FA Cup stats

06 January 2002

Despite our dismal 20 year away cup record, against Sunderland we had a 100% record - specifically: P 3 W 3 D 0 L 0 F 8 A 4.

Well of course it's now: P 4 W 4 D 0 L 0 F 10 A 5!

But that was only the start of a near perfect F A Cup Weekend. As we made the 200 mile return journey, we first of all found out that Blues had lost 0-3 at Liverpool. No surprise there, but it was amusing to hear that Blues "weren't even at the races". Then as we tuned to Radio WM we were delighted to be told that not only had Wolves lost 0-1 at home to Gillingham but that they'd been "woeful" in front of a pathetic crowd. Things couldn't get any better? They could for someone who "hates the b....... in Claret & blue"!

I settled down in front of live BBC TV and watched a forgettable first half before Man U and Phil Neville in particular gave away two goals through woeful defending, the 2nd a pathetic own goal. At that stage the on-line betting had Villa at 1-7 on and United 14-1 against. With a quarter-of-an-hour left there was no change, until in a five minute spell Solskjaer and Van Nistelrooy netted three times between them. I leapt two foot in the air when the equaliser was slammed home. Every season I can't sleep at night until Villa have been knocked out of the cup. This year I'm in for a pretty restful winter.

So to the Cup Draw and I don't think we can complain about Premiership Leicester City at home. We shouldn't get carried away though, we will need to out-fight and out-work them, not expect an easy victory.

Our League history against the Foxes is good, there's only one other current Premiership side against whom we have a better record. However, the Baggies have a dismal 0% record against Leicester City in the F A Cup, specifically: P 3 W 0 D 0 L 3 F 3 A 8. What's more the only home game, in 1905, was a 2-5 defeat, our heaviest home loss in the competition.

Nevertheless, I remain positive and am hopeful that we can gain revenge for one of the worst days in mine and many other Baggies fans memory. That was the last occasion we met in the Cup, 29 March 1969, when we undeservedly lost 0-1 in the Semi-final at Hillsborough to relegation bound City.

Some personal good did come from that defeat. On Cup Final day, instead of going to Wembley, I got engaged to my wife.

 - Dave Watkin

Previous Stories:

  03 January 2002:  Skippy joins the Tigers

  02 January 2002:  GD's Sunderland Ground Guide

  16 December 2001:  Wallwork for Albion?

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