2015–16 West Bromwich Albion F.C. season

The 2015–16 season was West Bromwich Albion's sixth consecutive season in the Premier League and their 138th year in existence.[1] This season West Bromwich Albion participated in the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. The season covered the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

West Bromwich Albion
2015–16 season
ChairmanJeremy Peace
ManagerTony Pulis
StadiumThe Hawthorns
Premier League14th
FA CupFifth round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Salomón Rondón (9)

All:
Salomón Rondón (10)

Background

The writers of the Birmingham Mail forecast that Albion would finish somewhere between 10th and 16th, the average of all their predictions being 13th place.[2] The Guardian also forecast a 13th-place finish for Albion, predicting that Tony Pulis would "be able to drive his side to safety" in his first full season in charge.[3]

The club created a "fanzone", in which up to 2,000 supporters could gather before and after home matches. The fanzone is based in the vicinity of the 19th centuryGrade Two listed Hawthorns pub, adjacent to Albion's home ground, The Hawthorns. In order to facilitate this, the wings of the pub building were demolished and the central structure renovated inside and out. The work was initially delayed due to the discovery of horsehair in the building's plaster, which needed to be tested for anthrax spores. Work resumed once the tests came back negative.[4]

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
20MF  ENGAlex Pritchard (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
23DF  NIRGareth McAuley
24MF  SCODarren Fletcher (Captain)
25DF  ENGCraig Dawson
29MF  BENStéphane Sessègnon
30MF  BRASandro (on loan from Queens Park Rangers)
33FW  VENSalomón Rondón
38GK  ENGJack Rose
40GK  ENGAlex Palmer
41MF  ENGJoe Ward
42FW  ENGKyle Edwards
43DF  ENGCallam Jones
44FW  WALTyler Roberts[notes 6]
45FW  ENGJonathan Leko[notes 7]
46DF  IRLShaun Donnellan[notes 8]
47MF  ENGSam Field

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
21GK  DENAnders Lindegaard (on loan to Preston North End)
31MF  GERSerge Gnabry (on loan from Arsenal)
36MF  ENGAdil Nabi (to Peterborough United)

Statistics

Appearances and goals

No.PosNatPlayerTotalPremier LeagueFA CupLeague Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goalkeepers
1GK  ENGBen Foster1901504000
13GK  WALBoaz Myhill2502301010
Defenders
3DF  SWEJonas Olsson32125+312020
4DF  WALJames Chester1909+403+1020
6DF  NIRJonny Evans3413014000
15DF  BELSébastien Pocognoli500+101+2010
16DF  CRCCristian Gamboa300+101010
23DF  NIRGareth McAuley3913414010
25DF  ENGCraig Dawson4343842+101+10
Midfielders
5MF  ARGClaudio Yacob3713313010
7MF  SCOJames Morrison19417+131100
8MF  ENGCraig Gardner38320+1433010
11MF  NIRChris Brunt26020+203010
14MF  IRLJames McClean42228+72501+10
19MF  ENGCallum McManaman1502+1000+100+20
20MF  ENGAlex Pritchard300+200+1000
24MF  SCODarren Fletcher4233813210
29MF  BENStephane Sessegnon31221+424+1010
30MF  BRASandro1305+701000
47MF  ENGSam Field100+100000
Forwards
10FW  NGAVictor Anichebe1403+701+2010
17FW  ENGRickie Lambert2415+1412+1020
18FW  ENGSaido Berahino35717+1443+1300
33FW  VENSalomón Rondón401030+494+110+10
44FW  WALTyler Roberts100+100000
45FW  ENGJonathan Leko603+20000+10
Players transferred out during the season
6DF  ENGJoleon Lescott20200000
9FW  NGABrown Ideye1000000+10
21GK  DENAnders Lindegaard10000010
31MF  GERSerge Gnabry300+100020

Last updated: 15 May 2016
Source: Competitions

Transfers

Transfers in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef.
1 July 2015LW James McCleanWigan Athletic£1,500,000[6][7]
29 July 2015CB James ChesterHull City£8,000,000[8]
31 July 2015ST Rickie LambertLiverpool£3,000,000[9][10]
10 August 2015CF Salomón RondónZenit Saint Petersburg£12,000,000[11]
29 August 2015CB Jonny EvansManchester United£6,000,000[12][13]
31 August 2015GK Anders LindegaardManchester UnitedFree[14]

Total outgoing: £30,500,000

Transfers out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
1 July 2015RB Wes AtkinsonNotts County [a]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015DM Chris BairdDerby County [b]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015CB Donervon DanielsWigan AthleticUndisclosed[18]
1 July 2015LB Jason DavidsonHuddersfield Town [c]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015RM Graham DorransNorwich City£3,000,000[20][21]
1 July 2015LB Bradley GarmstonGillingham [d]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015MF Alex JonesBirmingham CityFree transfer[23]
1 July 2015DM Youssuf MulumbuNorwich CityFree transfer[24]
1 July 2015CM Mani O'SullivanFree AgentReleased[16]
1 July 2015AM Kemar RoofeOxford UnitedUndisclosed[25]
17 July 2015LW Georgios SamarasFree agentReleased[26]
24 August 2015DM Liam O'NeilChesterfieldUndisclosed[27]
31 August 2015CF Brown IdeyeOlympiacosUndisclosed[28]
1 September 2015CB Joleon LescottAston VillaUndisclosed[29]

Total incoming: £3,000,000

Loans in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromDate untilRef.
1 July 2015RW Serge GnabryArsenalEnd of season[30]

Loans out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToDate untilRef.
7 August 2015GK Alex PalmerKidderminster Harriers2 January 2016[31]
5 August 2015CF Andre WrightKidderminster Harriers2 January 2016[32]
7 August 2015LW Tahvon CampbellKidderminster Harriers22 October 2015[33]
28 August 2015CF Adil Nabi Delhi Dynamos29 November 2015[34]
11 September 2015CB Jack FitzwaterChesterfield9 October 2015[35]
2 January 2016LW Tahvon CampbellYeovil Town2 February 2016[36]
23 January 2016GK Anders LindegaardPreston North EndEnd of season[37]

Pre-season

On 1 May 2015, it was announced that West Bromwich Albion would face Walsall in a pre-season friendly on 28 July 2015.[38] Also announced was that West Bromwich Albion will go on tour to the United States and face Orlando City, Charleston Battery and Richmond Kickers.[39] On 12 May 2015, it was announced that a West Bromwich Albion XI side will travel to Forest Green Rovers on 28 July 2015.[40] On 7 July 2015, West Bromwich Albion announced a friendly fixture against Swindon Town.[41]

8 July 2015 (2015-07-08) Friendly Red Bull Salzburg 3–1 West Bromwich Albion Schladming, Austria
18:00 CESTDjuricin 33'
Soriano 39'
Minamino 65'
ReportNabi 67'Stadium: Athletic Arena
15 July 2015 (2015-07-15) Friendly Orlando City 3–1 West Bromwich Albion Orlando, United States
7:30 p.m. EDTKaká 45'
Rivas 49'
Rochez 87'
ReportMcManaman 14'Stadium: Citrus Bowl
Attendance: 15,172

Premier League

For the club's final home match of the season, against Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion temporarily installed 96 red seats in the away end of The Hawthorns. Each seat featured the name of one of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster and remained unoccupied throughout the match.[42]

League table

The Albion team prepares to face West Ham United at The Hawthorns.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
12Swansea City381211154252−1047
13Watford38129174050−1045
14West Bromwich Albion381013153448−1443
15Crystal Palace38119183951−1242
16Bournemouth38119184567−2242
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champion, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).[43]

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
381013153448 −14436582026 −64871422 −8

Last updated: 15 May 2016.
Source: [citation needed]

Results by matchday

Matchday1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAHAHAHAAHAHAH
ResultLDLWDWLLWWLLWDDDLLWWDLDDLWWDWLLDLLDLDD
Position201720141310151712812141313131313131312131314141414141311151111131513131514
Updated to match(es) played on 15 May 2016. Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

On 17 June 2015, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.[44]

10 August 2015 (2015-08-10) 1 West Bromwich Albion 0–3 Manchester City West Bromwich
20:00 BSTFletcher  39'
Gardner  57'
Chester  58'
Yacob  62'
ReportSilva 9'
Touré 24'
Fernandinho  51'
Kompany 59'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 24,564 (2,600 away)
Referee: Mike Dean
15 August 2015 (2015-08-15) 2 Watford 0–0 West Bromwich Albion Watford
15:00 BSTNyom  90+1'ReportOlsson  31'
Lambert  66'
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 20,011 (2,184 away)
Referee: Paul Tierney
23 August 2015 (2015-08-23) 3 West Bromwich Albion 2–3 Chelsea West Bromwich
13:30 BSTMorrison 14', 35', 59'
McClean  37'
McManaman  71'
ReportMatić  17'
Pedro 20'
Costa 30'
Azpilicueta 42'
Terry  54'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 23,256 (2,599 away)
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
29 August 2015 (2015-08-29) 4 Stoke City 0–1 West Bromwich Albion Stoke-on-Trent
15:00 BSTAfellay  25'
Adam  31'
Pieters  66'
Gardner  25'
Rondón 45+3'
McAuley  84'
Stadium: Britannia Stadium
Attendance: 26,747 (2,046 away)
Referee: Michael Oliver
12 September 2015 (2015-09-12) 5 West Bromwich Albion 0–0 Southampton West Bromwich
15:00 BSTReportStadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 24,265 (2,600 away)
Referee: Stuart Attwell
19 September 2015 (2015-09-19) 6 Aston Villa 0–1 West Bromwich Albion Birmingham
15:00 BSTReportBerahino 39'Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 36,321 (2,800 away)
Referee: Martin Atkinson
28 September 2015 7 West Bromwich Albion 2–3 Everton West Bromwich
20:00 BSTBerahino 41'
Dawson 54'
ReportLukaku 55', 84'
Koné 75'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 24,240 (2,600 away)
Referee: Robert Madley
3 October 2015 (2015-10-03) 8 Crystal Palace 2–0 West Bromwich Albion Selhurst
12:45 BSTBolasie 68'
Cabaye 89' (pen.)
ReportStadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 24,033 (1,388 away)
Referee: Jonathan Moss
17 October 2015 (2015-10-17) 9 West Bromwich Albion 1–0 Sunderland West Bromwich
15:00 BSTDawson  9'
Berahino 54'
Yacob  56'
ReportPantilimon  55'
Borini  84'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 24,225 (2,596 away)
Referee: Martin Atkinson
24 October 2015 (2015-10-24) 10 Norwich City 0–1 West Bromwich Albion Norwich
15:00 BSTHowson  22'ReportRondón 47'
Brunt  72'
McClean  78'
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 26,983
Referee: Kevin Friend
31 October 2015 (2015-10-31) 11 West Bromwich Albion 2–3 Leicester City West Bromwich
15:00 GMTRondón 30'
Lambert 84' (pen.)
ReportMahrez 57', 64'
Vardy 77'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 24,150 (2,600 away)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
7 November 2015 (2015-11-07) 12 Manchester United 2–0 West Bromwich Albion Manchester
15:00 GMTLingard 52'
Mata 90' (pen.)
ReportMcAuley  90+1'Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 75,410 (1,300 away)
Referee: Mike Dean
21 November 2015 (2015-11-21) 13 West Bromwich Albion 2–1 Arsenal West Bromwich
15:00 GMTMorrison 35'
Arteta 40' (o.g.)
ReportGiroud 28'
Cazorla 84'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 24,343 (2,598 away)
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
29 November 2015 (2015-11-29) 14 West Ham United 1–1 West Bromwich Albion London
15:00 GMTZárate 17'ReportReid 50' (o.g.)Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 34,914
Referee: Martin Atkinson
5 December 2015 (2015-12-05) 15 West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich
15:00 GMTMcClean 39',  83'
Morrison  57'
Gardner  73'
ReportAlli 15'
Kane  75'
Dembélé  81'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 23,602 (2,600 away)
Referee: Jonathan Moss
13 December 2015 (2015-12-13) 16 Liverpool 2–2 West Bromwich Albion Liverpool
16:00 GMTHenderson 21'
Origi 90'
ReportDawson 30'
Olsson 73'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,147
Referee: Craig Pawson
19 December 2015 (2015-12-19) 17 West Bromwich Albion 1–2 AFC Bournemouth West Bromwich
15:00 GMTMcClean  34'
Evans  39'
Fletcher  64'
McAuley 79'
Rondón  90'
ReportSmith 52',  90'
Daniels 87' (pen.)
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 26,127 (2,588 away)
Referee: Mike Dean
26 December 2015 (2015-12-26) 18 Swansea City 1–0 West Bromwich Albion Swansea
15:00 GMTKi 9'ReportStadium: Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 20,789
Referee: Roger East
28 December 2015 (2015-12-28) 19 West Bromwich Albion 1–0 Newcastle United West Bromwich
15:00 GMTFletcher 78'ReportStadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 26,313 (2,600 away)
Referee: Mike Jones
2 January 2016 (2016-01-02) 20 West Bromwich Albion 2–1 Stoke City West Bromwich
15:00 GMTSessègnon 60'
Evans 90+2'
ReportWalters 81'
Cameron  83'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 23,218 (2,600 away)
Referee: Lee Mason
13 January 2016 (2016-01-13) 21 Chelsea 2–2 West Bromwich Albion London
19:45 GMTAzpilicueta 20'
McAuley 73' (o.g.)
ReportGardner 33'
McClean 86'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 40,945 (849 away)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
16 January 2016 22 Southampton 3–0 West Bromwich Albion Southampton
15:00 GMTWard-Prowse 5', 35' (pen.)
Tadić 72'
ReportStadium: St Mary's Stadium
Attendance: 29,622 (1,553 away)
Referee: Martin Atkinson
23 January 2016 (2016-01-23) 23 West Bromwich Albion 0–0 Aston Villa West Bromwich
15:00 GMTReportRichards  41'Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 26,165 (2,600 away)
Referee: Robert Madley
2 February 2016 (2016-02-02) 24 West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Swansea City West Bromwich
20:00 GMTRondón 90+2'ReportSigurðsson 64'Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 22,062 (1,396 away)
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
6 February 2016 (2016-02-06) 25 Newcastle United 1–0 West Bromwich Albion Newcastle upon Tyne
15:00 GMTMitrović 32'ReportMcAuley  47'
Chester  63'
Olsson  83'
Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 50,152 (1,531 away)
Referee: Lee Mason
13 February 2016 (2016-02-13) 26 Everton 0–1 West Bromwich Albion Liverpool
15:00 GMTBarry  64'ReportRondón 14'
Fletcher  51'
McClean  51'
Foster  75'
Brunt  83'
Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 38,103 (1,610 away)
Referee: Michael Oliver
27 February 2016 (2016-02-27) 27 West Bromwich Albion 3–2 Crystal Palace West Bromwich
17:30 GMTGardner 12'
Dawson  17', 20'
Berahino 31'
Chester  78'
ReportAdebayor  25'
Wickham 48', 80'
Cabaye  64'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 24,806 (1,989 away)
Referee: Jonathan Moss
1 March 2016 (2016-03-01) 28 Leicester City 2–2 West Bromwich Albion Leicester
19:45 GMTDrinkwater 30'
King 45+1'
ReportRondón 11'
Sessègnon  32'
Gardner 50'
Yacob  88'
Stadium: King Power Stadium
Attendance: 32,018 (2,000 away)
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
6 March 2016 (2016-03-06) 29 West Bromwich Albion 1–0 Manchester United West Bromwich
16:00 GMTOlsson  58'
Rondón 66'
ReportMata  23'   26'Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 24,878 (2,600 away)
Referee: Mike Dean
21 April 2016 (2016-04-21) 30 Arsenal 2–0 West Bromwich Albion Holloway, London
19:45 BSTSánchez 6', 38'ReportMcAuley  41'Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Attendance: 59,568 (1,023 away)
Referee: Jonathan Moss
19 March 2016 (2016-03-19) 31 West Bromwich Albion 0–1 Norwich City West Bromwich
15:00 GMTMcAuley  90'ReportBrady 50'
Odjidja-Ofoe  81'
Howson  90+5'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 25,039 (2,524 away)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
2 April 2016 (2016-04-02) 32 Sunderland 0–0 West Bromwich Albion Sunderland
15:00 GMTReportStadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 45,144 (1,752 away)
Referee: Roger East
9 April 2016 (2016-04-09) 33 Manchester City 2–1 West Bromwich Albion Manchester
17:30 BSTAgüero 19' (pen.)
Nasri 66'
ReportSessègnon 6'
Gardner  33'
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Attendance: 53,920 (843 away)
Referee: Mike Jones
16 April 2016 (2016-04-16) 34 West Bromwich Albion 0–1 Watford West Bromwich
15:00 BSTBerahino 68' 87'ReportWatson 27'
Britos  32'
Gomes  67'
Deeney  86'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 25,515 (2,583 away)
Referee: Michael Oliver
25 April 2016 (2016-04-25) 35 Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 West Bromwich Albion London
20:00 BSTDawson 33' (o.g.)BBC ReportEvans  60'
Dawson 73'
Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 35,923
Referee: Mike Jones
30 April 2016 (2016-04-30) 36 West Bromwich Albion 0–3 West Ham United West Bromwich
16:00 BSTReportKouyaté 34'
Noble 45+2', 79'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 25,031 (2,599 away)
Referee: Lee Mason
7 May 2016 37 Bournemouth 1–1 West Bromwich Albion Bournemouth
15:00 BSTElphick  42'
Arter  70'
Ritchie 82'
ReportRondón 15'
Gardner 27'
Evans  62'
Yacob  63'
Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 11,040 (1,250 away)
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
15 May 2016 38 West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Liverpool West Bromwich
15:00 BSTRondón 13'
McClean  45+2'
Roberts  74'
Evans  87'
ReportIbe 23'
Smith  40'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 26,196 (2,596 away)
Referee: Bobby Madley

Cup competitions

FA Cup

9 January 2016 (2016-01-09) Round 3 West Bromwich Albion 2–2 Bristol City West Bromwich
15:00 GMTMorrison  42', 90+5'
Berahino 67'
ReportWilbraham  45+2'
Baker  72'
Kodjia 74',  75'
Agard 83'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 24,917 (5,183 away)
Referee: Graham Scott (referee)
19 January 2016 (2016-01-19) Round 3 Bristol City 0–1 West Bromwich Albion Bristol
19:45 GMTReportYacob  45+2'
Rondón 52'
Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 15,185 (1,450 away)
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Note: replay
30 January 2016 (2016-01-30) Round 4 West Bromwich Albion 2–2 Peterborough United West Bromwich
15:00 GMTBerahino 14', 84'
McClean  67'
ReportCoulthirst 79'
Smith  83'
Angol  84'
Taylor 86'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 22,517 (4,023 away)
Referee: Kevin Friend
20 February 2016 Fifth Round Reading 3–1 West Bromwich Albion Reading
15:00 GMT (UTC)McShane 59'
Hector 72'
Piazon 90+4'
BBCFletcher 54'
Evans  87'
Stadium: Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 19,566 (3,686 away)
Referee: Anthony Taylor

League Cup

West Bromwich Albion enter in the second round and were drawn at home against Port Vale.[45] The third round draw was made on 25 August 2015 live on Sky Sports by Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson. West Brom were drawn away to Norwich City.[46]

25 August 2015 (2015-08-25) Second round West Bromwich Albion 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)
Port Vale West Bromwich
19:45 BSTReportStadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 13,915 (2,592 away)
Penalties
Lambert
Yacob
McManaman
Fletcher
Chester
Leitch-Smith
Duffy
Purkiss
Foley
23 September 2015 (2015-09-23) Third round Norwich City 3–0 West Bromwich Albion Norwich
19:45 BSTJarvis 62'
Lafferty 85'
Pocognoli 90' (o.g.)
ReportStadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 19,015 (710 away)
Referee: Craig Pawson

Notes

References