We take a look at West Bromwich Albion’s best and worst Monday night football performances.
West Bromwich Albion welcome Burnley to the Hawthorns for their first Monday night fixture of the season.
In the last seven seasons, Albion have played thirteen times on a Monday night, producing some unforgettable fixtures. So let’s take a look back at the good, the bad and the ugly of these games.
The good
Monday night football has been a good occasion for Albion to cause an upset.
In 2013, Steve Clarke’s side won both of their Monday night games, including a memorable 2-0 win at Anfield. The heroics of Ben Foster, who saved Steven Gerrard’s second half penalty, inspired Albion to a smash-and-grab victory over a Liverpool side featuring Luis Suarez.
The final home game of the 2014/5 season saw West Brom host the newly crowned Premier League champions Chelsea. Goals from Saido Berahino and Chris Brunt helped Albion easily dispose of Jose Mourniho’s title winning team.
Last season, Albion had a big impact on the race for the Premier League title when they visited White Hart Lane. Tony Pulis’ side put in a resolute performance to take a point from Tottenham and give a massive boost to unlikely league leaders Leicester City.
Another Monday night draw which will live long in West Brom fans’ memories came away against Stoke City in 2011. Recently appointed Albion Head Coach, Roy Hodgson, was caught by the television cameras jumping for joy, as Carlos Vela grabbed a late equaliser for the Baggies.
The bad
West Brom have had no luck against Manchester City in recent years. The Citizens beat Albion 3-1 in 2014, before dishing out a 3-0 drubbing on the opening day of the 2015/6 season.
Everton were the other team to beat West Brom on a Monday night football last season. On what was a thoroughly frustrating evening for the home crowd, Roberto Martinez’s side came back from two goals down to leave the Hawthorns with all three points.
This wasn’t the only occasion that Albion threw away a two-goal lead on a Monday night. In 2013, two early goals from Shane Long put the Baggies in a commanding position against local rivals Aston Villa. However, the hosts failed to see out the game, as Karim El Ahmadi and Ashley Westwood pulled Villa level.
The ugly
Perhaps one of the ugliest games in recent West Brom history was their trip to Bloomfield Road in 2010.
Robert Di Matteo’s side arrived in Blackpool on the back of a flying start to their Premier League campaign, but the refereeing decisions of Michael Oliver brought them back down to earth.
West Brom were reduced to nine men in the first half, as Pablo Ibanez and Gonzalo Jara were both given their marching orders. Albion still put up a fight but Blackpool’s two man advantage proved the difference.
The Baggies have themselves been responsible for a less than pretty Monday night fixture. Tony Pulis knows how to grind out results even if it drains any excitement out of the game.
That’s exactly what happened when Albion held Everton to a 0-0 draw at Goodison in January of 2015. Kevin Mirallas missed from the spot as the Toffee’s couldn’t convert their possession into goals.
It is hard not to forget the Marouane Fellaini tweet that came back to bite West Brom when they faced Manchester United at the Hawthorns in 2014.
The Baggies twitter account poked fun at the Belgian international, who then came on as a substitute and scored minutes after his introductuion.
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