There's only been two occasions when we've won away from home on the opening day of the season. The first was in 1976, when we won 1-0 at Brentford with the only goal coming in the first half from Ally Millar. The second was in 1996, when we won 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion with goals from Clint Marcelle and Andy Liddell. It's been 25 years (where does the time go?) since the last one, so surely we're due another?
WBA away was the game where you could just feel the start of something special happening.It sure turned out that way too.
First match of a season after I passed my driving test and the single best passage of play I'd ever seen as a reds fan (until the season wore on of course). Totally agree - even after one game there was a tangible "something" that day.
I was there. Fantastic performance in very hot conditions. Funnily enough, it was a league cup game shortly afterwards that made me think that we could be in for a very good season.
I'm.not confident at all micks direct style against us, plus they finished last season strong and will probley carry on where they left off, we've lost our manager and star midfielder.
I was at the Hawthorns that day,1996. Clint was on fire ,the baggies were raving about him walking back to the car after the game. The rest is history ,the only opening away game I ever attended. Unfortunately I'm not there on Saturday.
I remember walking out of the stadium and the West Brom fans raving about Clint and saying we looked like a promotion side and me saying "it's Barnsley mate" it'll be all down hill now. How wrong I was.