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DATE:
Saturday 10th December 2005
MATCH PREVIEW BY: Martyn Todd After dropping two points against ten
man Fulham last weekend, Albion this week entertain Stuart Pearce’s in-form
Manchester
City at The Hawthorns. City look a side to be
reckoned with this season and after putting five goals past Charlton last
week, they will be full of confidence and will be aiming to take their good
form into tomorrow’s game. COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!! ALBION Baggies'
boss Bryan Robson is boosted by the return to full fitness of both on-loan
keeper Chris Kirkland and striker Kevin Campbell. Nigerian star Kanu is
rated as doubtful after suffering a dead-leg during last week’s game
against Fulham and influential midfielder Zoltan
Gera is still missing but could return next week
at Portsmouth. Possible Line-up:
Kirkland, Watson, Clement,
Davies, Robinson, Greening, Wallwork, Inamoto,
Kamara, Campbell, Ellington. MANCHESTER
CITY Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has no new injury
worries and is set to name an unchanged side for the trip to The
Hawthorns, keeping faith with the team that last week beat Charlton 5-2 at
The Valley. Possible Line-up:
James, Sommeil, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, Sinclair, Barton, Reyna,
Jihai, Vassell, Cole.
THIS SEASON
City
currently lie in 8th place in the Barclays Premiership with 24
points from 15 games. Andy Cole is the club's leading scorer with seven league and cup
goals. Stuart Pearce's men were knocked out of
the Carling Cup in the second round by League One side Doncaster Rovers. In
their last game City beat Charlton Athletic 5-2 at The Valley. LAST SEASON City Finished 8th in the Barclays Premiership, were
knocked out of the FA Cup in the 3rd round by Oldham Athletic and were
beaten in the 3rd round of the Carling Cup by Arsenal.
City's top goalscorers were
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Robbie Fowler with 11 goals each. ONES TO WATCH Andy
Cole - One of this country's most prolific strikers of the last 20
years. Hardworking player who is deadly in front of goal.
Darius Vassell - A quick and skilful striker with a good goalscoring
record. Joey
Barton - Shrugged off a number of personal problems to become the
driving force in City's midfield.
Albion first met City in league
action during the 1899/1900 season. The first game between the
two sides at Stoney Lane in December ended goalless with
Albion going down 4-0 at City's Hyde Road ground in the
return game in April. Albion's biggest league win against
City is 9-2, coming at The Hawthorns in September 1957,
winger Frank Griffin grabbed three of the Albion goals. Other big
wins for Albion include 7-2 at Maine Road in 1936 and 6-3 at The Hawthorns
in 1960 in which Ronnie Allen scored a hat-trick. Albion's heaviest league defeat against
City came in April 1938 when the club lost 7-1 at Maine Road.
Other big wins for City include 6-1 in 1921, 6-2 in 1936 and 6-3 in 1903. In April 1896, prior to the first
league meeting of the two clubs, Albion met City twice in Test Matches, a
very early forerunner to the present day play-offs. Albion won the home
match 6-1 and drew 1-1 at City on their way to retaining their Division One
status. Albion have lost
just one of the last seven meetings between the two sides.
Albion
2-0 Manchester City Albion: Hoult, Albrechtsen, Purse, Clement, Robinson,
Gera, Scimeca, Wallwork,
Greening, Earnshaw (Horsfield 57), Campbell (Gaardsoe 94). Subs not
used: Kuszczak (gk), Contra, Kanu Goalscorers: Campbell 5, Wallwork 81 Manchester City: James, Mills, Distin,
Dunne, Jordan, S
Wright-Phillips, Bosvelt, Sibierski (McManaman 68), Barton, Fowler, Macken
(B Wright-Phillips 67). Subs not used: Waterreus (gk), Sommeil,
Onuoha Referee:
Graham Poll
(Hertfordshire)
Half-Time:
Albion 1-0 Manchester City
Attendance: 25,348 Sky Sports Match Report: West Brom stayed in touch with the bottom clubs in The Premiership following a crucial 2-0 victory over Manchester City. The pressure was on The Baggies following results earlier on Saturday with Crystal Palace and Southampton winning, while Norwich claimed a late draw against Middlesbrough. Former Everton striker Kevin Campbell netted on his home debut with just five minutes on the clock and Ronnie Wallwork's late header wrapped up the points. City often dominated possession at The Hawthorns, but failed to make their time on the ball count and ultimately slipped to their ninth league defeat of the campaign. he first chance of the contest arrived just 30 seconds in with Antoine Sibierski drilling Shaun Wright-Phillips' right wing cross just wide of goal. West Brom have gone behind so many times this season, but on this occasion they reversed that trend when Martin Albrechtsen's cross was turned home superbly by Campbell. Russell Hoult had to be on his toes after 20 minutes following Neil Clement's poor back pass, however, the keeper was able to scramble the ball away under pressure from Jonathan Macken. Robbie Fowler did well to work some space on the edge of Albion's box just after the hour mark but his finish did not match the skill shown in the build up. City continued to create the better of the chances but following a break by the visitors, Wright-Phillips' effort from Fowler's lay-off was deflected out for a corner. Wright-Phillips must have been thinking about his celebrations when he was set to connect with Macken's cross, however Wallwork got back superbly to clear the danger with a brave block. Robert Earnshaw was close to netting just before the break with his side-footed effort, though James was able to get down to the shot despite being wrong-footed. Following a quiet opening to the second half, James earned his money with a superb save to deny Greening with a stinging volley from outside the box. Wallwork came close to opening his Baggies account after 74 minutes, but his header from Campbell's cross into the middle bounced just wide off James' far post. Bradley-Wright Phillips joined Fowler up front, however neither striker was able to react when half-brother Shaun drilled a low cross from the right into the box. With City pressing forward it was the home side who broke and settled the game with a decisive second. Greening burst away down the left and his deep cross was headed back across goal by substitute Geoff Horsfield into the path of Wallwork to net his first for the club. Richard Dunne thought he had pulled one back with a superb free kick into the top corner from outside the box, but the effort was controversially ruled-out. The visitors thought they were back in the game, however referee Graham Poll chalked off the goal as he had not blown his whistle. Despite protests from Kevin Keegan's side they were denied and West Brom held on for just their second Premiership win of the campaign. CURRENT CONNECTIONS None PAST CONNECTIONS Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Peter Barnes, Paul Beesley, Gerry Creaney, David Cross, Andy Dibble, Tony Grant, Tony Grealish, Asa Hartford, Robert Hopkins, Derek Kevan, Steve MacKenzie, Ken McNaught, Gary Owen, Nicky Reid, Uwe Rosler, Barry Siddall, Jason Van Blerk and Imre Varadi. Former Albion boss Gary Megson spent three years as a City player whilst another former Albion manager Ron Saunders also managed City; Jimmy Hagan managed Albion during the 1960's and later became a City scout; Former Albion assistant and caretaker manager Arthur Mann played for City against Albion in the 1970 League Cup Final; Ex-Albion players Asa Hartford and John Deehan both later joined City's coaching staff. ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS MANCHESTER CITY
LAST TEN MATCHES AGAINST MANCHESTER CITY
Tickets for this category B game are now on general sale. |
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