Posts Tagged ‘dorrans’

Albion Blackpool preview and betting advice

Albion are considering giving Ishmail Miller his first start for over 14 months, he has made appearances but not started a game since his 13 month long injury lay off with a knee ligament injury. Miller has played in 5 games since recovering and suffered an injured ankle in between too, however, Roberto Di Matteo is considering giving him a start, although he has confirmed it will not be for the full 90 minutes.

“He just needs to work hard in training and get some minutes in the games,” said the Baggies boss.

“I don’t think he’s ready yet to last 90 minutes but at some point I’d like to throw him into the cold water and start him.

“It’s down to him.

“It depends how his attitude is and how much he wants to get that start.”

James Morrison has played 222 minutes in four games after his return from nearly a year out with a heel problem and has shown excellent promise along with being the difference between winning and sharing the points.

“I am a little surprised by how many minutes Mozza has played since returning,” he added.

“He’s not 100 per cent match fit or on top of his form yet but just the fact he’s in the team is important.

“With him the team always has a player who wants the ball and can create a chance for us or has the final pass.

“I think he will get better game after game.

“But we also have to monitor him because playing too many games in a short period of time might increase the risk of getting an injury.”

The return fixture was a 5 goal affair with Graham Dorrans scoring an 83rd minute winner at the Tangerines by way of a penalty. Blackpool are now 7th in the table, aiming for the play offs and play a very attacking game, therefore tommorows game could be quite an open affair, something Di Matteo relishes. Albion have managed a massive 84 goals this season and there is no reason why they cannot complete yet another double of the season, beating Blackpool would be 5th double of the season.

“For the neutral the last game with Blackpool was a good game to watch because there was action and goalscoring opportunities,” said the Albion boss.

“I like the way they play.

“They try to play football and play the right way.

“They create a lot of chances and have a lot of attempts on goal.

“They also give you chances as well and let’s hope they’re going to play like that when they come on Saturday, and it’s going to be an open game rather than one team trying to be positive and the other being destructive or defensive.

“I said earlier in the season they have been the surprise team this year because they have done extremely well, in my opinion.

“It’s nice to see the way they play as well.”

Albion join forces with all 72 Football League Clubs in a united week of action to raise awareness and vital funds for Help for Heroes – The Football League’s Official Charity Partner for the 2009/10 season.

Football for Heroes week is taking place from March 6-14 and showing The Football League’s support for the efforts of our Armed Forces.

The Baggies are holding their ‘Football for Heroes‘ game this weekend.

Captain Scott Carson said: “The Football League could not have picked a more worthwhile cause for its official charity.

“There’s always a lot of talk about footballers being heroes and role models.

“But the real heroes are those who go off to serve their country in the military and who have to deal with the consequences.

“It’s a very humbling experience to think we can do something, however small, to promote their cause so all the players will be delighted to play their part on Saturday.

“The charity does a lot of great work to rehabilitate members of the British Armed Forces injured in the line of duty.

“It’s easy to forget that the troops that do get hurt while fighting for the country have to get on with their lives once they return home, and any support that any of us can give them is extremely important.”

Albion and Blackpool will come out of the the players’ tunnel led by a Help for Heroes banner.

Albion have invited uniformed soldiers from West Bromwich to attend the game as VIP guests and they will form a guard of honour as the players emerge from the tunnel.

Baggies head coach Roberto Di Matteo and Blackpool boss Ian Holloway will wear Help for Heroes wristbands during the game.

Albion’s players have signed two Football League Help for Heroes balls, which will be auctioned off for the charity at a later date.

Lord Mawhinney, Chairman of The Football League, said: “The contribution being made by our armed forces around the world is both outstanding and humbling.

“As a nation, we seldom thank them enough for the sacrifices they make.

“The Football for Heroes week will provide an excellent opportunity for supporters to show their appreciation for the work they do.”

So all in all the game promises to be a cracker and have much to offer besides. Where will the sensible money be on this game?

Well the bet of the day has to be a toss up between over 2.5 goals and an Albion victory outright.

You can find all the best prices on every market here on our All Best WBA Match Odds

Dorran’s Starts for Scotland

Young Graham Dorrans gets a place in the starting line up for Craig Levein tonight.

Hampden Park is the venue for a visit from the Czech Republic tonight for the Scotland friendly game.

James McFadden has an injured groin and failed a fitness test today so the Baggies starlet comes in to replace him, joining Kenny Miller up front.

Dorrans who is the centre of a transfer frenzy beginning to bubble over, starts a Full Scotland game for the first time.

With some of the big Premier clubs openly tracking him, it seems likely that even if the Albion gain promotion, that it may not be possible to hold on to him. Arsenal are suggested to be ready to table a £6 million pound bid, with Manchester City, Aston Villa and Sunderland all showing much interest. All this after the Albion added a year to his contract this season, putting him under contract to the club for the best part of 5 years.

The youngster has up until now been tight lipped about the rumours, his form certainly has not been affected by it.

Keep The Albion Tradition Alive And Vote For Player Of The Year.

In the 5 years since the Football League Awards in association with FourFourTwo have been around, Albion have had 2 winners. The awards are designed to reward players from the world’s oldest league competition and voting is by fans and not players or staff so they are seen as the true awards in the game.

FourFourTwo are also using the awards to help compile their top 50 players in the Coca Cola league so not only can an Albion player get an award, however, they can also get in the top fifty list.

In the 5 years, of which the Albion have only been in the Championship for 2 of them, we have seen 2 awards come to the Albion, kevin Phillips and Jason koumas. So lets get voting and try for a hat trick.

You can go ahead and vote for any of the players in the list or add your own choice if desired, however, to make sure that an award comes to the Albion perhaps some strategic voting is required.

The current list is shown below:

Chris Brunt
Gianni Zuiverloon
Graham Dorrans
Jerome Thomas
Joe Mattock
Jonas Olsson
Simon Cox
Youssuf Mulumbu

We here are voting for Graham Dorrans, who will you vote for?

Vote Now

Facebook Page where we start our Dorrans campaign.

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!

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

Jara not coming home early to boost injury hit Albion

A glimmer of hope wash dashed when the Chilean FA refused to release banned Gonzalo Jara early from his international commitments. Jara was banned Saturday and as Chile have nothing to play for it seemed that there was every reason to allow him to return home early, however, Chile have refused and he will not return until Friday now. This leaves very little time to get over the travelling and be fit and in the mindset to play Saturdays clash against Reading.

With Dorrans returning from international duty for Scotland with a bruised foot and facing a fight to be fit for Saturday, Di Matteo is beginning to get a bit of a selection nightmare.

Luke Moore is doubtful with a knee injury and Chris Brunt is out for the next 3 games at least suffering with a calf strain. This is all adding up when you consider that Ishmael Miller is out til January at the earliest with a long term knee injury and James Morrisson is also on the long term injured list suffering with a heel injury.

Preston West Brom match highlights

A clean sheet was the very least required by Roberto Di Matteo at Preston, this would at the very least stop Preston from going above the Albion, however, a clean sheet had been missing for the last three games. In the end a goalless draw was galvanised and allowed Albion to keep the second spot during the international break.

The game offered very little in decent chances, however the Baggies had the majority of the few. Dorrans hit the post in the 14^th minute and had that gone ion we may have seen a different result, it may have given the Albion the imputes to go on and win the game. The young Scottish attacking midfielder was probably the only player on the pitch that could claim to have made a keeper make a save in what was a very tight game. This is nothing out of the ordinary as the Albion have been trying for over 50 years to leave Preston with all of the spoils.

Perhaps Di Matteo’s three changes made the difference in this game.  Abdoulaye Meite made his first league start in six months, Marek Cech was back from injury and Gonzalo Jara was also given a place in a five-man midfield. Making way were Shelton Martis, Robert Koren and Chris Wood, who all dropped to the bench.

Albion’s first move was when Chris Brunt took a quick throw-in to Dorrans , the Scot turned sharply finding Marek Cech out wide on the left. He tried to return the favour with a great ball back into the box which Mawene just managed to intercept.

Next moment of any interest was in the 13^th minute when Chris Sedgwick took a quick corner to Ross Wallace who made Dorrans look silly on the edge of the box before he too made him self look silly by sending his shot wide when he should have netted easily.

In the 14^th minute when Dorrans forced a tremendous save from the Lily Whites keeper Roman Bednar was ready for the rebound but he could not keep his effort on target, no doubt down to the most awkward of bounces as he struck the ball. Brunt and Zuiverloon both had shots deflected by Nolan pretty soon after Bednars miss but still no breakthrough was found. Ex Albion favourite Richard Chaplow managed to block an effort by Jara and it was looking very much like whatever happened the deadlock was never to be broken.

Although Albion have been the stronger side of the first period they almost went in behind after a Wallace cross went inches wide from a Jones header.

In the first few minutes of the second half Albion were screaming for a penalty when Bednar was axed down by Neil Collins, however, referee Anthony Bates was having none of it.

Brunt limped off in the 59^th minute and unsure whether he would be making a return Di Matteo left Albion to play on with 10 men, eventually replacing brunt with Robert Koren some 5 or 6 minutes later.

Preston started to get a little freedom and were having a little more in the way of chances, mostly coming to Jones whom was mostly supplied by Wallace.

Man of the match Dorrans went agonisingly close again in the 77^th minute when Bednar knocked the ball back to the youngster who went on to beat Nolan before seeing Lonergan between the sticks push his powerful drive over the bar. Just after this, another ex Baggie in Darren Carter produced a 20 yard shot that was easily dealt with by Scott Carson

Albion were not going to give up and even in the dying seconds of injury time nearly stole the game. A Mattock cross to young Dorrans produced a floor bursting header superbly saved by Lonergan on the line.

Albion (4-4-1-1): Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Mattock, Brunt (Koren 60), Mulumbu (Martis 90+4), Jara, Cech (Reid 79), Dorrans, Bednar. Subs not used: Kiely, Barnett, Wood, Cox.

Ref: A Bates (Staffs).

Attendance: 11,180.

Albion v Plymouth team news

Simon Cox replaces the injured Luke Moore in attack seeing him get his full debut against Argyle. Ex Swindon striker will partner Roman Bednar up front after Like Moore fails to recover from his ankle injury.

Other injury Brunt also returns to the fray after  he has recovered from a niggling calf injury, this see Jerome Thomas relegated to the bench. Zuiverloon also recovers to return on place of the newly departed Cummings who was just deputising for him anyway.

Robert Koren, back from midweek international duty with Slovenia finds himself on the bench, Graham Dorrans gets his shirt in the central midfield role.

Albion (4-4-2): Carson, Zuiverloon, Martis, Olsson, Mattock, Brunt, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Cech, Bednar, Cox. Subs: Kiely, Koren, Barnett, Wood, Reid, Thomas, Teixeira.

Plymouth (5-3-2): Larrieu, Duguid, Arnason, Fletcher, Johnson, Sawyer, Mackie, Paterson, Summerfield, MacLean, Gow. Subs: Letheren, Timar, Clark, Fallon, Judge, Sheridan, Wright-Phillips.

Ref: G Salisbury (Lancs).