Posts Tagged ‘swansea’

Albion Preston Preview

Jonas Olsson, Roman Bednar and Steven Reid are all likely to be mising from the team sheet today with all three injured. Olsson limped off at half time in Albions away victory at the Liberty Stadium over Swansea with a calf injury.

Bednar is struggling with a thigh injury which kept him out on Tuesday, while loan star Reid also sat that one out with a groin strain.

Winger Jerome Thomas is still suffering with a hamstring injury too, he will likely miss his 4th game in a row, however, should be back in time for the Coventry game next week.

Andy Slory may find himself being recalled, however we will see later on today.

Preston still have ideas of a play off place and held Albion to a goaless draw earlier in the season so what will we suggest as a good bet today?

Our bet of the day has to be West Brom to win outright at a tight 1.53 with Ladbrokes and we would also suggest Dorrans as the last scorer at 6-1 with William Hills.

Albion injuries heading to danger levels

Joining Roman Bednar who has a thigh injury, Steven Reid who has a groin injury and Jerome Thomas who has a hamstring problem is now Jonas Olsson who picked up a calf problem during the first half in the victory over Swansea. He looks very unlikely to return in time to face Preston at home this coming Sarurday, leaving Roberto Di Matteo with a mounting problem.

“Jonas has a little injury in his calf,” said Di Matteo.

“That’s why we had to make a change at half-time.

“He shouldn’t be out for too long but it’s one more on our injury list and he’ll be very doubtful for our next game.

“I am a bit concerned about our injuries.

“We already had plenty and now that includes Jonas.”

With a few of the fit players like Ishmael Miller and Giles Barnes only just back from long term lay offs and still not properly match fit, Di Matteo will have to be ultra carful in his team sheet choice and substitutional back ups for the foreseeable future.

Bednar and Reid out of Swansea line up as Baggies reel from FA fine

Roman Bednar and Steven Reid are both injured and will be unavailable for tommorrows crunch trip to Swansea. Bednar who only returned from a 3 match injury break Saturday is now ruled out with a thigh injury and Reid has a groing problem.

Ishmael Miller who only recently returned from a 15 month absense due to injury picked up a hamstring problem during the Blackpool game, however , he has reacted well to the treatment and will be fit to face Swansea. The same is also said for Luke Moore who has made a recovery from illness which forced him out of the squad on Saturday.

Jerome Thomas who is suffering with a hamstring problem will not be ready in time for the trip to Swansea, however, Di Matteo is taking it all in his stride.

“The injury situation doesn’t get better, does it?” joked Di Matteo.

“You have a good weekend and think you’re looking good for the next game – and then you’re not!

“We’ve lost Steven from Saturday with a little groin problem while this morning Roman felt his quad so he won’t be available either.

“Jerome is also still out but Luke is a bit better from his flu while Ishmael, who got a kick to his hamstring, is recovering from his knock.

“But we’ll need to assess Ish.

“He’s been out for a long time and the same applies to Steven.

“Steven hasn’t played a lot of games in a short period for a long, long time. That goes for James Morrison too.

“All three of them are feeling the games because they’re not quite up to the tempo.

“I wish I could start Ish every game but we need to take all of these factors into consideration.”

The both teams have been fined for failing to control their players after a brawl at Home Park during February. The fine was £12,500 for both teams, however, £7,500 has been suspended until June next year. Should either team be charged with the same between now and then they will have to pay the other £7,500 plus suffer the consequences of the further breach.

Albion Sign Blackburn Midfielder Steven Reid

West Brom today completed the loan signing of Blackburn midfielder Steven Reid on an initial month’s loan.

An Ireland international, he plays at either Right Back, right midfield or central midfield and arrives just in time to be able to play in the QPR game tomorrow.

Reid, 29 on Wednesday, will also be available for Albion’s following seven games against Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Swansea, Preston, Coventry, Reading and Leicester.

Albion Boss Roberto Di Matteo said: “Steven is an exciting player and I’m delighted to welcome him to the club.

“We’ve been looking to strengthen our squad for the final push and Steven certainly fits the bill.

“He’s a versatile player with loads of experience.

“We’ve had some great references about Steven so hopefully he’ll perform at the level we expect him to.”

Reid has been at Ewood Park for 7 years, at 6ft 1in Reid has underlined his value by being a regular player all this time and operated in various positions

He won Blackburn’s goal-of-the-season award in 2005/06 thanks to his thunderbolt at Wigan.

No team is Odds on for the Championship

With the title race still wide open there are some winning odds available on the eventual winners of the Championship.

On the Betfair exchange you can still get 2.6 on the Baggies with leaders Newcastle still on offer at 2.1 so if you think it is between these two teams you cannot go wrong by backing both. Fancy Forest’s chances of beating both the Albion and the Toon to the title? Well they are on offer at 8, so there is a massive return available for you there.

Newcastle are 1.02 and 1.03 respectively to manage a top 6 finish so those of you with a large fund available and looking for a return could do so with that market. Forest are almost evens to make the same top 6 finish too, so maybe your funds are worth placing there?

Promotion wise, Albion, Newcastle and Forest are 1.42, 1.3 and 2.58 with the 2 Welsh teams Cardiff and Swansea at 5.9 and 5.6.

If you are looking the other direction, you can always lay Newcastle in the title race at 2.12.

These odds are very fluid and trading opportunity’s will appear on and off as the days and weeks progress. Have you the nerve and the skill to trade these teams during the run in?

Sign up with Betfair to take advantage of these betting exchange odds and get your free £25 for signing up.

The trip to Cardiff also offers a few different bets, Cardiff are 2.92, Albion 2.62 anf 3.4 the draw is offered. You can get 10′s on an Albion single goal victory and 27′s on a 3 to 1 win, with west brom to win both halfs at 4.5.

Albion Swansea game delayed and we have a female lineswoman

Tonights game has been delayed due to traffic congestion around the vicinity of the Hawthorns and will be underway very soon with a female lineswoman!

Albion play in the usual blue and white stripes with Swansea in red and black.

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

Tough night ahead in Italy V Portugal championship fight.

With Swansea boasting one of the meanest defences in the Championship and also the highest scoring up front partnership with 24 goals so far this season, 16th place is camouflaging a decent team. Unbeaten in 5, Swansea will be no pushovers and Albion will need to be on top of their form to get all three points in this game.

Former Italy international Di Matteo will be pitting his wits against his former Portugal counterpart Paulo Sousa and both will be hoping to win the spoils, even though they have no bad blood between them.

Former Albion striker Craig Beattie will no doubt be out to prove a point, he never really made an impact at the Albion, however, will be looking to show what was missed after his £800,000 switch to the liberty stadium recently.

Chris Wood is a likely starter and like Luke Moore will be looking to stake a claim for a regular place and keep the injured Bednar of the team sheet.