2007–08 West Bromwich Albion F.C. season

During the 2007–08 English football season, West Bromwich Albion competed in the Football League Championship. They finished the season in first place, thus earning promotion to the Premier League the following season.

West Bromwich Albion
2007–08 season
ChairmanJeremy Peace
ManagerTony Mowbray
StadiumThe Hawthorns
Championship1st (promoted to the Premier League)
FA CupSemi-finals
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Kevin Phillips (22)
All: Kevin Phillips (24)
Average home league attendance22,311

Season summary

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After the previous season's play-off final heartbreak, Tony Mowbray set about restructuring his squad, moving out several players for multimillion-pound fees after press reports of dressing room division.[1] High-profile players such as Jason Koumas, Diomansy Kamara and Curtis Davies were sold to Premier League clubs for large fees, joining Paul McShane, Nathan Ellington, Darren Carter and Steve Watson in leaving the Hawthorns. Mowbray replaced them by signing a total of 14 permanent and loan players in the summer transfer window, making an overall profit in the process.

Despite the large changes in his squad, Mowbray won the Championship Manager of the Month award in September, after Albion gained 13 out of the maximum 15 points and climbed to second.[2] At the start of 2008, Mowbray's young Albion team topped the table, receiving growing plaudits from the media[3] and supporters[4] alike for their attractive brand of attacking one touch passing football, a reflection of Mowbray's staunch footballing philosophy.[5]

Mowbray guided Albion to the Football League Championship title and promotion to the Premier League, and also reached the FA Cup semi-final. The semi-final, the first to be played at the new Wembley Stadium, pitted Albion against Portsmouth, the only remaining Premier League team left in the FA Cup. Portsmouth won the match 1–0 with the only goal of the game coming from former Albion striker Nwankwo Kanu. Mowbray won the Championship manager of the month award for April,[6] as well as the League Managers Association manager of the year award.[7]

English company Umbro remained West Bromwich's kit manufacturers. T-Mobile remained the kit sponsors.

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 West Bromwich Albion (C, P) 46 23 12 11 88 55 +33 81 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Stoke City (P) 46 21 16 9 69 55 +14 79
3 Hull City (O, P) 46 21 12 13 65 47 +18 75 Qualification for Championship play-offs
4 Bristol City 46 20 14 12 54 53 +1 74
5 Crystal Palace 46 18 17 11 58 42 +16 71
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2008. Source: The Football League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Results

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West Bromwich Albion's score comes first[8]

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Football League Championship

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
11 August 2007 Burnley A 1–2 15,337 (2,191) Phillips
18 August 2007 Preston North End H 2–0 19,556 Phillips, Miller
25 August 2007 Sheffield United A 0–1 23,491
1 September 2007 Barnsley H 2–0 18,310 (932) Teixeira, Beattie
15 September 2007 Ipswich Town H 4–0 19,460 (1,013) Miller, Teixeira, Phillips (2)
18 September 2007 Bristol City A 1–1 16,571 (2,019) Koren
22 September 2007 Scunthorpe United A 3–2 8,307 (1,800) Barnett, Brunt, Teixeira
30 September 2007 Queens Park Rangers H 5–1 24,757 (785) Phillips (2), Miller, Koren, Greening
3 October 2007 Stoke City H 1–1 20,048 (1,384) Barnett
6 October 2007 Southampton A 2–3 21,967 (2,218) Koren (2)
20 October 2007 Colchester United A 2–3 5,798 (1,000) Phillips, Miller
23 October 2007 Blackpool H 2–1 22,030 (1,382) Miller, Morrison
27 October 2007 Norwich City H 2–0 20,247 Miller, Phillips
3 November 2007 Watford A 3–0 18,273 (2,200) Miller, Phillips, Albrechtsen
6 November 2007 Sheffield Wednesday H 1–1 19,807 (1,726) Phillips
12 November 2007 Coventry City A 4–0 18,566 (2,818) Robinson, Teixeira (2), Koren
25 November 2007 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0–0 27,493 (2,600)
28 November 2007 Plymouth Argyle A 2–1 14,348 Bednář (2)
1 December 2007 Crystal Palace A 1–1 15,247 Hudson (own goal)
4 December 2007 Coventry City H 2–4 20,641 Bednář (2)
8 December 2007 Leicester City A 2–1 22,088 Gera, Beattie
15 December 2007 Charlton Athletic H 4–2 20,346 (787) Bednář, Gera (2), Phillips
22 December 2007 Stoke City A 1–3 18,420 (2,439) Bednář
26 December 2007 Bristol City H 4–1 27,314 (2,600) Bednář, Koren, Phillips (2)
29 December 2007 Scunthorpe United H 5–0 25,238 (584) Phillips (2), Koren, Gera, Beattie
1 January 2008 Ipswich Town A 0–2 24,000
12 January 2008 Hull City A 3–1 18,391 (1,524) Phillips, Morrison, Bednář
19 January 2008 Cardiff City H 3–3 22,325 (2,453) Bednář, Albrechtsen, Johnson (own goal)
29 January 2008 Preston North End A 1–2 12,473 Gera
2 February 2008 Burnley H 2–1 22,206 (2,081) Cesar, Bednář
9 February 2008 Barnsley A 1–2 13,083 (2,065) Morrison
12 February 2008 Sheffield United H 0–0 22,643
23 February 2008 Hull City H 1–2 22,716 (1,424) Bednář
1 March 2008 Plymouth Argyle H 3–0 22,503 (1,346) Gera, Miller, Bednář
4 March 2008 Sheffield Wednesday A 1–0 18,805 Phillips
12 March 2008 Crystal Palace H 1–1 20,378 Phillips
15 March 2008 Leicester City H 1–4 22,038 (1,736) Koren
21 March 2008 Charlton Athletic A 1–1 23,412 Phillips
29 March 2008 Colchester United H 4–3 20,433 (686) Phillips, Brunt, Bednář, Morrison
1 April 2008 Cardiff City A 0–0 13,915
8 April 2008 Blackpool A 3–1 9,628 (1,900) Phillips (2, 1 pen), Miller
12 April 2008 Watford H 1–1 26,508 Barnett
15 April 2008 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–0 27,883 (2,600) Gera
19 April 2008 Norwich City A 2–1 25,442 (2,500) Koren, Gera
28 April 2008 Southampton H 1–1 26,167 (1,263) Brunt
4 May 2008 Queens Park Rangers A 2–0 18,309 (2,600) Do-Heon, Brunt

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 5 January 2008 Charlton Athletic A 1–1 12,682 Miller
R3R 15 January 2008 Charlton Athletic H 2–2 (won 4–3 on pens) 12,691 Bednář, Morrison
R4 26 January 2008 Peterborough United A 3–0 12,701 Bednář, Koren, Phillips (pen)
R5 16 February 2008 Coventry City A 5–0 28,163 (5,000) Brunt, Bednář (2, 1 pen), Miller, Gera
QF 9 March 2008 Bristol Rovers A 5–1 12,011 (1,500) Morrison, Miller (3), Phillips
SF 5 April 2008 Portsmouth N 0–1 83,584

League Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 14 August 2007 Bournemouth H 1–0 10,250 (432) Beattie
R2 28 August 2007 Peterborough United A 2–0 4,917 Gera, Ellington
R3 25 September 2007 Cardiff City H 2–4 14,085 Miller (2, 1 pen)

Players

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First-team squad

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Squad at end of season[9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   IRL Dean Kiely[notes 1]
2 DF   BEL Carl Hoefkens
3 DF   ENG Paul Robinson
4 DF   ENG Leon Barnett
5 DF   ENG Neil Clement
7 MF   SVN Robert Koren
8 MF   ENG Jonathan Greening
9 FW   CZE Roman Bednář (on loan from Hearts)
10 FW   SCO Craig Beattie
11 MF   HUN Zoltán Gera
12 MF   KOR Kim Do-heon (on loan from Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma)
13 GK   ENG Luke Steele
14 DF   DEN Martin Albrechtsen
15 FW   NED Sherjill MacDonald
16 DF   ENG Jared Hodgkiss
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW   ENG Ishmael Miller
18 DF   ANT Shelton Martis
19 GK   CZE Michal Daněk (on loan from Viktoria Plzeň)
20 MF   POR Filipe Teixeira[notes 2]
21 FW   ENG Kevin Phillips
22 FW   ENG Stuart Nicholson
23 DF   MOZ Tininho
24 FW   ENG Luke Moore (on loan from Aston Villa)
25 DF   SVN Boštjan Cesar (on loan from Marseille)
26 DF   CPV Pelé[notes 3]
27 MF   SCO James Morrison[notes 4]
29 MF   NIR Chris Brunt
30 FW   POL Bartosz Ślusarski
32 MF   ENG David Worrall

Left club during season

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
6 DF   ENG Curtis Davies (on loan to Aston Villa)
9 FW   ENG Nathan Ellington (to Watford)
12 MF   ENG Richard Chaplow (to Preston North End)
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW   WAL John Hartson (retired)
24 DF   ENG Ronnie Wallwork (to Sheffield Wednesday)
31 GK   ENG Luke Daniels (on loan to Motherwell)

Transfers

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References

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  1. ^ Boss: I had to clear decks Archived 18 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine Express & Star, 12 September 2007
  2. ^ "Mowbray wins award". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2007.
  3. ^ Culley, Jon (27 December 2007). "West Bromwich Albion 4 Bristol City 1: Bednar fires Albion to the summit". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 30 December 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  4. ^ Mowbray hails Baggies fans Birmingham Post, 28 December 2007
  5. ^ Mowbray can pass Premier test Birmingham Post, 11 December 2007
  6. ^ "Mowbray claims managerial award". BBC Sport. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  7. ^ "Ferguson wins managerial honour". BBC Sport. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  8. ^ "West Bromwich Albion 2007-2008 Results - statto.com". Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  9. ^ "FootballSquads - West Bromwich Albion - 2007/08".
  10. ^ "Fulham sign Kamara from West Brom". BBC Sport. 9 July 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  11. ^ "Owls complete signing of Watson". 10 July 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Wigan complete signing of Koumas". BBC Sport. 10 July 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  13. ^ "Sunderland sign defender McShane". 26 July 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Carter joins Preston from Baggies". 9 August 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Football | My Club | Watford | Watford sign Ellington for £3.25m". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Villa sign Davies on season loan". BBC Sport. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
  17. ^ "West Brom capture defender Martis". BBC Sport. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
  18. ^ "West Brom complete Beattie deal". 3 July 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Baggies sign midfielder Teixeira". BBC Sport. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  20. ^ "Barnett completes West Brom move". 26 July 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Tininho bags Albion deal". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2008.
  22. ^ "Baggies sign Marseille defender". BBC Sport. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  23. ^ "West Brom sign Stoke's Hoefkens". 7 August 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  24. ^ "Morrison secures move to Baggies". 7 August 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  25. ^ "Baggies swoop for midfielder Pelé". BBC Sport. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  26. ^ "West Brom complete £3m Brunt deal". 15 August 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  27. ^ "West Brom sign Man City striker". 15 August 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  28. ^ "Miller completes £900,000 move | West Bromwich Albion | News | Latest Headlines | Latest Headlines". 4 February 2008. Archived from the original on 4 February 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2023.

Notes

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  1. ^ Kiely was born in Salford, England, and represented them at U-15, U-16, and U-18 level, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in November 1999.
  2. ^ Teixeira was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, but also qualified to represent Portugal internationally and represented them at U-18, U-20, and U-21 level.
  3. ^ Pelé was born in Albufeira, Portugal, but also qualified to represent Cape Verde internationally and made his international debut for Cape Verde in 2006.
  4. ^ Morrison was born in Darlington, England, and represented them at U-17, U-18, U-19, and U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his grandparents and made his international debut for Scotland in May 2008.