West Brom Preston Team Sheet
Yet again Di Matteo is forced to make changes to a winning team, having not played the same team twice for the last 2 months almost.
Ishmael Miller starts up front as a replacement for Luke Moore in the lone striker position. Moore drops to the bench, Gianni Zuiverloon replaces injured Jonas Olsson.
Jerome Thomas has recovered, however, only makes the bench.
Preston make two changes, with former Baggie Richard Chaplow and Michael Hart coming in for Billy Jones and Paul Coutts.
ALBION (4-5-1): Carson; Zuiverloon, Meite, Tamas, Cech; Koren, Watson, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Brunt; Miller. Subs: Kiely (gk), Thomas, Barnes, Cox, Mattock, Moore, Morrison.
PRESTON: Lonergan, Hart, Davidson, St Ledger, Chilvers, Sedgwick, Chaplow, James, Wallace, Brown, Mellor. Subs: Henderson (gk), Collins, Treacy, Carter, Parkin, Barton, Miller.
REFEREE: J Singh (Middlesex).
Categories: Team News Tags: baggie, barton miller, cech, chilvers, coutts, ishmael, james wallace, jerome thomas, Koren, lonergan, Luke moore, mattock, mellor, michael hart, parkin, richard chaplow, st ledger, thomas barnes, wallace brown, west brom
Swansea West Brom team news
Luke Moore returns tonight for the trip to Swansea and is joined by Ben Watson and Abdoulaye Meite as new faces to the team compared to last Saturdays home victory over Blackpool.
Luke Moore has recovered from flu as we mentioned earlier today and will start up front on his own, Miller ends up on the bench as a recovered substitute after his first start Saturday for over 15 months.
Meite replaces the injured Steven Reid, Gabriel Tamas will move over to right back and Ben Watson replaces Morrison who drops to the bench. Gianni Zuiverloon makes the subs bench but there is no place for the injured Roman Bednar and Jerome Thomas.
SWANSEA (4-5-1): De Vries; Rangel, Tate, Williams, Monk; Dyer, van der Gun, Britton, Pratley, Gower; Kuqi. Subs: Cornell (gk), Richards, Cotterill, Pintado, Beattie, Bauza, Trundle.
ALBION (4-5-1): Carson; Tamas, Meite, Olsson, Cech; Koren, Watson, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Brunt; Moore. Subs: Kiely (gk), Morrison, Miller, Cox, Barnes, Mattock, Zuiverloon.
REFEREE: R East (Wiltshire).
Categories: Team News Tags: 15 months, bauza, beattie, brunt, cech, cotterill, gabriel tamas, jerome thomas, Koren, kuqi, Luke moore, mattock, pratley, rangel, Roman Bednar, tate williams, trundle, west brom
Albion Blackpool teams, Miller starts
Ishmael Miller gets his first start in over 15 months this afternoon against the Tangerines.
Di Matteo makes 2 chamges to the winning midweek team. After a superb goal midweek it is no surprise that the other addition to the starting lineup is Robert Koren who replaces the injured Jerome Thomas.
Luke Moore is the man replaced by Miller, he is ill and not on the bench, however, a nearly fit again Bednar is on the bench.
Ian Holloway names an unchanged Tangerines side to the one that beat Ipswich 1-0 a week ago.
ALBION (4-5-1): Carson; S Reid, Tamas, Olsson, Cech; Koren, Morrison, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Brunt; Miller. Subs: Kiely (gk), Mattock, Bednar, Watson, Cox, Meite, Barnes.
BLACKPOOL (4-4-2): Gilks; Edwards, Baptiste, Eardley, Martin; Southern, Adam, Vaughan, Dobbie; Campbell, Euell. Subs: Rachubka (gk), Clarke, Burgess, Ormerod, Butler, Bannan, Husband.
REFEREE: J Moss (West Yorkshire).
Categories: Team News Tags: adam vaughan, bannan, blackpool, brunt, cech, dobbie, eardley, ishmael, j moss, jerome thomas, Luke moore, mattock, ormerod, robert koren, starting lineup, tamas, tangerines
West Brom Sheffield Wednesday Team news, Barnes on bench.
Lke Moore is back in the starting line up as two changes are made by Albion.
Graham Dorrans is the second returning player, with Ben Watson heading to the bench as well as the recovered Simon Cox.
Steven Reid keeps his place to make his home debut and Giles Barnes makes the bench too. He could well make his first senior appearance tonight. Joe Mattock drops off the bench for a total rest.
Ex Albion player Darren Purse is the team captain for the opposition tonight.
ALBION (4-5-1): Carson; S Reid, Tamas, Olsson, Cech; Brunt, Morrison, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Thomas; Moore. Subs: Kiely (gk), Meite, Koren, I Miller, Watson, Cox, Barnes.
SHEFFIELD WED (4-4-2): Grant; Spurr, Purse, Beevers, Nolan; Johnson, Potter, O’Connor, T Miller; Varney, Clarke. Subs: O’Donnell (gk), Hinds, McAllister, Jeffers, Simek, Soares, Gray.
REFEREE: S Mathieson (Cheshire).
Categories: Team News Tags: baggies, brunt, cech, home debut, jeffers, lke, match news, mathieson, mattock, mcallister, nolan johnson, o connor, owls, sheffield wednesday, simek, simon cox, soares, thomas moore, varney, west brom, west brom sheffield wednesday
Morrison, Reid, Mulumbu and Cox in Albion QPR starting lineup
Morrison makes his first start for over 10 months today at QPR. Albion boss Di Matteo makes 4 changes to the team that beat Derby Last week.
Steven Reid comes straight in after joining on loan mid week, he gets the right back position.
Youssouf Mulumbu and Simon Cox return to the team and Ben Watson plays against his old team mates.
Abdoulaye Meite, Robert Koren and Graham Dorrans, who all played 90 minutes for their respective countries in midweek, and Luke Moore are the guys that drop to the bench.
Ishmael Miller is among the substitutes but there is no place for Giles Barnes.
Ex-Baggies loan signing Jay Simpson starts in attack for Rangers.
QPR (4-4-2): Ikeme; Connolly, Stewart, Gorkss, Hill; Leigertwood, Taarabt, Ephraim, Faurlin; Priskin, Simpson. Subs: Cerny (gk), Ramage, Vine, Buzsaky, Balanta, Borrowdale, German.
ALBION (4-5-1): Carson; Reid, Tamas, Olsson, Cech; Brunt, Mulumbu, Morrison, Watson, Thomas; Cox. Subs: Kiely (gk), Koren, Dorrans, Meite, Mattock, Moore, Miller.
REFEREE: S Attwell (Warwickshire).
Categories: Team News Tags: albion, attwell, baggies, balanta, borrowdale, brunt, carson reid, cech, jay simpson, Luke moore, mattock, qpr, robert koren, simon cox, starting lineup, tamas, team mates, thomas cox
West Brom Scunthorpe Preview
West Brom will be aiming to keep up the pressure on Newcastle the Championship leaders and fight of Notts Forest who are hot on their tails for the 2nd auto promotion spot to the Premiership.
The Iron come to the Hawthorns at a time when the Albion have found their form both at home and away at long last. Scunthorpe will still be smarting from the late Crystal Palace winner on Saturday, after making a break from the risky bottom of the table with 2 wins before that game. Nigel Adkins this morning confirmed that he will be without Marcus Williams and Garry Thompson for tonights game at the Hawthorns.
Left-back Williams is banned for 1 game after the sending off at Palace on Saturday, when he committed a professional foul on Kieron Djilali. Williams has a hamstring injury and will not be available for a few weeks.
West Brom will probably give fresh in the door loan signee Frank Nouble his debut in place of the 4 match banned Jerome Thomas. His arrival is designed to combat the loss of Ishmael Miller, however, he is equally capable of playing an attacking midfield position or as a winger on either side too. Andy Slory is also competing for his first start on the wing too, so it could be a toss up between the ex Feyenoord player and the ex West Ham player. It is doubtful that both will get a starting place, however, very likely that one will be on the bench and one on the pitch at the start.
Marek Cech is ruled out once again with the hamstring injury that will see him miss at least another week and a half. Jonas Olsson, Gonzalo Jara and Robert Koren will all be pressing for a recall and whilst missing at Plymouth will be in contention, as Di Matteo will likely ring changes due to the stack up of games this month.
The ever present Roman Bednar may well be a casualty tonight down to the same issue of fitness levels befa;
lling the whole team and the club have stressed how they do not want to burn out 22 year old Graham Dorran’s too.
Giles Barnes and James Morrison are both long term injury concerns and unlikely to be available until April at the earliest.
Tonight’s betting news is as you would expect favouring the Baggies and the only way to make a killing will be to choose a scorer or even a scorer and Albion win.
A Roman Bednar first goal in a 3 to nil win see’s a return of £280 for a tenner. You can get any tenner bet matched with a free tenner bet if you sign up with Sky Bet through West Brom Blog, meaning that your £10 would return £560 instead of £280, what better time than to take your free tenner bet with Sky Bet than today.
Sky are offering 2/5 for an Albion win, 10/3 on a draw and 15/2 on an unlikely Scunthorpe victory.
Categories: Match Previews Tags: cech, crystal palace, gonzalo, hawthorns, ishmael, james morrison, jerome thomas, kieron, marcus williams, notts forest, robert koren, Roman Bednar, scunthorpe, west brom, winger
More team changes to come for Scunthorpe game.
Marek Cech with an injured hamstring and Ishmael Miller who is suffering an injured ankle will both be missing from the Albion lineup for roughly 2 weeks, ruling them out for the Scunthorpe game immediately.
Jerome Thomas begins a four match ban against Scunthorpe, this is due to a second straight red card this season. Both came late in there respective games and seem rather annoying to say the least.
So the Albion will be ringing the changes yet again this coming Tuesday, the 2nd time after a run of games where the team remained the same. The lone striker up front formation will likely continue, however, we may see changes in the midfield and defence. A defence that seemed to be at sixes and eights quite often Saturday afternoon at Home Park, one that seems to be made up of decent stock, however, disjointed by the fact that they are not quite jelled as a unit.
This is all of course on top of the fact that the Albion are to play their third game in a week this coming Tuesday evening at home to Scunthorpe and in need of resting some and recalling others who were rested Saturday.
Categories: Team News Tags: albion, cech, home park, ishmael, jerome thomas, plymouth, tuesday evening
Plymouth Albion team sheet
Di Matteo names 4 new faces on the team sheet, the first change for 6 games.
Abdoulaye Meite replaces Jonas Olsson to join Gabriel Tamas in the Baggies defence.
Gonzalo Jara joins Olsson as a sub and Gianni Zuiverloon is recalled at right back.
Marek Cech is replaced by Joe Mattock at left-back.
Simon Cox replaces Robert Koren, who becomes a sub.
17 year old youth team midfielder George Thorne is on the bench.
PLYMOUTH (4-4-2): Stockdale; Duguid, Arnason, R Johnson, Sawyer; Clark, Fletcher, D Johnson, Judge; Mackie, Fallon. Subs: Larrieu (gk), Wright-Phillips, Barker, McNamee, Noone, Summerfield, Cooper.
ALBION (4-5-1): Carson; Zuiverloon, Tamas, Meite, Mattock; Brunt, Cox, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Thomas; Bednar. Subs: Kiely (gk), Jara, Olsson, Koren, Moore, Slory, Thorne.
REFEREE: S Tanner (Somerset).
Categories: Latest News, Team News Tags: albion, arnason, baggies, bednar, brunt, cech, d johnson, di matteo, fallon, gabriel tamas, mackie, mattock, mcnamee, plymouth albion, r johnson, robert koren, simon cox, summerfield, thorne, WBA FC
Plymouth Albion team news – Youth on bench
Roberto Di Matteo has this morning spoken of injuries that will effect today’s line up.
Marek Cech is not on the team sheet due to a hamstring injury picked up midweek against Blackpool.
Joe Mattock has recovered and is available for selection at Home Park so looking likely to replace Cech.
Ishmael Miller Will not be making the bench after damaging his ankle against Blackpool, bringing scary times for the youngster just back from a long term injury.
“Joe is fine now,” said the Baggies boss.
“Unfortunately Ish and Marek got injured on Wednesday and they will be missing today.
“We’re going to call-up George Thorne from the youth team so we have enough players on the bench.”
Categories: Latest News, Team News Tags: albion, Albion youth, baggies, cech, home park, ishmael, mattock, plymouth, roberto di matteo, thorne, WBA FC, west brom, west bromwich albion
Di Matteo explains last night substitutions at Blackpool
Because of the fact that the Albion have to play 3 games in 7 days Roberto Di Matteo made the substitutions that he did last night. The latter stages of a game where a player becomes tired are prone for picking up injuries.
Bednar, Thomas and Brunt all made it in for an early bath with at least 15 minutes to go and were replaced by Miller, Zuiverloon and new boy Slory. This turned out worse than expected when Miller picked up an injury as well as a penalty and hurt his ankle. Marek Cech also finished the game with a hamstring worry.
Speaking to the official club site Roberto Di Matteo explained last nights substitutions at Bloomfield road with the following comments:
“You think about the fact we’ve got three games in six days and fortunately I have players on the bench who can make an impact on the game,” said Di Matteo.
“I’m trying to make decisions in the interests of the team and trying to win.
“That’s why I took those players off and put the others on.”
The Albion chief added: “We’ll have to assess Ish and Marek.
“Ish got a knock on his ankle when he went over for the penalty.
“He was limping badly and I hope it’s not serious.
“Thankfully, it’s nothing to do with the knee injury which kept him out for so long.”
Slory almost made it a dream debut when he went close with a 63rd-minute shot that would have put the visitors 3-1 up and made it a more comfortable night.
“Andy had a very good chance and it just went a little bit wide,” said Di Matteo.
“We know he still needs to work hard to improve his conditioning.
“It’s a shame he missed because it could have been a nice debut for him.”
Categories: Latest News Tags: albion, bloomfield road, brunt, cech, roberto di matteo, wbafc
Blackpool West Brom team news
Albion name an un changed team for the fifth consecutive game tonight for the trip to Blackpool.
Joe Mattock is replaced on the bench by new signing Andy Slory and it is uncertain whether that is by choice or because he has failed to recover from sickness. Slory will most likely get a run out at some point even, if it is just to get some match practice under his belt.
Ian Holloway makes three changes to the Blackpool side that drew 1-1 with Coventry at the weekend.
Fresh in the door lloan signing DJ Campbell starts in attack along with Danny Coid and Ben Burgess who also enter the teamsheet.
They are in to replace Brett Ormerod, who is suspended, Gary Taylor-Fletcher drops to the bench and Alex Baptiste is left out altogether.
BLACKPOOL (4-4-2): Rachubka; Edwards, Coid, Crainey, Evatt; Southern, Vaughan, Bannan, Adam; Burgess, Campbell. Subs: Gilks (gk), Taylor-Fletcher, Martin, Euell, Butler, Husband, Dobbie.
ALBION (4-5-1): Carson; Jara, Tamas, Olsson, Cech; Brunt, Koren, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Thomas; Bednar. Subs: Kiely (gk), Slory, Miller, Zuiverloon, Cox, Meite, Moore.
REFEREE: D Foster (Newcastle).
Categories: Latest News, Team News Tags: adam burgess, albion, blackpool, bloomfield road, brett ormerod, cech, danny coid, dj campbell, fletcher martin, gary taylor, mattock, tangerines, west brom
Ipswich Albion – team news
West Brom name an unchanged side for the third game in a row, sticking with the team that beat Newcastle 4 2 in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.
Roy Keane rings four changes to the Ipswich team who suffered a 2 1 defeat at Southampton three days ago dumping them out of the FA Cup.
David Wright, Pablo Counago, David Norris and Jon Stead come in, with Jonathan Walters left out altogether, and Owen Garvan, Stern John and Carlos Edwards dropping to the bench.
IPSWICH (4-4-2): Lee-Barrett; Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, Leadbitter; D Wright, Norris, Peters, Colback; Counago, Stead. Subs: McLoughlin (gk), Garvan, Martin, Balkestein, Priskin, John, Edwards.
ALBION (4-5-1): Carson; Jara, Tamas, Olsson, Cech; Brunt, Koren, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Thomas; Bednar. Subs: Kiely (gk), Mattock, Zuiverloon, Martis, Teixeira, Cox, Miller.
Categories: Team News Tags: cech, ipswich, john edwards, mariners, pablo counago, portman road, roy keane, stern john, west brom
Di Matteo dismisses Cech rumours
According to the official club site, Roberto Di Matteo has dismissed claims that Marek Cech is on his way out of the Hawthorns. He has also stressed that he will be reporting Cech’s French agent to UEFA as what he has done is obviously wrong and against the rules.
Cech who played at St James Park on Monday night has also got 14 Championship games under his belt this season and seems very much part of Di Matteo’s plans.
The rumour circulated by the French agent was that the Slovakian international was set to join French top-flight outfit Rennes. Albion and Di Matteo claim this is complete fabrication and that they have had no contact with Rennes whatsoever.
Also today, Di Matteo is reportedly still looking to bolster the squad sooner rather than later. The fact that International loans are not allowed after the end of the January transfer window seems to suggest that incoming loans will be international rather than domestic loans, which are available all season. It is unlikely that any money will be spent now, so loans are very much on the agenda.
Categories: Transfer News Tags: albion, baggies, cech, french agent, hawthorns, marek, rennes, roberto di matteo, slovakian, wba
Derby Albion preview
West Brom travel to Derby looking to build a massive gap between promotion and third spot in the Championship. Albion are likely to still be sore from the Wembley defeat against Derby in the play offs final back in 2007.
Midfielder Robert Koren will be missing, starting his recovery from a hernia operation but he is expected back in training in no more than three weeks. The Slovenian international is unlikely to feature in any action this side of or during the festive season.
Left-back Joe Mattock is now back in training after missing last Saturdays win at Sheffield Wednesday with a foot injury and will now be challenging Marek Cech to regain his place in Roberto Di Matteo’s first eleven, although Cech must be feeling relaxed that his place is safe after playing such a good game.
Jerome Thomas and Filipe Teixeira are both available although the latter will need to regain a place where Thomas may well keep his place having recovered from a tight hamstring in the Yorkshire game last Saturday.
Bednar and Martis are likely to stay on the bench as they have no ill effects from the suspected flu virus they had.
Derby manager Nigel Clough expects to name an unchanged squad for the visit of second placed Albion.
DERBY COUNTY’S Rob Hulse has warned former club West Brom: We don’t fear anyone at home.
The in-form striker, 30, today faces the promotion-chasing Baggies at Pride Park, where Derby have won their last two matches.
Hulse, who has been linked with a January move to Wolves, scored the winner in both games as Derby came from behind to beat Coventry and Reading.
He said: “We are a lot better at home and, on our day, have no one to be scared of in this division.
“We’re under no illusions because it’s a tough game but we will have a good go at them.”
Categories: Match Previews Tags: albion, baggies, bednar, cech, derby county, festive season, filipe teixeira, flu virus, foot injury, good game, hernia operation, ill effects, jerome thomas, martis, mattock, nigel clough, play offs, pride park, rob hulse, robert koren, roberto di matteo, sheffield wednesday, unchanged squad, west brom, yorkshire game
4-4-1-1 sees a return for Meite and Koren too
Robbie has changed formation and recalled both Koren and Meite in an attempt to turn the tide at the Ricoh this afternoon.
The surprise is Cech dropping to the bench, however, with Meite replacing him.
Lone striker Luke Moore will be supported by Dorrans sitting just off him!
Bednar misses a second game, still unfit from his back injury.
COVENTRY (4-4-2): Westwood, Wright, Cranie, Turner, Aanholt, Clarke, Cork, Osbourne, McIndoe, Eastwood, Morrison. Subs: Dimi, Bell, Hussey, Ward, Madine, Grandison, Cain.
ALBION (4-4-1-1): Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Mattock, Thomas, Mulumbu, Jara, Koren, Dorrans, Moore. Subs: Kiely, Reid, Teixeira, Cox, Martis, Cech, Wood.
Ref: K Stroud (Hants).
Categories: Latest News, Match Previews Tags: albion, back injury, bednar, cech, cork, coventry, cox, eastwood, grandison, hants, hussey, Koren, Luke moore, madine, martis, mattock, mcindoe, ricoh, second game, striker, stroud, teixeira, westwood
Baggies Swansea live 60 second updates
A bright start by both with early chances for both teams, Swansea having the better of the two chances in the first minute.
Zuiverloon has been shown as showing a few weaknesses in the opening 5 minutes or so and been subject to a talking to by the 4th official for some reason too.
Swanseas Dyer smashes a shot well over on 5 minutes. Dyer now breaks down the right at some good pace putting the Albion under pressure by beating mattock, however, Mulumbu was on hand to force a goal kick.
Dorrans takes a shot that is close after some good pace shown by the Scottish Youngster, however, it is weak and off target.
Albion have a freekick on 12 minutes with Cech looking to beat the wall, however, Dorrans surprises everyone by taking the kick and blasting well over again.
Counter attack by Swansea sees Beattie forcing Scott Carson to give away a throw in.
Zuiverloon feeds Moore who makes very little of it and returns to Zuiverloon who loses it allowing another counter attack.
Dyer runs at Mattocks again, however Mattocks is up for it this time and clears.
Painter feeds a few attacks down the line and seems to have the better of the Albion.
Cech gets caught offside on the touchline in the 18th minute, surely he should be able to gauge that better?
Young Criss Woods is not holding the ball up too well and drops Zuiverloon in to trouble forcing him to give away a cheap free kick.
Thomas feeds Moore, who again loses the ball giving Swansea another break which culminates in an offside on the edge of the box.
Thomas is felled in the area on 20 minutes, however, Mr D’Urso waves away the claims to what looked like a certain penalty.
Van Der Gun is found in the box, however, forced out by Olsson and Albion win a throw in.
Painter feeds Beattie down the left who returns it to Painter, then back to Gower and back to the keeper.
An open game so far and chances at both ends, however, Albion have the better chances but cannot capitalise on them.
Zuiverloon takes a throw in 20 yards in to the Swansea half and the ball bounces around a few players before Dorrans ends up in a shooting position that he fluffs once again.
Gower and Dyer swop wings to add a bit of confusion to the Albion on 25 minutes.
Albion need a goal to settle themselves, however, Swansea are not giving in just yet.
Thomas with a freekick 20 yards out and again it is wasted, not even on target.
Swansea come back on to the attack led by Gower, however, a hand ball is allowed when Thomas takes the ball and breaks. He gives the ball away soon after.
Zuiverloon takes a throw in 2 thirds into the Swansea half, which is then run out for a further throw in. Zuiverloon takes it, it gets passed back and he tries to attack the goal but is beaten to the ball.
Carson takes a goal kick and passes straight to Woods who chests it down, however, is deemed to have fouled. Swansea attack from the freekick, pass down the right wing to Dyer, who sends it in along the touch line to Beattie who forces a tremendous save from Carson.
Bomber Brown reckons Albion are flat tonight and need to come to life or may suffer.
Mulumbu to Dorrans, to Mattock back to Dorrans who tries to thread it through to moore without sucess. Swansea counter.
Jara sends ball through to woods, who seems bereft of an idea of what to do with it.
33 minutes see Di Matteo having an unusual moan at the 4th official.
Albion attack once again and Wood has an easy chance from 6 yards, however, puts it over the bar.
Dorrans and Mulumbu play well together and pass the ball back and forth before Marcus Painter takes Thomas out when he gets the ball and painter see’s the yellow card.
Albion seem top heavy on the right hand side and need to force some issues on the left.
Zuiveloon gets a great touch to stop a certian Swansea chance by giving away a left hand corner at the brummie rd end.
The corner is intercepted by Luke Moore who forces a terrific save from Carson with probably the best shot he has made this season. Shame it was the wrong direction, however, good job it was saved so well.
Beattie is really up for it tonight, playing much better than he ever played for the Albion.
Gower passes through to Van Der Gunn leaving Albion in all sorts of trouble, however, Van Der Gunn puts it well wide when he had just an open goal to beat.
Albion get out of jail there.
Woods again shows hi age and inexperience with another fluffed chance.
Dyer goes down in the Albion area, however, the ref says it was too easy and waves play on.
Jara relieves Beattie of the ball and passes on to Dorrans who plays a 1 2 with Mulumbu, however, sloppily they lose the ball.
Gower flys down the right to be met by Olsson and beats him, however, Zuiverloon clears.
Albion are giving the ball away too easy.
Painter on the outside plays the ball back to defence, they pass it around on 44 minutes before making an attack and claim a corner.
Gower takes the corner and Williams forces a punched clearance.
1 minute to be added on
A long ball forward to Moore sees him try to hook the keeper placing it just wide.
Beattie runs down the right with the ball as the ref blows for half time.
Lets hope the Baggies come out with a little more venom in the 2nd half.
No changes for the second half so far, although no sign of Koren and Teixiera is doing some stretches.
Moore and Cech are still not out and news that Newcastle are losing should give albion a boost.
Teixiera and Koren replace Cech and Moore.
Koren is playing off Woods, and immediatelly sends Wood on the attack but he is easily dispossesed.
Thomas runs hard at the Swans but runs into a brickwall winning a free kick.
Thomas takes freekick putting it straight in to the box to be cleared by beattie.
Albion again get theball in thebox only for Williams to clear it.
Dorrans picks up a loose ball passing it back to carson.
Carson sends the ball out to Jara on to Mattocks then thomas and given away.
Albion look more up for it now and in control.
Dorrans gets caught in possession in the swansea half and a swansea counter is snubbed out by Jara.
Koren goes on the march, however, runs in to trouble.
Its wave wave after wave of Albion attacks.
Then Beattie gets free with the ball and scores an easy goal.
A really bright start goes wrong for the baggies, however they go straight back on the attack with Mulumbu and Koren, ball ends up with Zuiverloon who cross is met by the arms of the keeper.
Albion are not for giving up.
Swansea get an attack with 4 against 3, however, Van Der Gunn gives the ball away.
Albion seem to be falling apart having reacting well initially to the goal conceded.
Thomas finds the ball on the half way line and breaks forcing a save form the keeper.
The Hawthorns is alive with the sound of music, sadly its Welsh voices doing the singing.
Beattie and Prattly work an attack, however, Carson is good enough to cope with a weak shot.
Swansea look in control and a yard quicker than the Albion. Albion are falling back too deep and wanting to pass the ball around.
Tiexiera knock the ball past a swansea right back, however, is brought down and awarded a free kick which comes to nothing. Koren returns the favour on Gower giving a free kick away.
Thomas and the 2 subs seem to be making progress and the only likely suspects to make anything happen.
Dorrans sends tiexiera down the right but he has no support and loses it.
Wood finds himself free in front of goal and forces a punched clearance for a corner even though the albion had 2 offside players.
Albions Zuiverloon sends the corner in, williams clears to mulumbu, however, again nothing comes of it.
Koren to dorrans to mattocks down the left and in towards dorrans but the keeper intercepts a lazy ball.
Dorrans picks out Zuiverloon down the right who feeds it in to the box and a real chance is cleared by tate.
Dyer heads down the right and appears to go out of player, however the ref waves play on.
Butler is coming on to replace dyer and swansea seem to be putting the shutters down now.
Albion will do well to get anything from this now, with the shutters down and no real goal getters on the pitch, perhaps they should send olsson up front.
Mulumbu and teixiera work well down the right until mulumbu runs the ball out.
Mulumbu attack again with a decent spell of pressure, however, no sign just yet. Although Tiexiera forces another corner.
Butler eventually smashes away the right wing corner after albion find no real way to creat a solid opportunity.
Van Der gunn races down the right with butler on the end of his croos, however, carson does enough to force him to concede a throw in.
Koren shhots but cleared of the line, swansea break but not far and koren has another chance until he is fouled and the ref stops a great opportunity by not allowing play to carry on.
Free kick from dorrans.
Popped in but headed out by swansea and albion try again without success. 22 mins to go.
Mulumbu breaks finds woods who shoots but no power and the keeper easily grasps the ball.
Wrangel puts the ball off thomas for a throw in, however, albion get the ball back and gain a free kick.
Mulumbu, mattock and zuiverloon work it though the midfield to wood, however, it puts him in trouble and he gives the ball away. Its just too much for a 17 year old to cope with.
Tiexiera runs at the right of the swansea defence, crosses and forces a left wing corner.
Albion appeal for another penalty as the defender nearly catches the corner without a result. The ref seems not to want to give much away here.
Albion are surely only minutes away from a goal. Young Cox is about to come on, but for whom?
Allen on for gower for the swans and cox on for mattocks.
Butler fouled by wood in the albion half and swans stutter to take the free kick.
Cox gets a first touch with a very good chance, shoots and hits it just wide of the post.
Tiexiera delivers a cross in but butler smashes it out for a free kick.
Thomas goes past wrangel, however, runs the ball out and looks like he his fouled inn the process, however, penalty shout number 3 goes without success.
Prattley fouls thomas and gets a booking for the pleasure.
Another swansea goal kick with 20 mins left.
22,000 is the reported attendance.
Thomas again fouled by rangel.
Games goes a little quiet but gets busy again with a long range effort from butler.
Albion need this win for a gap at the top of the table.
Mulumbu loses the ball to williams who chases the ball with tiexiera and albion clear. Only to williams who runs at the albion who easily disposses him.
Thomas get the ball goes on the break, however, runs it out on 82 minutes.
Jara fouls richards gaining a yellow card.
Scott carson catches the ball from off beatties head
It is looking more and more like the top two both losing, however, have albion got what it takes to change this?
Swansea throw in towards beattie but albion get the ball back and mulumbu breaks passing to tiexiera who loses the ball.
Jara feeds thomas in the area who crosses only for it to be headed clear.
Jara feeds zuiverloon who loses it and butler breaks and forces carson to push it off the post and out.
Swansea are looking more likely now although jara feeds tiexiera who runs along the by line crosses but very poorly and its a goal kick.
Albion throw in level with the box near the woodman corner
Olsson flicks it on but butler clears
Jara gets it in the box but butler clears again
Thomas get a good shot but puts it in to the side netting
3 mins added time left.
Albion have a throw in on the left, 2 mins left, jara to dorrans to jara to thomas for another throw in
Jara gets it in to olsson who heads it down and woods has an easy chance but puts it wide
Dorrans fouls and loses albion the imputus although it seems the albion just had their chance
The whistle goes and the sound of boos ring out around the hawthorns after a bad display against a side that were 16th in the table.
This was not the display that is expected of a table topping club. Pretty football destroyed by a swansea team that came with a mission and out foxed the Albion.
Albion are short again of strike power and cannot rely on a second rate moore, and 2 youngsters in cox and woods.
Di Matteo will not be a happy chappie!
Categories: Latest News, Match Reports Tags: albion, baggies, beattie, bomber, capitalise, cech, cox, d urso, dorrans, free kick, freekick, goal kick, Koren, mattocks, offside, open game, pace, scott carson, smashes, surprises, swa, target, touchline, urso, waves, youngster
Team Sheet for tonights game.
Albion make just 1 forced change for tonights visit of Swansea, thats Chris Woods in for the injured Roman Bednar.
Scott Carson, Gianni Zuiverloon, Joe Mattock, Jonas Olsson, Gonzalo Jara, Marek Cech, Graham Dorrans, Youssouf Mulumbu, Jerome Thomas, Chris Woods, Luke Moore.
Substitutes: Dean Kiely (GK), Simon Cox, Abdoulaye Meite, Filipe Teixeira, Shelton Martis, Robert Koren, Reuben Reid.
Dorus de Vries; Angel Rangel, Ashley Williams, Alan Tate (C), Marcos Painter; Leon Britton, Darren Pratley, Mark Gower, Cedric van der Gun, Nathan Dyer; Craig Beattie.
Substitutes: David Cornell (GK), Jordi Lopez, Lee Trundle, Joe Allen, Tom Butler, Jazz Richards, Besian Idrizaj.
Ref A D’Urso Essex
Categories: Match Previews Tags: abdoulaye meite, alan tate, albion, ashley williams, beattie, bednar, besian idrizaj, cech, cox, craig beattie, d urso, david cornell, dean kiely, dorrans, filipe teixeira, game, gianni zuiverloon, jerome thomas, lee trundle, leon britton, Luke moore, marek cech, robert koren, Roman Bednar, scott carson, simon cox, swansea, west brom, youssouf mulumbu
