League Cup could be the catalyst to see us return to winning ways in the league as we entered the penultimate month of the current calendar year. It's important we do return to winning ways as the final month sees us face Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea. Ouch!


Craven Cottage was our first destination of the month as we held Fulham to a one all draw, stretching our win-less league run to four as former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo denied us maximum points in stoppage time when he cancelled out Tarik Elyounoussi's opener on seventy one minutes.

We then returned to winning ways when Norwich City headed to The Hawthorns as we ran out three one victors. Two strikes inside the opening quarter of an hour from Hervin Ongenda and Mattia Ferroglio seemingly had us in control and the points looked wrapped up when Tarik Elyounoussi added a third six minutes into the second half. We couldn't keep a clean sheet though as Cristian Cuevas pulled one back on sixty eight minutes but we held on for three much needed points.

And the month ended with a comprehensive win away to Swansea City as we won four nil - Hervin Ongenda struck two early goals after eleven and thirteen minutes and that's how it remained until Andreas Pereira added a third on fifty three minutes and then winger Frankie Everitt added a fourth in second half stoppage time to complete the rout.


Our brilliant start to the campaign then continues as we are in third place following those back to back victories over Norwich and Swansea. Manchester United are the only team who haven't tasted a league defeat yet while Watford are the only team who haven't won.

Looks like European footballs waitring for you next season!

I'd love to guide West Bromwich Albion to European football Dan, I really would but still a long way to go this campaign before I could even consider thinking about that.



Life in the Premier League this campaign has been excellent as we're currently exceeding expectations but the final month of twenty eighteen saw us face Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea this month while we also entertained Manchester United in the Capital One Cup quarter final at The Hawthorns.


We made a trip to Stoke City to begin the last calendar year and despite being second best for large periods of the contest we managed to secure a nil nil draw to maintain our unbeaten run.

Three days later we welcomed Wigan Athletic to The Hawthorns and defeated them four nil as an own goal from 'keeper Alex Smithies scored an unfortunate own goal in the fourth minute before Hervin Ongenda doubled the lead with ten first half minutes remaining. A second half double from Andreas Pereira sealed the emphatic home win.

We would then defeat Liverpool two nil at home thanks to goals from Andreas Pereira and Marcao.

It would be five consecutive Premier League clean sheets when we headed to Tottenham Hotspur and draw our second game this month nil nil, yet again we were second best against the North London giants but was delighted with picking up the single point as I thought we would have lost the game.

Manchester United arrived at The Hawthorns for the Capital One Cup quarter final tie and we defeated them in a penalty shoot-out. David Ayala scored for us on twenty-six minutes but Man United then would take the lead in extra time before a stunning Hervin Ongenda strike forced the penalty shoot-out that saw us progress and we'll face Southampton in the semis.

We returned to league action with a home game against Manchester City and our second league defeat of the campaign awaited us as City won two one. Nathan Redmond scored our goal but the visitors struck late on to steal a deserved three points.

On Boxing Day saw us Chelsea bound and a stunning second half come back saw us sensationally win three one, the Blues took the lead in the first half but second half goals from Hervin Ongenda, Ricardo Kishna and Andreas Pereira sealed the huge victory.

Twenty eighteen concluded with a home game against Newcastle United as we defeated them three one thanks to two own goals. Ryan Bertrand and Francis Coquelin both scored own goals with Andreas Pereira scoring in between as we ended the current calendar year in second place as we look to wrap up survival as soon as possible.


It's been a remarkable first half of the campaign as we're currently sitting in second place although both Manchester City and Manchester United both have games in hand so I don't expect us to remain their much longer but we're currently twenty five points clear of the relegation zone.