Albion’s Second Tier Season Comparison – 8 games | OneFootball

It was a disappointing night for the Baggies as they conceded a first goal at the Hawthorns since April and fell to their second successive defeat thereby surrendering top spot in the Championship. Sixteen points from eight games is still a good return and there are plenty of reasons to feel positive, but back-to-back defeats is never pleasant.

On the balance of play, there was little to choose between the sides but Boro looked much more dangerous in attacking areas and Alex Palmer was forced into three good saves to keep the scored level before Hackney eventually found the net. I feel that the absence of Fellows and Molumby reduces the team’s overall effectiveness but I think there were a few too many below par performances all over the pitch against Boro.

This campaign is only the fourth time in our comparison seasons that the Baggies have had 16 or more points at this stage and only once, in 2021/22, has the side failed to win promotion at the end of the season. Only once, in 2009/10, has as Albion side had more points at the same stage.

Josh Maja’s failure to add to his goal tally in game eight means that he remains level with Lee Hughes from 1998 on seven goals, but now two behind Bob Taylor from 1992 who scored twice in the Baggies’ 4-3 defeat to Stoke City at the Victoria Ground in game eight. W.G. Richardson, who holds the club record for goals in a league season with 39 in 1935/36, only scored once in the first eight games of what was then a 42 game campaign.

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