Now that WBA have successfully negotiated their way through two replays (Bristol City, Peterborough United) to set up yet another meeting with the mighty RFC, Brian can finally start drawing up his plans for a possible giant killing.
While the game is winnable (presuming a proper team and attitude turns up rather than the dreadfully disjointed rubbish we get in the league) it won't be easy but at least it's game where the players shouldn't need to be "wound up" as if they can't get themselves together for a PL team they may as well all give up the game now (what's that voice at the back there "you thought they all ready had"?).
Yes WBA struggled a bit v Peterborough but they had a bit of an injury crisis plus players also missing as they were signed too late to be eligible. Expectation is that they will largely be at full strength when they turn up.
I always recall games with WBA as being a bit along the lines of "oh no not again" but at least we have reasonably good record against them in recent years and the games do tend to be fairly entertaining which is something that is sadly lacking in league games generally.
This will be the 7th FA Cup game against them and we've only lost 1 of the previous 6 (back in 1948) while knocking them out of the competition thrice (2006, 2010 and 2011) so there is something to live up to here.
The last time we played them in the FA Cup was in the third round in 2011 when Shane Long (who?) hit home after 40 minutes and Jonas Olsson came on as a second half substitute for them at half time and managed to collect two yellow cards within the first 15 minutes of the restart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRE27tiMiZM
Since we moved to the Mad Stad we've played 11 games in total against them and won 5 and drawn another 4 (so we've obviously lost 2).
Unbelievably we've won 4 and drawn 2 of the 6 games played in Reading in that time. WBA's last win in Reading came along in Division 2 back in January 1995 (0-2).
Stick your memories and thoughts on West Brom below.