Albion under Carlos Corberán kept a clean sheet for the sixth time in eight games, but more significantly, they earned the three points necessary to go into the top six ahead of games on Wednesday night. In all competitions, Brandon Thomas-Asante scored his fourth goal of the year and his first since defeating Middlesbrough in late August. In addition, it was Albion’s second penalty of the year; John Swift had scored against Swansea City the first.
With 20 points from 13 games this season, it is still the second-worst total of the century, surpassing the meager 11 points from the previous season. The club led by Gary Megson in 2001–02 had the second-closest point total throughout that time period, with 22 points at that point. However, their defeat in game 13 at Nowrich City put them in fifth place, three points below the top two. Naturally, that team won automatic promotion, but the top two teams in the league this year are already eight points ahead of Albion and six points ahead of the rest of the pack.
As I think back to game 14, the first matchup in the comparisons below, it seems to me that Brian Talbot won his first three games in command, winning 4-1 at St Andrew’s. A few weeks before, Talbot had taken over after Ron Atkinson left the team for the second time. A goal from Chris Whyte and a deflection winner from Colin Anderson made it four wins in a row for the Baggies, who seemed to be half of the Black Country, myself included. When Albion topped the standings on New Year’s Day, a swift return to Division One appeared likely; however, Don Goodman’s injury during the cup match against Everton
