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DATE:
Tuesday 20th September 2005
MATCH PREVIEW BY: Dale Brookes
Well not much to say about this game other than don't LOSE
it, the reason for that of course is that if we do lose to Bradford (no
disrespect to them) then the confidence will be back to rock bottom again
and that's exactly what we don't want! Don't get me wrong Bradford will make
it hard for us no matter what side we put out as I rate Colin Todd highly as
a manager and his sides are never short of commitment but this is a nice
break from the league and should be used as a little experiment to give our
current fringe players a run out like Chaplow, Inamoto and Ellington etc.
Whether Robson will do that is another matter, we shall have to wait and
see.
Prediction time then and although I have a bad feeling about
this game, I am going for a 2-0 Albion win as I think we will be too strong
for them on the night. COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!! ALBION
Manager Bryan Robson will certainly be without at least four
of his players as they take a break from the league to host
Bradford City in the cup. Zoltan Gera, Kanu & Geoff Horsfield have all
been declared unfit while Curtis Davies is cup-tied. That could open the
door for Darren Moore, Richard Chaplow & Riccardo Scimeca who have hardly
figured so far this season. BRADFORD
CITY
Steve Claridge is cup-tied for the visitors so Andy Cooke
looks set to partner Dean Windass up front as the Bantams head to the
Hawthorns to try and cause a cup upset. Boss Colin Todd has no new injury
problems going into the game so is therefore likely to stick with a
similar side to the one that drew 1-1 at home to Yeovil at the weekend.
THIS SEASON
Currently sitting in 12th place in Coca Cola League One with
12 points from nine games. In the second round of the Carling Cup having
beaten Rochdale 5-0 in the first round. Dean Windass is the club's
leading scorer with eight league and cup goals to his name. LAST SEASON
Finished 11th in League One with 65 points, lost 1-0 at home
to Notts County in the first round of the Carling Cup and lost 1-0 at
home to Rushden & Diamonds in the first round of the FA Cup. Dean Windass
finished as the club's top goalscorer with 28 goals in all competitions. THE
MANAGER Chester-le-Street born
Colin Todd started his playing career at Sunderland in 1966 and spent
five years there before joining Brian Clough's Derby County in February
1971. During his spell at the Baseball Ground Todd helped County lift two
League Championships and won 27
England caps. In 1978 he moved on to Everton but
would spend just a year there before moving to Birmingham City. After three
years at St Andrews he linked up with his old boss Clough at
Nottingham
Forest where he spent eighteen months before leaving
to finish his career at Oxford and then Luton.
He started his coaching career at Middlesbrough as
assistant to Bruce Rioch, eventually replacing him as boss in 1990. He spent
just a year in charge at Ayresome Park before he too was sacked. After a
short spell as coach at Bradford he once again linked up with Rioch, this time at
Bolton. When Rioch left to take over at Arsenal in 1995 Todd took over the
Bolton managership jointly with Roy McFarland. The partnership
lasted just six months before he was placed in sole charge of the club. His
time in charge at Bolton ended in September 1999, short spells in charge of Swindon
and Derby followed before he took over as boss of Bradford in June 2004. ONE TO WATCH
Dean Windass - Intelligent footballer who knows
exactly where the goal is, one of the most underrated strikers around. THE
SQUAD (Squad
numbers in brackets) Goalkeepers:
Defenders:
Albion first met Bradford
City in November 1904. The Second Division game, played at Valley Parade
ended with a 3-1 win for the home side. The return game at The Hawthorns
in March saw City complete the double over Albion with a 2-0 victory.
The following season Albion recorded their biggest
ever win over City, 6-1, Fred Shinton scoring three of the goals. City's
biggest win came in December 1914 when they ran out 5-0 winners in a First
Division match at Bradford.
There have been three previous League Cup meetings between
the two clubs. In October 1969
Albion beat City 4-0 in a fourth round tie on their way to the
season's Final and during the 1989/90 season Albion met City in the
second round over two legs. Albion lost the first game at The Hawthorns 3-1
and looked set for an early exit from the competition but the away leg saw
one of the greatest comebacks in the club's history. A hat-trick from John
Thomas and goals from Chris Whyte and player-boss Brian Talbot helped Albion
to a 5-3 win on the night, with the club going through on the away goal
rule. Albion have won the last
five meetings between the two sides, the last one a 2-0 victory over a
Bradford side managed by current Albion boss Bryan Robson.
Albion
2-0 Bradford City
Albion: Hoult, Gregan, Gaardsoe, Clement (Dyer 54), J Chambers, Johnson,
Kinsella (Facey 80), Koumas, Robinson, Hughes, Horsfield (Dobie 62). Subs
not used: Murphy (gk), Volmer Goalscorers: Horsfield 55, Hughes 60 Bradford
City: Paston, Gavin, Atherton (Bower 68), Wetherall,
Heckingbottom, Summerbee, Penford (Kearney 75), Wolleaston, Cadamarteri,
Windass (Sanasy 68), Emanuel. Subs not used: Combe (gk), Forrest Referee: Lee Cable (Surrey)
Two goals from Geoff Horsfield and Lee Hughes completed the
celebrations of a fantastic afternoon at the Hawthorns as West Bromwich
Albion celebrated promotion back to the Premiership. Sunderland could
only draw at Wigan Athletic which meant the Baggies were back in the big
time before they had even kicked a ball. It took the home side 55 minutes to
break the deadlock though against a stubborn Bradford side as Geoff
Horsfield nodded home from six yards out. Lee Hughes completed the victory
when he rattled the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle
following a Gaardsoe through ball. CURRENT CONNECTIONS Baggies' boss Bryan Robson spent seven months in charge at Bradford during the 2003/04 season. Ronnie Wallwork scored four goals in seven games for City during a two month long loan spell at Valley Parade whilst Robson was in charge. Darren Moore spent two and a half years at City during the late 1990's. PAST CONNECTIONS Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Ian Banks, David Campbell, Tony Ford, Don Goodman, Jonathan Gould, Colin Hoyle, Andy Petterson, Gary Robson, Martin Singleton, Gavin Ward and Phil Whitehead. Ex-Albion boss Gary Megson had a spell as City coach. Former Manchester United striker Stuart Pearson coached at both Albion and Bradford. ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS BRADFORD CITY
LAST TEN MATCHES AGAINST BRADFORD CITY
Tickets for the game are now on sale to the general public
priced £10 Adults in the Birmingham Road End and Smethwick End Stands
and £15 East Stand and Halfords Lane Stand. Concessions are priced £5
throughout the ground. |
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