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WEST BROMWICH ALBION v COLCHESTER UNITED After two tricky away games Albion return to The Hawthorns for a ‘should win’, and perhaps ‘must win’, game against Colchester United. After flattering to deceive so far this campaign Bryan Robson’s men are in desperate need of a convincing victory and the visit of Geraint Williams’ out of form United side offers them the perfect opportunity. Newly promoted United have got off to the worst possible start to life in the Championship, losing all three games so far. They kicked off the season with a daunting trip to St Andrews to take on Steve Bruce’s Birmingham City, but despite a brave performance the U’s slipped to a 2-1 defeat. Since then they have suffered two home defeats, against Plymouth (1-0) and Barnsley (2-1). Despite their poor start to the season United do have a number of quality players in their squad. The versatile Greg Halford is reportedly attracting the attentions of a number of Premiership clubs whilst Jamie Cureton and Johnnie Jackson are both proven performers at Championship level. Whilst Albion will go into the game as overwhelming favourites a lack of goals, and indeed strikers is the worry for a Baggies’ faithful that are by now utterly fed up with the progress made in the new striker hunt. Rumoured target Tomasz Radzinski would be a welcome addition to the Hawthorns playing squad but with Albion notoriously slow in signing players doubts remain as to whether a deal will be completed before the transfer deadline. Another worry is the lack of creativity coming from Albion’s midfield with only Zoltan Gera producing anything near to his top form. Ronnie Wallwork, Nigel Quashie and Jonathan Greening, have all been poor so far this season, Greening in particular being very disappointing given his undoubted talent. Whilst the midfield and attack have struggled so far, the same cannot be said of the Baggies’ defence. In Chris Perry, Curtis Davies and Paul Robinson the club have three of the very best defenders outside the Premiership and along with the experienced Steve Watson they form a formidable barrier in front of Pascal Zuberbuhler. With two clean sheets already this season, talk is of the club emulating the 27 clean sheets record of the 2001/02 season. Despite the game being the first ever between the two clubs at league level, there have been six previous meetings in cup competitions. Rather surprisingly Albion have not fared too well. The first meetings came during Albion’s cup-winning season of 1967/68, Albion running out 4-0 winners in a replay at The Hawthorns after the first game at Layer Road ended 1-1. The next clash of the two clubs came just over three years later prior to the start of the 1971/72 season in the Watney Cup Final. A dramatic game at The Hawthorns, highlights of which were televised on BBC 2, ended with Colchester winning 4-3 on penalties after the score finished 4-4 after 90 minutes. The last three meetings between the two sides all took place in the League Cup. Almost exactly ten years ago Colchester sent Alan Buckley’s Albion crashing out in the first round, winning the two-legged tie 5-4 on aggregate. Albion had looked set to progress after a 3-2 victory at Layer Road in the first leg but two goals from Robbie Reinelt and one from Joe Dunne in the return at The Hawthorns helped the Steve Wignall managed United side to a famous victory. The last meeting came just two years ago when the U’s created perhaps an even bigger upset knocking out Gary Megson’s Premiership outfit 2-1 after extra-time at Layer Road. Back to the present and whilst Albion are favourites to record a second successive home win, United will not be pushovers and another close game is in prospect. With both sides looking weak up front, the game may just come down to the quality throughout the rest of the sides, and for that reason I go for a 2-1 home win. TEAM NEWS Albion In goal Swiss international Pascal Zuberbuhler will keep his place in the starting line-up with recent signing Luke Steele on the bench. With Neil Clement and Thomas Gaardsoe still injured the defence looks set to be the same as the one that has started the three previous games this season. Curtis Davies will partner Chris Perry in the centre of defence, whilst Paul Robinson will be at left-back. Steve Watson looks likely to keep his place at right-back despite competition from Martin Albrechtsen. Paul McShane looks set to be named amongst the subs. In midfield Baggies' boss Robson looks set to continue with the quartet of Zoltan Gera, Ronnie Wallwork, Nigel Quashie and Jonathan Greening although if Nathan Ellington fails to recover from his hamstring injury Darren Carter could make the step-up from the bench thus releasing Gera into a striking role. Senegal wideman Diomansy Kamara is still missing due to injury. Up front John Hartson will definitely start but his usual strike partner Ellington is rated as doubtful. Hungarian star Gera is the man most likely to deputise although young strikers Stuart Nicholson, Michael Nardiello and Rob Elvins are again all named in the squad. Squad: Zuberbuhler, Steele, Watson, Albrechtsen, Robinson, McShane, Perry, Davies, Greening, Gera, Inamoto, Wallwork, Quashie, Chaplow, Carter, Ellington, Hartson, Elvins, Nicholson, Nardiello. Colchester United The vastly experienced Aidan Davidson will be in goal for the U's with Dean Gerken providing back-up on the bench. In defence United boss Geraint Williams will be without left-back George Elokobi who starts a three match suspension. He looks set to be replaced with new signing Chris Barker who has joined on loan from Cardiff City. Otherwise the defence should be the same as the one that started last time out at home to Barnsley with the highly rated Greg Halford, Wayne Brown and Garry Richards completing the quartet. The midfield looks set to be unchanged from last Saturday with Kemal Izzet, Kevin Watson, Karl Duguid and Johnnie Jackson all likely to start although former Spurs' star Jackson must first shake off a knock picked up against Barnsley. Up front, Jamie Cureton and Richard Garcia looks the likely partnership again although Jamie Guy and Chris Iwelumo are both pushing for starts. Guy in particular will be hoping for a call-up after netting in the reserves' 1-0 win over Southend United in midweek. Likely Squad: Davidson, Gerken, Barker, Halford, Brown, Richards, White, Baldwin, Izzet, Watson, Duguid, Jackson, Cureton, Garcia, Guy, Iwelumo. LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS
Albion: Nigel Spink, Paul Holmes, Shane Nicholson (Shaun Cunnington 67), Richard Sneekes (Kevin Donovan 67), Paul Mardon, Daryl Burgess, Ian Hamilton, Dave Gilbert (Lee Ashcroft 51), Bob Taylor, Paul Peschisolido, Paul Groves Scorer: Groves 84 Colchester United: Garrett Caldwell (Tony Adcock 45), Simon Betts, David Greene, Peter Cawley, Joe Dunne, Adam Locke, Mark Kinsella, Richard Wilkins, David Gregory, Steve Whitton, Robbie Reinelt (Chris Fry 87). Sub not used: Karl Duguid Scorers: Reinelt 22 & 49, Dunne 54
Referee:
Tony Leake (Lancashire) Attendance: 9,809 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: Dave Barnett, Phil Bloss, David Burnside, Bobby Cram, Ray Crawford, Alan Dickens, Tony Godden, Ron Green, Brian Hall, Robert Hopkins, Tony Kelly, Mark Kinsella, Billy Light, Andy Marriott, Justin Richards, Graham Smith, Winston White and Brian Wood.
Former Albion
manager Ray Harford was a Colchester player; Albion keeper of the 1960's
Jock Wallace managed the U's; Dick Graham was Albion trainer before becoming
Colchester manager; former Baggies' goalkeeper Ray Potter had a short spell
as assistant Commercial Manager at Layer Road. |
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Albion 1-3 Colchester United