West Brom fans ‘building up to a crescendo’
Technical director Luke Dowling has thanked Albion’s passionate fans for the role they have played in helping the team return to the top of the Championship.
From December through to January, the Baggies endured a spell where they went seven league games without a win.
But a home victory over Luton kick-started a run of three consecutive victories before they then played out a draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
In recent weeks, supporters have travelled to Charlton twice, West Ham, Cardiff and Reading, while the games against Leeds, Stoke, Luton and Forest have drawn bumper crowds to The Hawthorns.
And Dowling wants fans to know their efforts have been appreciated.
“With every passing week, the finishing line to this Championship marathon gets a little closer,” he said. “And it is now, as these final passages approach, that we must all pledge to do our bit to help Slaven and the players achieve what we have been aiming for.
“We said as much in some very positive training ground meetings a couple of weeks back after we had beaten West Ham in the FA Cup.
“We wanted to use that moment to remind ourselves of all the things we needed to do to get over the finishing line.
“And that’s not just the players but everybody on the staff – from the canteen to the analysts’ office and everything in between.
“A big part of that equation is also the supporters. A big part.
“With every passing away game this season I am reminded more and more why it is such a privilege to work for this club.”
Dowling continued: “I’ve had the calculator out and looked at the miles we have covered since the turn of the year.
“To Charlton, twice, West Ham, a bitterly cold night in Cardiff, Millwall – braving a storm which drew official travel warnings from the Met Office – and then Reading.
“That is 1,592 miles covering six games for which we took, on average, 2,200 fans per game who parted with plenty of hard-earned cash to back us.
“Late nights, long hours on the road, tiring days afterwards.
“Their support has been absolutely magnificent and – it is most important I stress this – truly appreciated by the players and management staff.
“They know the effort that goes into it and they hear the songs and the passion.
“Here at The Hawthorns I sense we are building to a crescendo. In that same time we have had Leeds, Stoke, Luton and Forest – three of those games live on Sky and each one has been a full house.”
