How can relief be an emotion when your team has just returned to the top of the league? Perhaps it is the case of context and how the modern world revolves around the immediate rather than the bigger picture. Back on the distant day of December 14th 2019 West Bromwich Albion came from behind to win a local derby at Birmingham and were so far clear of the chasing pack it would not have been remiss to think that one foot was already in the premier league. A preposterous notion when there was still over half the season left, but you couldn't deny the air of optimism and confidence.
The caveat was that a blip was always round the corner and true to this precedent the team went winless for the next seven league outings. The term 'must win game' is one of the most over used and ludicrous phrases in football, give or take the odd elimination game, and yet it was yelled from the roof tops as bottom of the league Luton Town rolled up at The Hawthorns for a game on the first day of February.
On the day after the transfer window closes, you know the hand you've got to play with for the remainder of the season and of Albion's three new recruits only Callum Robinson featured in this 'must win game'. Not only did we finally end the winless run with a two nil victory over the hapless visitors, but results elsewhere saw us return to the division's summit. It was a measure of the magnitude of the early season results that not too much ground had been lost. If you were starting the season now with a four point lead of third place and sixteen games to go, optimism would be soaring and maybe this will return on the basis of the relief sensed from this victory.
To Robinson's credit he hit the ground running in his club debut and was amongst a clutch of players giving a performance more than sufficient to beat the bottom of the league and offer hope that there will be enough in the squad to acquire the required number of points over the next three months.
Last week's blog post of the cup match at West Ham was the first success published during this year of 2020CMS and now with a league win under the belt things are looking back on track. For the record an early own goal settled the nerves in this two nil win with the second coming just at the right time to see the game out. Essentially, upon reflection the win was rarely in doubt and could have been by a greater margin. But when you haven't won for seven games, a nagging doubt still lingers as you sit in the stands.
Onwards and upwards to the next game set to be featured in this blog when high flying Nottingham Forest visit in two week's time. In the meantime, focus will switch back onto the music with a handful of upcoming gigs.
