TEAM NEWSWest Brom will assess Claudio Yacob and Marc-Antoine Fortune, both of whom have been sidelined recently because of hamstring injuries.Shane Long is doubtful with a dead leg and Steven Reid is ruled out, but Chris Brunt has recovered from illness.Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar could start his first game since suffering a calf injury in November.Joe Bennett is fit again but Darren Bent (knee) is doubtful, while Chris Herd and Marc Albrighton are ruled out.MATCH PREVIEWFirstly, I just hope that this game beats the weather to go ahead, because it's being played on the perfect date: 19 January marks 124 years to the day of Albion and Villa playing each other in the league for the first time in the inaugural season of the Football League. What a shame that neither founder member is particularly in the mood to celebrate anything much at all at the moment.West Brom's FA Cup defeat by QPR on Tuesday was a fifth game without a win. A run of six defeats in their last nine in the league, including losing their last three, means a colder feel to the air at The Hawthorns when compared to early season and the club's best ever start to a Premier League campaign.They shouldn't have lost last Saturday of course. With a 2-0 lead and fewer than nine minutes of the 90 to go, defeat at Reading seemed unthinkable.Steve Clarke admitted to feeling "shell-shocked" afterwards and he looked it too. Now his team must give him a response against another side fighting to preserve their Premier League skins.Aston Villa's recent story is even more woeful, and it's getting harder to find reasons to back them to stay up.When they were struggling early on in the season I thought I'd seen enough from their young team to suggest that the (very) green shoots of recovery weren't far away, but until they stop conceding, start scoring again and generally just wise up, they're in deep trouble.The '12 goals of Christmas' conceded to Chelsea and Tottenham clearly hit confidence hard, but I think that Bradford's third goal in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg might have a bigger impact on their fight - or appetite for one.Turning that tie around on Tuesday could give the team the boost it desperately needs. Going into it off the back of a win in the West Midlands' oldest derby wouldn't half help too.MATCH FACTSHead-to-head West Brom are unbeaten in their last four games against Aston Villa. They have won two of those matches, with the last two ending in draws. Prior to that run, Villa were unbeaten against the Baggies in 17 league and cup games, a sequence that lasted 26 years.West Bromwich Albion The Baggies have lost six and won just two of their last nine Premier League games. West Brom have lost their last three top-flight matches. Defeat on Saturday would represent their longest losing run since a sequence of five successive losses between December 2010 and January 2011. Romelu Lukaku has scored seven goals in the eight Premier League matches he has started for West Brom, failing to net only twice.Aston Villa Villa's tally of 19 points is the lowest they have ever collected from their opening 22 Premier League matches. They have won five of their last 38 league matches (W5, D15, L18), and two of 19 away from home (W2, D7, L10). Villa have conceded six penalties this season, the joint-highest figure in the top flight (along with Wigan). Paul Lambert's men have failed to score in seven of their last 11 Premier League matches.
QuoteFirstly, I just hope that this game beats the weather to go ahead, because it's being played on the perfect date: 19 January marks 124 years to the day of Albion and Villa playing each other in the league for the first time in the inaugural season of the Football League.
Firstly, I just hope that this game beats the weather to go ahead, because it's being played on the perfect date: 19 January marks 124 years to the day of Albion and Villa playing each other in the league for the first time in the inaugural season of the Football League.
I think we just need to go with a normal formation of 4-4-2. This makes it easier for the players to know what they're supposed to be doing.GuzanLowton Vlaar Baker BennettGabby Westwood Clark N'ZogbiaBenteke Weimann (or Bent if fit)
I no longer have any fear of death. But I am in a pretty lonely place. No-one will have sex with me
If Bent is fit I'd have him in the team, Lambert needs to ditch his daft ideas and we need goals.
What's the best away pub to aim for today folks?
Quote from: damon green on January 19, 2013, 11:51:47 AMI no longer have any fear of death. But I am in a pretty lonely place. No-one will have sex with meYou must be in Coventry Damon.
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Topic: West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread (Read 81139 times)
