What must Colin Calderwood be thinking?

The Scot abruptly abandoned Albion and Chris Hughton as his No.2 in November to team up with Steve Bruce at Aston Villa.

His appointment was confirmed days after Villa drew at the Amex. They were 13 points adrift of the Seagulls then but only four points off the play-offs, with more than half of the season left.

Calderwood's hopes would have been high. Now Albion head to Villa Park fighting to be crowned champions. Villa are 31 points behind and fighting to finish 11th.

The Argus: Calderwood has not been missed. Hughton has managed without him, helped by his replacement, Paul Trollope (above), an unsung hero of Albion's promotion together with coach Paul Nevin.

 

The Villa visit falls exactly a year after the promotion heartache Hughton's Albion suffered at Middlesbrough, where post-match interviews were conducted in a corridor as crestfallen and tearful players passed by on their way to the coach.

Even if they miss out on the title under the nose of Calderwood, the pain will be negligible by comparison.