Slovenia - Equaliser, what equaliser?

EUROPOP can only mean one thing - it's pre-season time.

And NK Nafta's stadium in Lendava didn't disappoint with classics of the pop world - Duran Duran for instance - belting out alongside Slovenian 80s' soft rock before yesterday's game.

Even the Liquidator got played. Twice. Good enough for Slovenia, but offensive at the Hawthorns. Work that one out.

Chris Hall, of Albion World, was busy losing track of the goals during the game.
A Sinisa Jankovic first-half volley sailed just wide of Dean Kiely's goal, bounced off the hoardings and rolled onto the net when Albion were leading 1-0.

Chris couldn't help but praise Nafta's equaliser at half-time. But we should let him off really - he was watching the game as he filmed it. But even so Chris...

Luckily Birmingham Mail snapper Tim Easthope was on the ball.

Spotting Jonas Olsson running into the box as Albion prepared to take a corner, Tim raced over to behind the far post just as the Baggies defender headed it into the bottom corner directly in front of Tim.

And didn't we all know about it afterwards. Yes, Tim, it's a great photo...And, yes, Jonas did tell Tim 'it's the best picture I've ever seen' (probably while rolling his eyes and sighing).

Yesterday's game threw up more stories of incredible commitment from Albion supporters.

The turn-out of around 65 included Ian Smallman, a 59-year-old Black Country man.

He motorcycled through France, Italy and Switzerland before finally heading down to Slovenia.

That takes some doing and Ian admitted that as he entered Slovenia he thought to himself 'why exactly am I doing this?'

Isn't that the one of the wonderful complexities of being a football fan.

*Sadly, the game was over-shadowed by the latest news on John Hartson's illness.

The ex-Welsh striker was with Albion when the club last visited Slovenia two years ago and provided some of the more memorable light-hearted moments of that tour.

Staff, players and fans have been saddened by his news. The Birmingham Mail wishes him all the best.

Today (Wednesday) also marked the 20th anniversary of Laurie Cunningham's death. He might have only spent two seasons at Albion, but there are few held with more affection than Cunningham.