Thursday 29th September 2005

Hawthorns in tournament bid

The Hawthorns is named as one of the proposed venues in the FA's bid to host the 2007 UEFA Under-21 Championship in England.

The tournament, due to be played between June 10-24 would take place at eight stadia across the Midlands, with the final being held at the redeveloped Wembley Stadium.

The other grounds to feature in the bid are Ricoh Stadium, Coventry City; Molineux, Wolverhampton Wanderers; Britannia Stadium, Stoke City; Pride Park, Derby County;  Walkers Stadium, Leicester City; City Ground, Nottingham Forest and Meadow Lane, Notts County.

The other countries bidding for the tournament are the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and Turkey.

A decision will be made by the UEFA Executive Committee on December 15.

Trio receive call-ups

Albion strikers Rob Earnshaw, Diomansy Kamara and Kanu all receive call-ups for their respective countries World Cup qualifiers.

Earnshaw is included in the Welsh squad for their games against Northern Ireland on September 8 and Azerbaijan four days later. Senegal star Kamara will link up with his country as they face Mali in Dakar whilst Kanu is included in the Nigerian squad for their match against Zimbabwe in Abuja.

Monday 26th September 2005

Reserves beat Blues

Albion reserves beat local rivals Birmingham City 1-0 at The Hawthorns thanks to a 60th minute Rob Davies goal. First team squad members Tomasz Kuszczak, Junichi Inamoto and Thomas Gaardsoe figured for the hosts in front of a crowd of 737.

Dyer out on loan

Albion midfielder Lloyd Dyer joins Championship side Queens Park Rangers on a one month loan deal. The 23 year-old has yet to figure in the Albion first team under Bryan Robson and spent two months on loan at Coventry City last season. He looks set to make his Rangers’ debut in their clash with Millwall at The New Den tomorrow night.

Chaplow called up

Richard Chaplow is called up into the England Under-20 squad for their friendly game against Holland at Burnley’s Turf Moor ground on October 9.

Saturday 24th September

Murphy double sinks Albion

Albion's poor run of form continues with 2-1 defeat to Charlton Athletic at The Hawthorns. Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy grabbed two first half goals for the visitors, one of them a penalty. Curtis Davies notched a second-half goal on his home debut but it was not enough to prevent Albion suffering their fourth defeat in five league games.

Albion face Cottagers

Albion are drawn away at Premiership rivals Fulham in the third round of the Carling Cup. The game will be played in the week commencing Monday, October 24.

Academy team draw

Albion’s Academy team make it three games unbeaten with a 1-1 draw away at Everton, young striker Rob Elvins scoring the Baggies’ goal.

Tuesday 20th September 2005

Albion ease past Bantams

Albion progress into the third round of the Carling Cup following a 4-1 victory over League One side Bradford City at The Hawthorns. Nathan Ellington opened the scoring for Bryan Robson's men in the 22nd minute and Diomansy Kamara made it 2-0 ten minutes later. Steven Schumacher pulled one back for City just before half-time but second-half goals from Ellington and Rob Earnshaw made sure Albion's name would be in the draw for the next round. A crowd of 10,792 were in attendance for a game which also saw Danish defender Martin Albrechtsen red-carded for a professional foul nine minutes from time

Saturday 17th September 2005

Albion snatch late point

Albion claim a point from a 1-1 draw at Sunderland despite another poor performance by Bryan Robson's men. Ex-Blues and Coventry defender Gary Breen had given the hosts the lead on seven minutes and the Wearsiders looked set to pick up their first win of the season until a Zoltan Gera header deep into injury time earned a much needed point for Albion. Recent signing from Luton; Curtis Davies, made his Albion debut in front of a Stadium of Light crowd of 31,657.

Academy team pick up first win

Albion's Academy team win their first game of the season by beating Nottingham Forest 2-0, Chris Humphrey and Rob Elvins the scorers.

Thursday 15th September 2005  

Megson swoops for Hoult

Albion keeper Russell Hoult joins Gary Megson’s Nottingham Forest on a month’s loan. Hoult, currently third choice at The Hawthorns moves to the City Ground at a time when regular Forest keepers Rune Pedersen and Paul Gerrard are both suffering from injuries.

Albion boss Bryan Robson explained the decision to allow the Ashby de la Zouch born keeper to go out on loan. "A groin injury disrupted Russell's start to the season and meant he didn't really get a chance to challenge Chris Kirkland and Tomasz Kuszczak, That's why it's best for him to go out on a month's loan and play first-team football. I can gauge where his fitness is while he's playing for Forest."

Hoult looks set to make his debut this weekend for Forest at home to Rotherham.

Monday 12th September 2005

Reserves draw

A youthful reserve team take a point from a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough at The Hawthorns. Daniel Graham gave the visitors the lead on 44 minutes before Brian Smikle equalised with a close range header on 54 minutes following a Junichi Inamoto corner. A crowd of 355 were in attendance.

Saturday 10th September 2005

Injury time heartache for Albion

Albion slump to a third successive defeat, losing 2-1 to Premiership new boys Wigan Athletic at The Hawthorns. Jonathan Greening gave the hosts the lead on 26 minutes only for David Connolly to equalise for the Latics five minutes before half-time. The game looked set to end all square before an injury time goal from Jimmy Bullard gave Wigan all three points in front of a crowd of 25,617.

Kids grab a point

Albion’s Academy side earn their first ever point at Academy level following a 0-0 draw at home to Sheffield United.

Wednesday 7th September 2005

Baggies on international duty

Zoltan Gera, Rob Earnshaw and Jason Koumas all appear for their countries in the night’s World Cup qualifying games. Hungarian captain Gera failed to prevent his side going down 1-0 at home to Sweden whilst Earnshaw and Koumas both started for Wales in their 1-0 defeat to Poland in Warsaw. Albion's on-loan keeper Chris Kirkland again failed to see action however having to make do with being an unused sub in England’s defeat against Northern Ireland in Belfast.

Meanwhile, in a friendly international at Miyagi, Albion midfielder Junichi Inamoto was in action as Japan beat Honduras 5-4.

Tuesday 6th September 2005

Reserves win at Molineux

Albion reserves record their first win of the season after beating Wolves 2-1 at Molineux. Young striker Stuart Nicholson opened the scoring for the visitors in the 35th minute and Welsh midfielder Rob Davies made it 2-0 nine minutes after half-time. Patrick Flynn pulled a goal back for Wolves in the 71st minute but Albion held on to claim all three points in front of a crowd of 895. Recent Academy signing Ibrahim Sissoko played 84 minutes on his reserve team debut for the club.

Sunday 4th September 2005

Kanu stars for Super Eagles

Albion striker Kanu comes on as a second half substitute to help Nigeria to a 5-2 victory against Algeria in a World Cup qualifing game in Oran.

Saturday 3rd September 2005

Quartet on duty

In the day’s World Cup qualifying games Rob Earnshaw, Jason Koumas, Zoltan Gera and Diomansy Kamara all turn out for their respective countries. Earnshaw and Koumas both came on as second half substitutes for Wales in their 1-0 defeat against England whilst Gera played 76 minutes for Hungary in their 4-0 win over Malta. Senegal striker Kamara was also in action featuring in his country's 1-0 win over Zambia. Albion’s on-loan keeper Chris Kirkland was an unused sub for England in the Cardiff clash.

Academy team lose again

Albion’s Academy team suffer their third straight defeat after losing 3-2 away at Sheffield Wednesday. Seamus Kelleher and Ben Pringle were the Albion scorers.