FA Cup Round 5

28 January 2008

Another round of the FA Cup, another slightly underwhelming fixture: Albion have been drawn to play at Coventry City on the weekend of 16/17 February for a chance to get to the Quarter Finals. Albion's last visit to the Ricoh, only a few months ago in the Championship, ended in a convincing win after the early dismissal of Michael Mifsud, but the return encounter saw a few key players missing, Paul Robinson sent off and a 4-2 defeat.

The good news is that at least one of the "Big Four" won't make it to the Quarter Finals, with Manchester United playing Arsenal at home. The bad news is that the important away game at Cardiff City, scheduled for the 16th, has been moved to a midweek kickoff on 1st April, making it harder to get a good away following.

Prior Cup Encounters:

Our FA Cup record against the Sky Blues is won 3 lost 2. The first ever meeting was also away in the Fifth Round, on Saturday 20th February 1937, when we won 3-2 and went on to reach the Semi Final. In fact we've never lost in Coventry. In 1978-79 we drew there 2-2 in Round Three and conclusively won the replay at The Hawthorns 4-0. Then most recently, in 1994-95, again in Round Three, we drew there 1-1 but lost the replay 1-2. In 1971-72 we were drawn at The Hawthorns in Round Three and lost 1-2. Our most recent victory was on Saturday 6th March 1982 in a Quarter-final at The Hawthorns which we won 2-0 thanks to goals from Gary Owen and Cyrille Regis.

In the League Cup we've won all 3 ties. In 1965-66 in the Fourth Round after a 1-1 draw in Coventry we won the replay 6-1, thanks to a Jeff Astle hat-trick and went on to win the trophy. In 1979-80 we won 2-1 at home in Round Three. Then in 1985-86 in Round Three, after a 0-0 draw at Highfield Road, we won the replay 4-3.

So in both competitions, we lead by 6 victories to 2, including 4 drawn matches.

In total we've played twelve cup ties, seven games at The Hawthorns winning 5 and losing 2 and five in Coventry winning 1 and drawing 4.

 - Dave Watkin

Related Stories:

12 November 2007: Coventry City 0 West Bromwich Albion 4

?4 December 2007: West Bromwich Albion 2 Coventry City 4

Previous Stories:

  20 January 2008:  Three Players at the Main Branch

  11 January 2008:  Two out...so far

  07 January 2008:  FA Cup Replay & Round 4

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