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LEYTON ORIENT v WEST BROMWICH ALBION For the first time in almost fourteen years Albion take on a Leyton Orient side at Brisbane Road, known nowadays of course as the Matchroom Stadium. It looks set to be a tricky tie for Bryan Robson’s men with a host of Championship sides already knocked out of the competition by lower league opposition this week including arch rivals Wolves. Orient, who last season clinched promotion into League One, have got off to a decent start at the higher level winning two and losing two of their four games so far. They kicked off the season with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Port Vale before winning successive home games, 2-0 against Millwall and 3-2 against Bournemouth. Hopes of a hat-trick of victories were dashed last weekend against Carlisle United at Brunton Park when the O’s crashed to a 3-1 defeat. With the Londoners facing two games in three days there have been suggestions that O’s manager Martin Ling may rest one or two of his first team regulars. Whilst Orient lack any ‘big names’, they do still have a number of talented players whom should they play Albion will need to be aware of. Up front Lee Steele has been regular scorer over the years and has formed an impressive partnership with Gary Alexander, last season’s leading scorer with 15 goals, whilst another player to watch out for is left sided defender Matt Lockwood, who for a number of seasons has attracted interest from bigger clubs with perhaps only injuries preventing the rumoured moves happening. In his eight years at Brisbane Road he has notched up over 300 appearances and over 40 goals - a more than impressive return for a defender. Whilst Steele, Alexander and Lockwood are perhaps the men to watch for the home side there is no doubting who the man to watch for Albion will be. At 33 years of age Kevin Phillips might not be the young and pacy striker most Baggies’ fans were hoping for but judging by the response on various Albion messageboards he is a signing the majority have welcomed. With Hartson, Ellington and now Phillips to choose from up front Albion must surely possess on paper the best strikeforce in the division. In what is sure to be a tight game Albion will need to improve on Saturday’s second half showing against Colchester if they are to progress to the next round. With Baggies’ boss Bryan Robson hinting at a number of changes the opportunity will be there for the likes of Martin Albrechtsen, Darren Carter and Richard Chaplow to stake a claim for a regular starting place. With a number of fringe players out to impress it could just swing the tie in Albion’s favour and for that reason I go with a 2-1 Albion victory. TEAM NEWS Albion In goal recent signing Luke Steele looks set to make his Albion debut with Swiss star Pascal Zuberbuhler rested. Paul McShane could make his first appearance for the club since signing from Manchester United. With Neil Clement and Thomas Gaardsoe both still injured, Curtis Davies or Chris Perry are likely to partner McShane in the centre of defence. With no competition at left-back Paul Robinson looks likely to start but right-back Steve Watson could be rested in favour of Martin Albrechtsen. In midfield Baggies' boss Robson could rest a number of players with Darren Carter, Richard Chaplow and Junichi Inamoto all pushing for starts. The returning Jason Koumas is unlikely to figure due to a lack of match fitness whilst Senegal wideman Diomansy Kamara is still missing due to injury. Up front, new signing Kevin Phillips looks a definite starter but John Hartson and Nathan Ellington may both be rested. Young strikers Stuart Nicholson, Michael Nardiello and Rob Elvins are again all named in the squad and at least one of them looks likely to figure at some stage. Probable Squad: Zuberbuhler, Steele, Watson, Albrechtsen, Robinson, McShane, Perry, Davies, Greening, Gera, Inamoto, Wallwork, Quashie, Chaplow, Carter, Phillips, Ellington, Hartson, Elvins, Nicholson, Nardiello. Leyton Orient Glyn Garner looks likely to be in goal for the O's although his regular deputy Glenn Morris may be given a rare taste of first team action. In defence O's boss Martin Ling will be without his captain John Mackie after he picked up a knee injury in last weekend's defeat at Carlisle. Justin Miller could come into the team in place of Mackie whilst Clayton Fortune, Matt Lockwood and Adam Tann should all start. The midfield could be unchanged from Saturday's game at Carlisle with Craig Easton, Joe Keith, Michael Simpson and former Wolves' man Shane Tudor making up the quartet although Wayne Corden, Brian Saah and Daryl McMahon will all be looking to figure. Up front, with six goals between them so far, Lee Steele and Gary Alexander will be hoping to retain their places in the starting line-up despite competition from Paul Conner and Jabo Ibehre. Probable Squad: Garner, Morris, Fortune, Lockwood, Tann, Miller, Barnard, Simpson, Tudor, Easton, Keith, McMahon, Saah, Corden, Steele, Alexander, Connor, Ibehre. LAST MEETING AT THE MATCHROOM STADIUM
Leyton Orient: Line-up unknown Scorers: Robert Taylor 60, Sam Kitchen 71 Albion: Stuart Naylor, Daryl Burgess, Steve Lilwall, Darren Bradley, Paul Raven, Gary Strodder, Gary Robson, Ian Hamilton, Bob Taylor, Bernard McNally, Luther Blissett. Subs not used: Stacy Coldicott, Kevin Donovan
Referee:
P.M Scoble (Hampshire) Attendance: 8,640 A full fixture history can be found here CURRENT CONNECTIONS None PAST CONNECTIONS Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Kwame Ampadu, Paul Beesley, Dick Bourne, Gary Campbell, Kevin Campbell, Eddie Connelly, Laurie Cunningham, Reg Davies, Ike Evenson, Allan Glover, Tony Grealish, Roger Joseph, Joe Mayo, Darren Purse, Mel Rees, Keith Smith, Colin West, Brian Whitehouse, Chris Whyte and Brian Wood.
Former
Albion trainer Dick Graham managed Orient; Current Northampton Town boss
John Gorman was a coach at both Albion and the O's; Former Albion youth
coach Cyril Lea played for Orient; Ex-Albion player Charlie Hewitt managed
the Londoners; Ernie Shepherd played for Albion before becoming Orient
physio/coach and assistant manager. |
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Leyton Orient 2-0 Albion