Posts Tagged ‘Koren’

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).

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).

Nouble Off whilst Koren and Barnes Speak out.

Roman Bednar is fighting hard to get fit in time for the visit of Blackpool to the Hawthorns, whilst Jerome Thomas is a major doubt with a hamstring injury suffered during the Owls game midweek.

Bednar has been missing from the Baggies team for 3 games with to a groin injury but could just make it to face Ian Holloway’s men if he comes through training tomorrow.

“We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if Roman is okay,” said Di Matteo.

“If he is able to train with the team then we will include him for selection on Saturday.

“If he is not able to train then he will be out of the picture.

“Jerome Thomas is very doubtful for Saturday.

“I found out after the game he had a little problem.

“It’s not a bad injury, it’s a tight hamstring and we’ll see how it improves.”

Simon Cox is a better prognosis, he is now fit and available to play should he be called upon.

Frank Nouble has returned to West Ham after the Albion decided not to extend his loan any longer.

Giles Barnes spoke today of how he has called on his team mates to reproduce the battling sprit from the Owls victory and coast to promotion with ease.

“Everyone who comes to us has to be scrappy because they won’t beat us in a football game of out-passing us,” said Barnes.

“After about 60 to 70 minutes you know things can happen so it’s a case of riding the storm.

“I don’t think we should look at other teams, just keep getting win, win, win and not worry about other teams.

“Even when we go away people try to stop us playing football and get in our faces.

“But we proved on Tuesday we can get into people’s faces and battle.

“It’s was a massive win.

“It was massive for the whole club not just the head coach.

“If we can lock down that automatic spot then we’ll be happy.

“We have to get our professional head back on and be ready for Saturday.”

Robert Koren meanwhile issued a similiar statement when professing how he does not want to end up in the lottery of the play off’s.

Koren who scored a tremendous goal midweek to gain all 3 points for the Albion was at the club when they suffered defeat at the hands of Derby in the play off final at Wembley, he has no desire to suffer the stress or upset of that again.

“I was involved in the play-offs when I arrived at the club and my experience is not nice,” said Koren.

“I prefer the top two so hopefully we will get good results at the end of the season and stay out of the play-offs.

“The play-offs are very difficult and there is a lot of pressure on those games.

“I think we have enough quality to show in the last 11 games that we are good enough.

“We have done a great job so far and we need to stick together.

“We have our fans behind us and they are doing a great job, and on the field we have to play our part.

“Everybody needs to play a part and if we believe it as one, we can do it.”

Koren would like nothing better than to be travelling to the World Cup as a premiership player and thinks the return of long term injured players will bolster the Albion and help secure automatic promotion.

“That is one of the biggest things,” Koren added.

“We have a big squad now with good players and it’s good to see all of the injured players coming back.

“They are showing the right spirit and from the first one to the last one we need to look like a team together.

“From the first to the last everybody has to stick together as a team.

“It’s not about personal things, it doesn’t matter who is playing, we need to stick together, get the right results and reach first or second place at the end of the season.”

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).

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!

Shrewsbury 0 Albion 2 – Match Highlights

A Robert Koren goal and Luke Moores 2nd goal in 3 games gave Albion this two goal victory at Shrewsbury tonight.

Luke Moore, the ex-England Under-21 international opened the scoring after just 15 minutes had passed when Robert Koren slipped the ball to him on the edge of the box, some fancy footwork and a left-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner made it one nil. Moore created havoc in the Shrews defence for the rest of the first half, nearly doubling his tally on many occasions.

In the 33rd minute Craig Beattie headed Greening’s ariel cross to Brunt and the Northern Ireland internationals badly hit 35-yard volley luckily fell into the path of Robert Koren, Koren then tidily placed it in the right hand corner of the Shrewsbury net leaving their keeper with no chance. Although Albion had many more chances to kill the game of Shrewsbury town were not giving up, with a few scares for Carson after the Albions sloppy defence had been breached.

Di Matteo brought on Dean Kiely, Leon Barnett and Filipe Teixeira for Scott Carson, Shelton Martis and Jonathan Greening respectively after the break, with Luke Moore taking Greenings captains armband. Tixiera and Koren continued to keep Moore and Beattie fed throughout the second half and Albion should have added to the two goals from the first half easily.

New Zealand international Wood had 3 very clear chances that all came within a whiskers breadth of being converted and Beattie along with Moore also came very close on more than 1 occassion.

All in all a good showing and yet another victory, leaving Albion unbeaten under Di Matteo and looking far more confident each game.

SHREWSBURY (4-4-2): Arestidou; Holden (Hooman 79), Coughlan, Langmead, McIntyre; Dobson (Simpson 57), Disley, Murray (Dunfield 57), Neal (Leslie 72); Riza (Gray 72), Robinson. All subs used.

ALBION (4-4-2): Carson (Kiely HT); Zuiverloon, Martis (Barnett HT), Olsson (Samuels 61), Cech; Koren (Valero 72), Greening (Teixeira HT), Mulumbu (Labadie 80), Brunt (Kim 80); Beattie (Wood 72), Moore. All subs used.

BOOKINGS: None.

GOALS: Moore (15), Koren (33).

REFEREE: S Rushton (Staffordshire).

ATTENDANCE: 2,437.