Sunday was a bad day with the Albion losing to the Villa. Joe lost his game after playing in 4 different positions and Matt lost to Cardiff 3-2 after spending 6 hours in the car.

Didn't watch any of them due to a bad back, and as usual they both told me they played brilliant! As we hadn't witnessed them there was not much match analysis.

Monday was relatively quiet with Matt and Jim both training locally.

Tuesday I spent at the blues with Matt, whilst Karen took little Alec to Brazillian. Matt is on a mission trying to be mentally strong and determined. Jim arrived back after playing for his school, winning 7-1 in a league match, whilst Joe rested.

A hard weekend of taxing again for our four footballing sons!

Took Alec, our skillful little 6 year old, to the Albion academy on Friday night to show off his skills.

All he was intent on doing was to blow kisses to me as I gesticulated to him to concentrate on his game.

Beautiful weather and an early morning on Saturday with me dropping Jim off at the M42 service station at 8.45am and Matt at the Blues academy at 9.30am, whilst the Mrs took our other 2 sons to their local football ground and then coaches the U7s 3rd team (Alecs age group) at West Hagley FC. All pick-ups were successful and the usual lunch-time sausage sarnies were lovely.

Sunday morning was even earlier with Matt being dropped off for his game at Cardiff and Joe at the local car park for his game in Solihull, whilst Jim and Alec dressed in all their Albion strips ready for the big derby game at the Hawthorns, against Villa. I watched my team play at home. I await Matt and Joe to come back to give a full match report and an analysis of their performance....