Five goals each as Albion bid Fergie a frantic farewell
Last day mayhem as Sir Alex takes charge for the last time
Season 2012-13 Part Two
ALBION’S full record for the season was played 38, won 14, drew seven and lost 17, goals for 53, against 57, points 49.
They were 24 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal and 40 adrift of champions Manchester United, while at the same time they were 13 ahead of relegated Wigan Athletic who came home in 18th place.
A 4-2 away win at Sunderland was Albion’s best victory. Their heaviest defeat was a 4-0 reverse at Norwich in the penultimate match of the campaign and, in fact, they ended the season by playing out a thrilling 5-5 draw with Manchester United at The Hawthorns. – Alex Ferguson’s last-ever game as United manager. Romelu Lukaku scored a secondhalf hat-trick for the Baggies who actually trailed 3-0 after halfan-hour. Lukaku was also Albion’s top-scorer in the League with 17 goals (2 penalties); Shane Long scored 8, including one against his former club Southampton. Under the guidance of manager Dean Smith, Walsall took ninth place in Football League One with this record: played 46, won 17, drew 17, lost 12, goals scored 65 with 58 conceded for a total of 68 points. In fact, the Saddlers were just six points off the play-offs but 16 adrift of the champions Doncaster Rovers.
Walsall’s biggest win was 4-0 at home to Coventry City on April Fool’s Day. This was certainly sweet revenge for the 5-1 hammering they suffered at the hands of the Sky Blues earlier in the season when defender Andy Butler was sent-off.
Will Grigg 19 goals (including 8 penalties) and Jamie Paterson with 12, were the Saddlers’ leading scorers at League level.
In the FA Cup competition of 2012-13, Wolves were eliminated in round three by Luton Town; Albion also went out at this stage, beaten in a replay by QPR, while Walsall departed early doors, losing in a first round replay to Lincoln City.
In the League Cup competition, Wolves beat Aldershot (7-6 on pnalties) and Northampton Town before losing in round three to Chelsea, crashing to a humiliating 6-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool ousted Albion 2-1 in round three while Walsall lost in round 2 against QPR. The Saddlers also went out in round one of the Johnstone Paints Trophy, beaten 6-5 on penalties by Port Vale after a 2-2 draw.
Do you remember the team lineups a decade ago?
Wolves usually came from the following: goalkeeper Ikeme, Foley, Johnson, Berra, Doumbia, Henry, Doyle, Ebanks-blake, Sigurderson, Edwards, Sako, Pennant and O’hara.
Albion relied mainly on goalkeeper Ben Foster, Olsson, Mcaulay, Jones, Ridgewell, Morrison, Brunt, Dorrans, Jacob, Mulumbu, Odemwingie and Lukaku.
And Walsall’s line-up came from goalkeepers Grof, Darlow and Mcloughlin, Holden, Butler, Purkiss, Mantom, Westcarr, Featherstone, Chambers, Paterson, Hemmings, Grigg, Brandy, Baxendale, Bowerman, Taylor and Downing.
Walsall’s biggest win was 4-0 at home to Coventry City