News

A season like no other: A year of breaking records

We set several new records in the Premier League campaign.

By Bruce Talbot • 24 May 2022

By Paul Hazlewood
Albion rounded off the campaign with a terrific 3-1 win over West Ham.

The best season in Albion’s history has ended with several new records set.

Sunday’s 3-1 win over West Ham meant we finished in ninth place in their fifth season in the top-flight, beating our previous record of 13th in the old First Division in 1981-82. During the campaign we were never lower than 13th.

Although Albion finished that season 40 years ago with 52 points compared to 51 this season, that tally came from 42 games. So our points per game of 1.34 this season is also a new record (compared to 1.23 in 81/82).

When Pascal Gross made it 2-1 against the Hammers it took us to 40 goals, a new Premier League record which Danny Welbeck embellished with a third late on.

By Paul Hazlewood
Pascal Gross scored our 40th Premier League goal against West Ham, a new club top-flight record., a

It sealed our 12th victory of the season, eclipsing our previous best in four seasons at this level of nine. Consecutive wins have been achieved four times - against Burnley and Watford in the opening two games, Brentford and Leicester in September, Arsenal and Tottenham in April and Wolves and Manchester United in April and May.

Graham Potter said there had been a ‘re-set’ during the last international break and so it proved. In our last eight games we picked up 16 points and only lost once, to eventual champions Manchester City. Only City and Aston Villa did the double over us while Albion beat Brentford and Watford twice.

Albion only lost 11 games, another record. The previous best season defensively saw 15 defeats in 2018/19 while Rob Sanchez and the defence kept 11 clean sheets, another new mark in the Premier League.

Away from home we set another best with seven victories. That’s two more than our previous best on the road, while in 19 games we only lost four times. Albion didn’t lose any of their matches in London and fans will remember those back-to-back wins at Arsenal and Spurs for years to come.

But we also won at Everton, who have beaten Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal at Goodison, and Brentford, where both the Gunners and West Ham lost. And don’t forget those draws at Liverpool and Chelsea as well in a standout season on the road. Albion finished fifth in the away table, with 29 points.

And finally, some more stats and how Albion performed compared to other clubs: Touches 26,153 (5th); Passes 18,835 (6th); Shots 489 (7th); Hit woodwork 12 (9th); Tackles 668 (5th).