West Bromwich Albion

Mid-season report: West Bromwich Albion

By Liam Power, ReporterPublished: 28 December 2012 2:30 PM

Sports Mole delves into a dream start to the season for West Bromwich Albion, with Steve Clarke guiding the Baggies into European contention.

West Bromwich Albion have enjoyed a dream start to life under new manager Steve Clarke, proving to be the Premier League's surprise package.

Clarke made a few key signings early in his reign at The Hawthorns. Romelu Lukaku joined on loan from Chelsea, while Claudio Yacob arrived on a free to add strength to the Baggies midfield.

A charge into the top half of the table built on an impressive home record, Clarke's men sit in sixth place at the halfway point in the season.

Here, Sports Mole take a look at a five months to remember for Baggies fans.

August

The Baggies got off to a dream start on the opening day at home to Liverpool. Zoltan Gera set the tone with a superb strike from range as West Brom ran out 3-0 winners.

An injury-time equaliser from James Morrison at White Hart Lane kept the good start going as Tottenham Hotspur were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.

A promising start was rounded off by a 4-2 victory at Yeovil in the second round of the League Cup.

September

Everton's 12-match unbeaten run was ended after goals from Shane Long and Gareth McAuley helped West Brom record a 2-1 win.

A strong start was halted in mid-September as Fulham beat the Baggies 3-0 with the help of brace from Dimitar Berbatov.

Clarke's side were back on track a week later, claiming all three points at Reading as Lukaku marked his first league start with a winning goal.

Only a late equaliser prevented the Baggies winning the season's first Midlands derby at Villa Park. Shane Long's opener was cancelled out as Aston Villa claimed a late point.

The end of September marked West Brom's final involvement in the League Cup, with Liverpool exacting revenge for their league defeat by winning 2-1 at The Hawthorns.

October

A month with one win and two defeats scarcely begins to tell the story of a month where the Baggies were blighted by costly late lapses.

West Brom began October by recording a fourth successive home win for the first time in 93 years with a narrow victory against Queens Park Rangers. Gera, Morrison and Youssouf Mulumbu got the home side over the line despite a late QPR fightback.

A late double from Edin Dzeko snatched away a fifth home success from West Brom. Leading 1-0 heading into the final few minutes, Dzeko struck twice to help Manchester City steal three precious points.

Newcastle United made it last-gasp heartbreak two weeks running for the Baggies as a cruel deflection off Papiss Cisse made the score 2-1 with the last kick of the match.

November

A near-perfect November saw West Brom rattle off four successive victories to take the Baggies as high as third in the table.

Peter Odemwingie got the ball rolling with a brace to secure a 2-0 success at home to Southampton. Wigan were next to succumb to the Baggies as Morrison opened the scoring in a 2-1 win at the DW Stadium.

Long and Odemwingie both scored their fourth of the season as West Brom's superb home form helped seal a 2-1 win over former boss Roberto Di Matteo, and an early-season exit from Chelsea for the Italian.

The in-form Baggies then put four past Sunderland, holding off a late Mackems comeback to edge over the line for a fourth win in a row.

Swansea City ended a dream run of results three days later, racing into a 3-0 lead and holding firm to defeat Clarke's men.

December

A busy run of festive fixtures saw West Brom take seven points from five matches.

Stoke City inflicted a first home defeat of the campaign thanks to a late winner from Dean Whitehead. Arsenal also proved too strong, edging past the Baggies with the help of a contentious pair of penalties.

A frustrating goalless draw at home to West Ham United followed to make it three games without a win for the high-flying Baggies.

Christmas week saw West Brom turn things round, claiming a much-needed win at home to Norwich City courtesy of a Lukaku's late header.

The Baggies climbed to fifth on Boxing Day with a hard-fought win at Queens Park Rangers, epitomising a spell full of high points under Clarke's guidance.