|
|
|
|
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v WEST
BROMWICH ALBION Whilst the national media have by and large overlooked the first FA Cup clash between the two clubs for 45 years, there are no doubts amongst the football fans of the Black Country about which game is the biggest of the weekend. The high noon showdown has been the major... actually, the only talking point in the region's pubs, clubs and workplaces since the men from Molineux booked their place in the fourth round with victory over Oldham Athletic. Wolves will be looking to avenge their embarrassing 3-0 defeat suffered at The Hawthorns in October whilst Albion will be hoping to continue their impressive recent form in clashes between the two sides. Only once in the last eleven meetings have Albion experienced defeat - a 3-1 reverse at Molineux in March 2001. The Albion goalscorer that day - Neil Clement - will be the only player who will figure almost six years on. After replacing Glenn Hoddle, former Sunderland and Eire boss Mick McCarthy has given Wolves a sense of pride once more, moulding a team spirit not seen at the club for a number of years. Allied to an attractive passing game - as witnessed at The Hawthorns earlier this season, Wanderers have become surprise challengers for a Championship play-off place. With just four victories on their travels all season, Albion will be hoping that last weekend's victory at Leeds will signal a turnaround in the club's dismal away form. Despite the impressive performance and result at Elland Road, Baggies' boss Tony Mowbray looks set to make at least one change with the return to the squad of Jason Koumas following his one match suspension. Reading the opinions of the majority of Wolves' fans leading up to the game, Wales' star Koumas is clearly the man they fear the most and it's easy to see why. With seven goals in his last 12 games as well as a number of assists, Koumas has been the driving force behind Albion's recent improvement in form, a run which has seen just one defeat in ten games. With two of the division's leading goalscorers in the team alongside Koumas - Diomansy Kamara and Kevin Phillips - Albion certainly have the firepower to unlock a somewhat miserly Wolves' defence. With seven wins to one in FA Cup competition, history favours the Baggies and with Wolves' form a bit 'hit and miss' at the moment, Albion will probably go into the game as slight favourites although as is the case in most derby games it is doubtful that form will really count for much. The signs are pointing towards a hard fought, tight game and with that in mind I'm going for a 2-2 draw and a replay at The Hawthorns on February 13. COME ON YOU BAGGIES !!! TEAM NEWS Albion Suspended by the club following allegations regarding his private life, Russell Hoult loses his place in the starting line-up to Pascal Zuberbuhler. The Swiss keeper has yet to win the Hawthorns' faithful over following a number of less than impressive displays earlier in the season but now has the perfect opportunity to 'redeem' himself. With Luke Steele out on loan at Coventry, England under-18 star Luke Daniels looks likely to provide back-up on the bench. In defence Tony Mowbray looks likely to keep faith with the quartet of Paul McShane, Curtis Davies, Neil Clement and Paul Robinson. Martin Albrechtsen looks likely to miss the game having failed to fully recover from his recent groin injury but Steve Watson is available again and looks likely to start on the bench. In midfield Jason Koumas looks set to go straight back into the line-up following his one game suspension. With Jonathan Greening and Richard Chaplow both producing impressive performances last week at Elland Road, Koumas looks likely to replace either Zoltan Gera or Robert Koren with the smart money being on the latter. The unlucky man will be on the bench along with Darren Carter. Ronnie Wallwork is still recovering from injuries sustained in a serious assault at the end of November but has this week returned to light training. Diomansy Kamara and Kevin Phillips look set to continue up front with the returning John Hartson having to settle for a place on the bench. New signing Sherjill MacDonald is ineligible whilst the 'stressed' Nathan Ellington will be overlooked. Stuart Nicholson may retain his place amongst the substitutes. Albion From: Zuberbuhler, Daniels, Albrechtsen, Hodgkiss, Davies, Clement, Robinson, Watson, Koumas, Greening, Carter, Gera, Chaplow, Koren, Kamara, Phillips, Hartson, Nicholson. Wolverhampton Wanderers The highly rated Matt Murray will be between the sticks for the home side. With Carl Ikeme and Michael Oakes both out injured, Wolves have snapped up Doncaster keeper Jan Budtz on an emergency loan deal and he will provide cover on the bench. In defence Wanderers will be boosted by the return of Gary Breen and Rob Edwards following suspensions with the on-loan Craig Fleming looking likely to make way. Jody Craddock is a major doubt due to his Achilles injury whilst Jackie McNamara is rated as only 50/50. Wolves will be without the talented Michael Kightly in midfield as the former Grays Athletic star is cup-tied. Rohan Ricketts is Kightly's likely replacement and will line up alongside three from Michael McIndoe, Darren Potter, Seyi Olofinjana and Karl Henry. Up front Jay Bothroyd could return following injury to partner the in-form Craig Davies. New signing from Scunthorpe Andy Keogh is cup-tied whilst Carl Cort is still out injured. Stephen Ward and Jemal Johnson look likely substitutes. Wolverhampton Wanderers From: Murray, Budtz, Little, Edwards, L Collins, Fleming, Breen, N Collins, McNamara, Clapham, Potter, Henry, Ricketts, McIndoe, M Davies, Olofinjana, Ward, Johnson, Bothroyd, C Davies. MATCH OFFICIALS Referee: Uriah Rennie (Yorkshire) The controversial Rennie last officiated an Albion game in April 2006 - a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool at The Hawthorns.
Assistant
Referees: Gary Brittain (Yorkshire), Nigel Bannister (Yorkshire) FORM GUIDE Albion - Last Six Games: Leeds United (a) Won 3-1; Luton Town (h) Won 3-2; Leeds United (h) Won 3-1; Southend United (a) Lost 1-3; Ipswich Town (h) Won 2-0; Preston North End (h) Won 4-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Last Six Games: Cardiff City (h) Lost 2-1; Stoke City (a) Drew 1-1; Barnsley (h) Won 2-0; Colchester United (a) Lost 2-1; Derby County (a) Won 2-0; Norwich City (h) Drew 2-2 WHAT THE BOOKIES SAY Albion to win: 13/8; Wolverhampton Wanderers to win: 6/4; Draw: 15/8 First Goalscorer: Diomansy Kamara, Kevin Phillips, Craig Davies, Jemal Johnson (6/1); Seyi Olofinjana, John Hartson, Jay Bothroyd, Stephen Ward (7/1); Nathan Ellington, Stuart Nicholson (8/1); Jason Koumas, Michael McIndoe (9/1) LAST MEETING AT MOLINEUX
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Michael Oakes, Lee Naylor, Joleon Lescott, Paul Butler, Mark Kennedy, Sean Connelly, Shaun Newton, Colin Cameron, Alex Rae, Nathan Blake (Cedric Roussel 61), Dean Sturridge Subs not used: Matt Murray (gk), Carl Robinson, Mohammed Camara, Ludovic Pollet
Albion: Russell Hoult, Igor Balis, Darren Moore, Larus Sigurdsson, Phil Gilchrist, Neil Clement, Adam Chambers, Jordao, Derek McInnes, Scott Dobie, Danny Dichio. Subs not used: Chris Adamson (gk), Ruel Fox, Des Lyttle, Warren Cummings, Tony Butler Scorer: Jordao 58
Referee:
George Cain (Seaforth) Half-Time: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Albion Attendance: 27,515 West Brom threw the First Division promotion race wide open once again with a deserved victory at arch-rivals Wolves. A goal just before the hour by Portuguese midfielder Jordao gave the Baggies the three points they needed to return to third place in the table and prevent Wolves from taking over again from Burnley as leaders. After a entertaining start in which both sides could have scored, the game degenerated into a bad-tempered affair with Wolves having four players booked and Albion one before the interval. It was quieter for referee George Cain from then on, although the quality of the match never rose particularly high in a typical derby occasion. Albion started brightest and new signing Daniele Dichio should have done better than to head wide from six yards from Neil Clement's deflected centre. Dichio then saw a shot deflected over before at the other end, Russell Hoult saved bravely at close quarters from Colin Cameron following good approach work by Shaun Newton and Dean Sturridge. Albion skipper Derek McInnes escaped a booking for a late challenge on Alex Rae and that set the tone for a bad-tempered spell, but only after Sturridge, who hit a hat-trick in midweek, had headed wide from Lee Naylor's left-wing centre. In quick succession, Nathan Blake, Jordao, Newton and Paul Butler were shown yellow cards, the last three of them following a Jordao tackle on Rae that had around 20 players involved in a heated skirmish. Wolves also had Jolean Lescott booked just before the interval, but it was Albion who played the better stuff for most of the second half. Their breakthrough came on 59 minutes when Adam Chambers' centre from the right was brought down by Jordao and promptly despatched right-footed past Michael Oakes from an angle. Igor Balis then floated over a centre which was headed against the bar by Dichio. Wolves mounted a late rally and Cameron flashed a right-foot volley over the bar before Mark Kennedy saw his deflected in-swinging corner kicked off the line by Chambers. Sturridge then sliced off target from a flick-on by substitute Cedric Roussel, with Wolves' last chance disappearing when appeals for a penalty were rejected after Cameron's 25-yard free-kick was deflected behind off a defender. (Sporting Life) LAST FA CUP MEETING
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Albion Albion: Jock Wallace, Don Howe, Stuart Williams, Bobby Robson, Stan Jones, Chuck Drury, Alec Jackson, David Burnside, Keith Smith, Derek Kevan, Clive Clark Albion Scorers: Clark 13, 52 Wolves Scorer: Murray 28 Half-Time: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Albion Attendance: 46,411 CURRENT CONNECTIONS
Baggies'
assistant manager Mark Venus spent almost ten years as a Wolves'
player (1988-97) making over 300 appearances for the club. PAST CONNECTIONS Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Vince Bartram, Paul Bradshaw, Steve Bull, David Burnside, Matthew Clarke, Ray Crawford, Robbie Dennison, Peter Eastoe, Paul Edwards, Billy Elliott, Mel Eves, Don Goodman, Bobby Gould, Andy Gray, Danny Hegan, Andy King, Tony Lange, Mick Martin, Bill Morris, Stacey North, Dan Nurse, John Paskin, Ted Pheasant, Cyrille Regis, Jason Roberts, Ally Robertson, Arthur Rowley, Cecil Shaw, Andy Thompson, Clive Whitehead, George Woodhall, Tom Worton and Harry Wright.
Albion legend
Ronnie Allen was boss of both Albion and Wolves as was Brian
Little; Former Baggies' player and boss Don Howe was a Wolves'
amateur; Former Albion player Garry Pendrey coached at Molineux;
Albion's first ever manager Jack Smith played for Wolves; Gordon
Dimbleby was commercial manager at both clubs; Ex-Albion managers Ron
Atkinson and Keith Burkinshaw were both Wolves' amateurs. |
||||
|
|
|||||
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Albion