Albion’s fourth victory in eight games represents an improvement in form but it is not enough to give them a realistic chance of a play-off spot. They were fortunate to get all three points against Blackpool thanks to Karlan Grant’s injury time winner and, while teams above them continue to drop points, they remain mathematically within reach of the top six.
In two of Albion’s recent campaigns, game 43 has been when they secured promotion. In 2004, the dramatic last gasp win at Sunderland had virtually secured the Baggies’ return to the Premier League but it wasn’t mathematically confirmed until Mick McCarthy’s side failed to beat Wigan Athletic in the lunchtime kick-off in round 43. That meant that Albion’s 2-0 victory over Bradford City was played in a party atmosphere at the Hawthorns.
In 2010, Roberto di Matteo’s side confirmed promotion with a 3-2 win at Doncaster Rovers in round 43, a result that left them eleven points clear of this campaign’s round 43 opponents, Nottingham Forest, who were in third place. Forest ultimately lost to this campaign’s round 42 opponents, Blackpool, in the play-offs.
The Baggies haven’t lost a round 43 fixture away from home since 2000 when Gary Megson’s side lost a crucial relegation battle at Walsall – Sean Flynn had given the visitors an early lead but goals from Rammell and Bennett turned things around for the Saddlers. It mean that Walsall moved out of the relegation zone at Albion’s expense but seven points from their last three games proved to be enough for Megson’s team to avoid the drop.
| Home | Away | Season End | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Posn* | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Posn | Pts | |
| 2000/2001 | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 56 | 47 | 70 | 5th | 13 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 21 | 43 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 26 | 27 | 6th | 74 |
| 2001/2002 | 42 | 24 | 7 | 11 | 56 | 28 | 79 | 3rd | 14 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 10 | 45 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 18 | 34 | 2nd | 89 |
| 2003/2004 | 42 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 61 | 35 | 83 | 2nd | 13 | 5 | 3 | 32 | 14 | 44 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 21 | 39 | 2nd | 86 |
| 2006/2007 | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 71 | 51 | 70 | 4th | 13 | 4 | 4 | 44 | 23 | 43 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 4th | 76 |
| 2007/2008 | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 82 | 53 | 71 | 2nd | 12 | 7 | 3 | 50 | 26 | 43 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 32 | 27 | 28 | 1st | 81 |
| 2009/2010 | 42 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 82 | 44 | 83 | 2nd | 15 | 2 | 4 | 45 | 20 | 47 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 37 | 24 | 36 | 2nd | 91 |
| 2018/2019 | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 81 | 56 | 73 | 4th | 10 | 7 | 4 | 48 | 28 | 37 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 33 | 28 | 36 | 4th | 80 |
| 2019/2020 | 42 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 73 | 40 | 80 | 1st | 10 | 8 | 3 | 42 | 25 | 38 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 31 | 15 | 42 | 2nd | 83 |
| 2021/2022 | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 47 | 41 | 60 | 11th | 11 | 7 | 3 | 29 | 16 | 40 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 25 | 20 | ||
| * Positions are recorded as Albion’s position in the table after all fixtures for that day have been completed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Results
| 2000/2001 | 14/04/2001 | Burnley (A) | D | 1-1 | Taylor |
| 2001/2002 | 30/03/2002 | Barnsley (H) | W | 3-1 | Jordão, Dichio, Benjamin |
| 2003/2004 | 18/04/2004 | Sunderland (A) | W | 1-0 | Koumas |
| 2006/2007 | 09/04/2007 | Norwich City (A) | W | 2-1 | Sodje, Kamara |
| 2007/2008 | 12/04/2008 | Watford (H) | D | 1-1 | Barnett |
| 2009/2010 | 05/04/2010 | Watford (A) | D | 1-1 | Brunt |
| 2018/2019 | 13/04/2019 | Preston North End (H) | W | 4-1 | Gayle (3), Rodriguez |
| 2019/2020 | 08/07/2020 | Derby County (H) | W | 2-0 | Diangana, O’Shea |
| 2021/2022 | 15/04/2022 | Blackpool (H) | W | 2-1 | Carroll, Grant |
Next Matches
| 2000/2001 | 16/04/2001 | Grimsby Town (H) | L | 0-1 | |
| 2001/2002 | 01/04/2002 | Coventry City (A) | W | 1-0 | Taylor |
| 2003/2004 | 24/04/2004 | Bradford City (H) | W | 2-0 | Horsfield, Hughes |
| 2006/2007 | 13/04/2007 | Sheffield Wednesday (H) | L | 0-1 | |
| 2007/2008 | 15/04/2008 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) | W | 1-0 | Gera |
| 2009/2010 | 10/04/2010 | Doncaster Rovers (A) | W | 3-2 | Dorrans, Brunt, Bednár |
| 2018/2019 | 19/04/2019 | Hull City (H) | W | 3-2 | Gibbs, Gayle (2) |
| 2019/2020 | 11/07/2020 | Blackburn Rovers (A) | D | 1-1 | Krovinović |
| 2021/2022 | 18/04/2022 | Nottingham Forest (A) |
If you cannot see the tables, click here.
