Yet to begin with at least, the new manager struggled to get results. West Brom’s first game after his appointment was a 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool. This was followed by a second single-goal reversal at Middlesbrough on a frigid January afternoon and beneath a leaden north-east sky. If nothing else, the Middlesbrough encounter gave Atkinson a proper insight into the complicated character of his most mercurial player. Prior to leaving the West Midlands on the morning of the game, he’d berated Cunningham, Regis and goalkeeper Tony Godden for failing to turn up for the trip in a shirt and tie. Cunningham brooded on the long bus journey up to Middlesbrough, confiding to Godden that this was going to be one of those days when he was incapable of rousing himself to play.
He was as good as his word, being a spectral presence during the first 45 minutes of the match. Hugging tight to the touchline, he appeared unconnected to or unconcerned with what was going on elsewhere on the pitch. Not that much was happening, since the match was proving as drab and unappealing as the winter gloom. When the players trooped into the dressing room at half-time, Atkinson at once set about trying to goad them to action. Cunningham’s sour expression pulled him up short.
‘Listen, son,’ Atkinson told him, voice laced with sarcasm, ‘if you don’t fancy going out for the second half, get yourself in the bath.’ Cunningham responded, ‘Okay, boss.’ Then he stood up, stripped off and promptly disappeared to the showers.'
Guess the above is what is known as poetic licence as Laurie didn't get subbed at half time at Boro, he played the full 90 mins.
