Ally Robertson: FA Cup should still matter to West Brom
The FA Cup will always hold a special place in my heart because the first ever Albion game I watched was the 1968 final.
I had just signed for the club as a teenager and they flew me, my dad and my brothers down to Wembley to watch it.
Here was a poor family from Scotland in a swanky London hotel. And then watching Albion lift the trophy in front of 100,000 people was incredible.
I can still remember Jeff Astle’s left-footed goal, and what a goal it was.
Which is why I hope Darren Moore goes for it against Wigan in the third round today.
Promotion may be the most important aim this season, but a good Cup run is always well received by the fans.
It’s also important to rediscover the habit of winning, especially after a draw and a defeat in the league.
It’s a shame the FA Cup is not as important to football clubs as it once was.
Look at the teams put out this weekend by Premier League and Championship sides. Very few will play full-strength outfits.
In our day, you put the strongest team out you possibly could, but there is too much money riding on getting to and staying in the Premier League these days.
Albion have pedigree in the FA Cup though, it’s an important part of the club’s history, and deserves to be treated with respect.
As far as the league form is going, I was delighted to see the team keep back-to-back clean sheets against Rotherham and Wigan.
With Albion’s front line scoring like they are, keeping a clean sheet is a guarantee of all three points.
The defence look far more comfortable switching to a back four and that, more than anything else, suggests they could seriously challenge for promotion this season.
New signing Mason Holgate might add something extra to the backline and hopefully there are one or two more who follow him through the door.
Central midfield is the area I would be looking at next.
Albion may not have won either of the last two games, but it’s the time of year when form can vary.
Look at the results Leeds and Norwich have got in their last two games.
There are plenty of games left this season, and promotion is the obvious aim.
But the FA Cup is still important. Hopefully this side take it seriously.
