WEST BROM v MAN UTD Reds COME IN No.10 YOUR TIME IS UP
‘Big Ron’s Baggies were best’ . . . but Mata still hankering after key Old Trafford role
IT was the best team Ron Atkinson ever managed, one that captured the country’s imagination – and it could have landed West Brom the title.
For Albion fans, a fixture against Manchester United around Christmas always brings back special memories.
Rewind the clock to December 30, 1978, and the best Baggies’ team of its generation was to hand out a lesson to the Red Devils that has never been forgotten in the Black Country.
Big Ron was at his bling-master best. And players like Cyrille Regis, Laurie Cunningham and Bryan Robson produced champagne football to match their manager’s lifestyle.
For Tony ‘Bomber’ Brown, one of the goalscorers during a 5-3 win at Old Trafford, a greater prize may have been in sight.
Brown, 72, who hit a club-record 218 league goals for the Baggies, including two at United that day, said: “Around Christmas, we thought we had a shot at winning the title.
“We were full of confidence. And everywhere you looked there were good players at the top of their games. And we were led by Ron who gave us the freedom to play. He wanted to be entertained. And our game at United was a cracker. Looking back, it was funny because I’d scored just on the stroke of half-time to make it 3-3.
“Ron came in, started his team-talk and said, ‘Look lads, there’s nothing to be scared of here. If you keep going as you are, you’ll get the equaliser’.
“We looked at each other, puzzled. Ally Brown looked at him and said, ‘Boss, it’s 3-3. We scored’. Ron was looking around for confirmation and was met with a load of grinning faces.
“He’d left his seat to get to the dressing room and missed the goal.
“He immediately changed tack. ‘Well, if you keep going as you are,’ he said, ‘you’ll win this. No problem!’.”
With Regis and Cunningham providing the power and speed up front, Brown was able to cash in and the Baggies ran out worthy winners.
He added: “After beating United we thought we were in with a crack at the title. But we had bad weather after the new year and it disrupted our rhythm. We were in contention for a long time, but slipped away behind Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.”