Peter O’Sullivan has an admission to make about his landmark goal which silenced the Hawthorns.

The reluctant wideman let fly with his left foot to secure an unlikely 2-2 draw at West Bromwich in the early weeks of the 1979-80 season and give Albion their first ever away point in the top flight.

His 87th-minute strike came just four minutes after Malcom Poskett had headed home a Peter Ward cross to put the Seagulls back in the contest.

Alan Mullery’s newly-promoted side had previously lost at Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham.

O’Sullivan, pictured, does not have as vivid a recollection of long-gone matches as some of his former team-mates but this one struck a chord.

He said: “We came from 2-0 down. I remember my goal. I had it on the edge of the box.

“I pinged it left-footed and it deflected in off John Wiles’ backside.

“John was their big old-fashioned centre-back and it went in off his a***.

“But it was still a great goal!

“I was playing a bit infield that day. I remember that because I kept bumping into Bryan Robson in midfield, which wasn’t very nice!”

Albion also owed their point to goalkeeper Eric Steele, one of whose many saves was likened to Gordon Banks’ famous effort from Pele in one report.

West Brom were one of the best, most stylish sides in the country in the mid-to-late 1970s.

But they had got off to a sluggish start to this, their centenary season, and were two points below the Seagulls.

A few days later, they crashed out of the UEFA Cup at home to Carl Zeiss Jena.

But this was a good point for Albion and the only one they secured in their first seven away games at the top level.

O’Sullivan said: “It was very hard to get away points because we were new to the division and they were established teams.

“Look at West Brom – Robbo, Peter Barnes, Gary Owen, Len Cantello. Brendan Batson and Derek Statham at full-back.

“They were a very good side.”

Albion: Steele; Gregory, Foster, Stevens, Williams; O’Sullivan, Horton, Clark (Ryan), Sayer; Poskett, Ward.