The Big Sunday Showdown!

13 May 2005

The end is nigh. Admittedly, the nutters have been saying it for years, but on Sunday - the last day of the season - we'll finally know our Premiership fate. For those that wrote us off five months ago when we were rooted to the bottom of the table at Christmas, it's a real pleasure to be still in there with a shout. The records have already been broken - this is the first time that nobody has been relegated from the Premiership until the last day of the season, so let's hope another gets broken when the team that was bottom at Christmas manages to survive.

Despite what you may have read on some web sites, the maths on the day is very simple. We have to win, and hope that Norwich, Palace and Southampton all draw or lose. That's it. Goal difference is irrelevant, as ours is already better than Norwich and a win for us and a draw for them will only improve it. Norwich have to travel to Fulham, and haven't won away all season (a record we hope DOESN'T get broken) and Southampton entertain Man United who, despite all the furore surrounding their new bearded American owner, will want to go into the FA Cup final on the back of a last day win. The most likely spanner in the works comes from Palace's visit to Charlton, who have been on miserable form lately but will surely want to retain bragging rights for those with SE postcodes. We, of course, entertain Portsmouth - whose fans and, possibly, players will be only too happy to see us win as it would send their local rivals down.

Tickets? Sold out weeks ago, and we've had a load of people asking us if we know of anyone with spares - so if you've got one going begging let us know and we'll be sure to find it a good home.

The Sandwell Chronicle told us yesterday that Bryan Robson has enlisted divine help and now carries a little statue of Buddha around with him for luck. They even printed a little "pocket Buddha" picture for supporters to cut out and carry around in their pocket! The Gaffer also asked that people don't take radios in with them on Sunday as he thinks it's better for our team not to know the score.

Finally, for those of a praying mentality, two suggestions. Christine Fayle writes:

Here is a prayer that I shall be saying each night until the Portsmouth game. Above all, I will be saying it from my seat in the east Stand on Sunday:

Lord above, I know you are there,
Please hear me now, my special Prayer,
At 3 pm, when battle starts,
Please spare a thought for heavy hearts.
Make sure the teams with nothing to lose,
Give all they?ve got, to challenge those who?ve
Got everything to play for, and make it fair,
As it would be easier to grin and bear,
The thought that we might just not make it,
And our Premiership status we would forsake it.
But on a positive note, I ask of you,
Give Albion players what they are due,
And that, My Lord, is a consecutive term,
In the best ever League our players can earn.
   

This one has also been doing the rounds, thanks to Little One for sending it to us:

Our Gaffa
Who art at The Hawthorns
Robson be his name
Thy crowd will come
3 points will be won
In defence
As it is in attack
Give us on Sunday a win over Portsmouth
Let us make no bad passes
As we put a curse on Norwich, Southampton and Crystal Palace
Lead us not into the Championship
And deliver us from relegation
For thine is the meat pie
The pint and the sausage roll
Forever and ever
Boing Boing
   

Previous Stories:

  21 March 2005:  On the telly again!

  14 March 2005:  Farewell, Saturdays

  10 March 2005:  The Great Wall revisited...

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