Thursday 31st March 2005

Reserve derby ends goalless

The reserve team play out a goalless draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Albion once again field a youthful side with only Darren Purse, Tomasz Kuszczak and Artim Sakiri having had first team experience.

Tuesday 29th March 2005

Kanu will not stay

Albion's Nigerian striker Kanu admits for the first time that he will leave The Hawthorns in the summer should the club be relegated.

"I'm a very positive person and I'm not thinking of the club going down," Kanu told BBC Sport. "I'd rather give my best like every other person in the team to keep them up. I love the fans and would be happy to remain if possible until the end of my career. Everyone is saying we are going down but we the players feel otherwise and are ready to give our best all the time, but if the team goes down I will leave. I don't want to be playing in the lower division, as it is not good for my career."

"I believe I still have about four years left to play and I'd rather end my career like I started it - by playing in the top flight. I have played at two World Cups, won a World under-17 title, an Olympic football gold, the Uefa Cup and the Champions league, but before I retire from football I hope to celebrate something bigger - maybe the World Cup with the Super Eagles."

Kieran Richardson and Richard Chaplow are both named on a shortlist of young players that could be included in England's Under-20 squad for June's Toulon Tournament in France.

Albion boss Bryan Robson, speaking about the news of the duo's shortlisting said: "I've just had a letter saying Richard and Kieran are both on the shortlist for the squad going to the Toulon competition, that's a great boost for them. What they have to do now is show the England selectors they want to go to that tournament. Some managers would want players rested but for me it would be a fantastic experience for both of them. I hope they get into the squad. It's probably the best Under-20 tournament you can play in."

Riverside clash a sell-out

The club announce that they have sold out their entire 2,800 ticket allocation for the April 23 clash against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Saturday 26th March 2005

Richardson reveals United desire

On-loan Manchester United midfielder Kieran Richardson appears to rule out any chance of him remaining at The Hawthorns next season by revealing his desire to win a first team place at Old Trafford.

"I definitely want to go back next season and try to be a regular, definitely," Richardson said. "Sir Alex just told me to go to West Brom and get some experience for next season. I'm at West Brom at the moment, playing quite well, hopefully next season I'll go back and play regularly. I'm really enjoying myself. I'm playing centre midfield at The Hawthorns, so it's a bit different from left wing but I'm enjoying it."

Thursday 24th March 2005

Reserves lose

A youthful reserve team go down to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Altrincham in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League North. Two second-half goals from Giuseppe Rossi and Brazilian star Kleberson were enough to see United pick up all three points. The Albion side contains just three players with first team experience - Darren Purse, Tomasz Kuszczak and Lee Marshall.

O’Connor off to Turf Moor

Albion midfielder James O'Connor leaves The Hawthorns for Championship side Burnley for a fee of £175,000 which could increase to £250,000 should the Clarets win promotion to the Premiership. O'Connor had already made 13 appearances for Burnley this season during a three-month loan spell between October and January.

The Irish star joined Albion in July 2003 from Stoke City for a fee that eventually totalled £300,000. The 25 year-old made just two appearances in Albion's first team this season, as a substitute in the Carling Cup defeat at Colchester and another substitute appearance in the FA Cup defeat at Tottenham.

Speaking about his return to Burnley O'Connor said: "I'm delighted to come back and it was a great spell earlier in the season, I thought it went really well and that's obviously played a huge part in me coming here now. Hopefully now we can kick on and try and get into the play-offs, I don't know whether that's going to be this season, but maybe we can use the end of this season as a platform for next season. We can then try kicking on next season. We did okay when I was here before and most of the lads are still here so we'll be hoping to do well next season. I've kept an eye on things and on how the lads are doing and I've kept in touch with one or two of the players so it's been good."

"I had a phone call on Wednesday night to say the bid had been accepted and we went from there and I was happy to sign. I just felt as though I hadn't really been given a chance at West Brom this season and that's the disappointing side of things really. I had a run-out against Tottenham in the FA Cup so that was nice, but I wanted more of a run-out and I wasn't given it. You feel you warrant a chance, but obviously I wasn't given one so it's a case of coming here and being able to play football and resurrect my career."

Burnley manager Steve Cotterill was clearly happy to see O'Connor back at Turf Moor: "It's good to have him back. He'll be a popular player with the supporters because they saw what he gave us in his short spell earlier in the season. We're delighted he has now signed a three and a half year contract and the fans will be pleased that they can watch him a little longer. He's delighted to be back too, so it's been a good move all round."

Chambers links up with Harriers

Ex-Albion defender Adam Chambers joins League Two side Kidderminster Harriers on non-contract terms until the end of the season. The 24 year-old left The Hawthorns last month after being told he had no future at the club. 

Harriers boss Stuart Watkiss said of his new signing: "Given the chance, Adam could be a huge asset to this team, he's a quality player with Premiership experience. He's missed most of the season through injury so our first goal is to get him fully fit and match-sharp again and perhaps include him in some reserve matches. Hopefully before the end of the season he'll become available to us which would be great for the team. He'll be with us until the end of the season on non-contract terms so it's an agreement that suits all parties."

Wednesday 23rd March 2005

Blackwell keen on Hulse deal

Leeds United boss Kevin Blackwell reveals he is hoping to take Albion striker Rob Hulse to Elland Road permanently in the summer.

"I took Rob Hulse aside recently and told him that's he's beginning to see just how big a club Leeds United is. From my point of view, Rob's got a massive future here and he's desperate to stay with us. He knows that we've got the makings of a successful team here. I need to get four or five quality players in during the summer and there's no question that I want Rob to be one of them. He's a class act and, potentially, a 20-goal-a-season striker. That's something we've lacked and you can only imagine what might have happened had Rob been here all year," Blackwell told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

The 25 year-old striker is currently on loan at the Yorkshire club and has scored five goals in six games.

Tuesday  22nd March 2005

Dyer out on loan

Albion winger Lloyd Dyer joins Coventry City on loan for the remainder of the season, he had recently been linked with a similar move to both Nottingham Forest and Walsall.

"We've had our eye on Lloyd for a while," City manager Micky Adams told Coventry's official website. "He's got terrific pace and, hopefully, will give us the little spark we are looking for."

Dyer has made just four substitute appearances in the Premiership this season for Albion with his last one coming on October 30 last year at home to Chelsea. Albion will have the right to recall the 22-year-old winger at anytime after 28 days.

Blackburn date announced

Albion's Premiership home game against Blackburn, scheduled for Saturday, April 16 is rearranged to Tuesday, April 26 with a 7-45pm kick-off. The original date was scrapped due to Rovers' participation in the FA Cup semi-finals that weekend.

Monday 21st March 2005

Albion to repeat coach offer

Albion announce that they are planning to offer free coach travel to supporters for the trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday, April 23. It will be the second time this season such a gesture has been made, the club provided free travel for around 2,000 fans for last Saturday's visit to Charlton.

"The supporters were absolutely brilliant at Charlton - they really did make a difference," said Albion chairman Jeremy Peace. "The backing they gave the team was appreciated by everyone at the club - particularly the manager and the players. Because Saturday proved such a great day out, and as a thank you to the travelling fans, we're laying on another 40 free coaches for the Middlesbrough game and we'll be asking supporters for more of the same at the Riverside."

Saturday 19th March 2005

Albion destroy Addicks

A 16 minute hat-trick from substitute Rob Earnshaw helps Albion to a terrific 4-1 victory over Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

In front of 3000 Baggies fans, many who had travelled down on the 40 free coaches provided by the club, Geoff Horsfield opened the scoring for Albion on nine minutes with a close range header following good work by Zoltan Gera. The lead lasted just 15 minutes before Jonatan Johansson equalised for the Addicks following poor defending by the visitors. Shortly after the equalising goal, in the 28th minute, Charlton defender Talal El Karkouri was dismissed by ref Mark Halsey for a two-footed lunge on Gera. Despite the one man advantage it took Albion until the 73rd minute before they finally retook the lead, Rob Earnshaw heading in from close range after being set up by Horsfield. Eleven minutes later the Welsh striker put the game beyond doubt when he notched his twelth goal of the season after being played through a static Charlton defence by the lively Gera. In the 87th minute and with the game safe recent signing from Burnley Richard Chaplow was given his debut, replacing Hungarian skipper Gera. It took just two minutes before the Accrington born midfielder made his first telling contribution in an Albion shirt, winning a penalty which Earnshaw duly converted for his hat-trick, the first top flight hat-trick scored by an Albion player since Garry Thompson achieved the feat over 20 years ago.

The win for Albion, watched by a crowd of 27,104, Charlton's biggest home attendance in 27 years, takes Albion to within two points of 17th place Crystal Palace.

Friday 18th March 2005

Tomlinson leaves

Young Albion midfielder Ezekiel Tomlinson leaves the club, joining League Divison 1 side Stockport County on a free transfer. The 19 year old never made the first team squad at The Hawthorns and was recently told he was not going to be offered a professional contract at the club.

Youth team boss Craig Shakespeare spoke about the decision to allow Tomlinson to move on: "Stockport showed an interest after seeing Ezekiel play for the reserves at Newcastle in January. Once we decided we weren't going to offer him pro terms we thought it was in his best interests to let him go. He's worked tremendously hard over the last two to three years. We wish him all the best and hope he makes a name for himself."

United game switched

Albion's last away game of the season at Manchester United on Saturday, May 7 is moved back to a 5-15pm kick-off time. The game will be screened live on Sky Sports.

Thursday 17th March 2005

Dyer set to leave ?

Albion winger Lloyd Dyer could be on his way out of The Hawthorns in a loan deal before next week's transfer deadline. Both Walsall and Nottingham Forest are said to be interested in the 22 year old who has made just one start for Albion's first team this season.

Baggies boss Bryan Robson responded to the rumours of Dyer's possible departure: "Quite a few clubs have enquired about Lloyd but there will be no players going out until we've got past the Charlton game and assessed what injuries and suspensions we've got. That decision will not be made until next week."

Richardson receives call-up

Kieran Richardson is named in the England Under 21 squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Germany at Hull City's KC Stadium on 25th march and Azerbaijan at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium four days later.

Tuesday 15th March 2005

Albion lose to leaders

Despite a battling performance at Stamford Bridge Albion go down to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, Didier Drogba scoring the only goal of the game after 26 minutes. Boss Bryan Robson had earlier sprung a surprise by electing to play a 4-3-3 formation with Kanu, Kevin Campbell and Geoff Horsfield up front but it was to no avail as the Premiership leaders stretched their lead at the top of the table to eleven points. The defeat for Albion, watched by a crowd of 41,713 leaves the club still five points behind 17th place Crystal Palace with nine games left.

Monday 14th March 2005

Reserves held

Albion's reserve team are held to a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest at The Hawthorns. Rob Elvins gave the hosts the lead in the 4th minute but just three minutes later Spencer Weir-Daley grabbed an equaliser for Forest. It was Elvins again that put Albion back in front in the 28th minute following good work by Lloyd Dyer but the home side could not hold on and in the 59th minute Forest substitute Michael Vickers headed past Matt Jones in the Albion goal to level the scores once again. Out of favour midfield pair Artim Sakiri and Jason Koumas both played the full 90 minutes of the game, watched by a crowd of 381.

Stars receive call-ups

Jason Koumas and Rob Earnshaw are both called up into the Wales squad for their back-to-back World Cup qualifying games against Austria at the end of this month. The first game takes place in Cardiff on Saturday 26th March with the two teams meeting again in Vienna four days later.

Midfielder Junichi Inamoto, currently on loan at Championship side Cardiff City is named in the Japanese squad for their World Cup qualifying games against Iran and Bahrain later this month.

Gunners game moved

Albion's home game against Arsenal scheduled for Saturday, April 30 is moved to Bank Holiday Monday, May 2 with a 8-00pm kick-off. The game will be screened live on Sky TV.

Sunday 13th March 2005

Albion linked with Toon defender

According to newspaper reports Albion are said to be one of a number of clubs interested in Newcastle United defender Peter Ramage. The 21-year-old is out of contract in the summer.

Thursday 10th March 2005

Chelsea game televised

Albion's trip to Stamford Bridge next Tuesday to take on Chelsea will be screened live on Sky Sports. The kick-off time remains unchanged, 7-45pm.

Pompey game switched

Albion's last game of the season against Portsmouth is put back 24 hours along with the rest of the Premiership programme for that day. The game at The Hawthorns will now be played on Sunday 15th May with a 4pm kick-off time.

Wednesday 9th March 2005

Robson denies Earnshaw rift

Albion boss Bryan Robson plays down reports of problems between himself, Rob Earnshaw and the player's agent Mel Eves. Newspaper reports at the weekend suggested that Earnshaw was unhappy at his treatment at the club and could be set for a move away from The Hawthorns in the summer.

Robson said: "Mel said he had been misquoted. He said he had talked to a reporter about Earnie's goal ratio, but insisted he hadn't said anything like Earnie should be in the team. As with all of our players, Earnie's got to play for the right to be in the team. No one has a divine right to be in the team and the competition for places up front at this club is very healthy at the moment."

"When Earnie gets his chance again, which he will do, he has to be nice and sharp and get about his game, but I think there has been an improvement in Earnshaw's overall game. In my first game here I thought he was only interested in scoring a goal and his overall contribution to the team wasn't quite good enough, but he's worked on that and it's good that he's taken that on board."

"Earnie's still a young player and has just come from the Championship so he is finding out the quality you need in the Premiership. He's still learning his trade and he's still learning about the Premiership, but he's doing all right. He's scored 10 goals in 17 starts, which is a great ratio. When you're a player like Rob, if you're not scoring you have to look at what you're doing for your team-mates and that's the part Rob needs to improve but he is getting better at that side of his game and he will learn with people like Kanu, Geoff Horsfield and Kevin Campbell around him - they're good, experienced players."

Patterson in Cherries trial

Young Albion striker Kyle Patterson plays and scores for Bournemouth's reserves in their game against Cardiff City. The 19-year-old has also spent time on trial at Hereford United this season.

Tuesday 8th March 2005

Reserves down City

A strong reserve side beat Birmingham City 1-0 at The Hawthorns thanks to a second half Lloyd Dyer goal. Both sides were guilty of missing chances with Albion particularly wasteful in front of goal. The breakthrough finally came in the 67th minute when Albion's best two players on the night, Jason Koumas and Dyer combined to give Albion the lead. The game, watched by a crowd of 429 also saw the first Hawthorns appearance of recent signing Richard Chaplow.

Monday 7th March 2005

Leeds boss keen for Hulse to stay

Leeds United boss Kevin Blackwell reveals he is keen to sign on loan Albion striker Rob Hulse permanently at the end of the season. "He's happy that he's wanted and he's safe in the knowledge that he's here for at least three months," said Blackwell. "I'm sure the chairman, myself and Rob and his advisors will have a little chat when the season ends."

The former Crewe star has hit four goals in four games for United since moving there in February.

Reserve game switch

Albion's home reserve game against Nottingham Forest on Monday, March 14 is switched to The Hawthorns with a 7-00pm kick-off. The game was originally due to take place at Aggborough but Kidderminster Harriers will be using the stadium that night.

Sunday 6th March 2005

Albion too good for Blues

In a one-sided local derby at The Hawthorns Albion beat Birmingham City 2-0 to give themselves a glimmer of hope in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premiership. The home side dominated throughout but it wasn't until Neil Clement headed in Kieran Richardson's corner after 53 minutes that Albion made the breakthrough. Kevin Campbell increased the lead eleven minutes later when he netted at the far post following good work from Jonathan Greening and Geoff Horsfield. The win, in front of a crowd of 25,749 lifts Albion off the foot of the table although they still remain five points behind 17th place Crystal Palace.

Robson job safe

Albion Chairman Jeremy Peace reveals that manager Bryan Robson will not be sacked even if the club are relegated at the end of the season.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live Peace said: "He will start next season, whatever division we're in, and it is important we have long-term stability. In terms of time, it's measured by seasons, not just a few games and Bryan is very much part of our plans. Bryan has done well. The problem was bringing him in halfway through the season. He had to assess the squad in real time in matches and his first seven or eight games he had to work out what we had - and the games came thick and fast over Christmas but since then performances have improved and we've played some pretty good football. Long-term stability is important for the club and people need time to get their feet under the desk."

The Albion Chairman also revealed that Nigerian star Kanu will be free to leave in the summer if the club do suffer relegation: "We have tried to position this club on the basis if we do get relegated we are not financially in a crisis, we have planned for it. All our player salaries will flex down, about 25 to 40 percent, at the end of the season, which is a sizeable reduction for any player. Hopefully they will have an incentive to get back to the salary level they enjoyed before relegation, although we will lose Kanu. He is one player where the agreement was he would be able to go if we do get relegated, but if that happens we will be able to strengthen in the summer."

Friday 4th March 2005

Greening happy to stay

Albion midfielder Jonathan Greening gives the club a boost by revealing he would be willing to stay at The Hawthorns even if the club were to suffer relegation at the end of the season.

"It would be soul-destroying if West Brom go down and is certainly something I don't want on my CV," said Greening. "But if West Brom are relegated, I will stay to help the club get back up. A few of the lads have said that if we do go down, we can come straight back up if we keep the same squad. The players we have here are too good for the Championship. I would be willing to be part of that side. I signed for four years last summer and unless the club get a bid, accept it and let me speak to anyone, then I am here for the four years. Simple as that."

Thursday 3rd March 2005

Sakiri to go East ?

Artim Sakiri's time at The Hawthorns looks set to be coming to an end with reports claiming he is set to join Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. Sakiri was brought to The Hawthorns by previous Albion boss Gary Megson during the summer of 2003 but has failed to establish himself in the first team making just 11 starts for the club in 18 months. The Macedonian captain was transfer listed by Bryan Robson in January.

Robson rules out Moore move

Albion boss Bryan Robson rules out the possibility of defender Darren Moore linking up with his old Baggies boss Gary Megson at Nottingham Forest. Megson is said to be keen on taking Moore to the City Ground but Robson said: "At present, there will be no more players leaving the club between now and the end of the season. With Andy Johnson out for the season, I'm down to 20 players. And if I get bookings or injuries, I'll need people."

Tomlinson on trial at County

It is revealed that Albion midfielder Ezekiel Tomlinson is currently on trial at League One side Stockport County. The youth trainee appeared in a reserve team friendly for County against Ashton United on Tuesday night.

Tuesday 1st March 2005

Reserves draw at City

Albion's reserve team play out a 3-3 draw at the Regional Athletics Arena against Manchester City. A goal five minutes from time scored by recent signing Richard Chaplow finished off a fine comeback from Albion who were 3-1 down at half time. Goals from Ishmael Miller and Carlos Logan had given the home side a 2-0 lead before young striker Rob Elvins pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 39th minute. On the stroke of half time City restored their two goal advantage when Miller grabbed his second goal of the game. City looked well on the way to all three points before Elvins again on 72 minutes and Chaplow, in his first game in Albion colours struck to earn Albion a share of the points.

Albion turn down ground move

It emerges that Albion were approached last year with a view to selling The Hawthorns and moving to a new site in the Hill Top area of West Bromwich. The club were approached by the urban regeneration company RegenCo last year and shown the Hill Top site.

Albion's operations director Jonathan Fuller said: "The redevelopment of The Hawthorns is one of the key areas we're discussing. We've looked at several possibilities - including a visit to a site near Hill Top - but we have no plans to move from our present location. We've had long-standing plans to redevelop the Halfords Lane Stand and this is still very much on our agenda."