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WEST BROMWICH ALBION v
LEEDS UNITED After Monday's dismal performance and result at Southend, Albion return to 'Fortress Hawthorns' for the visit of Leeds United in a FA Cup 3rd round tie where Albion will be aiming to put the Roots Hall debacle firmly behind them. After missing out on a return to the Premiership in last season's play-off final, United have lurched from one crisis to another this campaign and currently sit second bottom of the Championship. The club's poor start to the season saw Kevin Blackwell's two year reign come to an end, being replaced initially by John Carver and then in October by former England international Dennis Wise. United's fortunes haven't really improved a great deal since although with the re-opening of the January transfer window Wise will be hoping a change in personnel will bring about a change in fortunes. Wise has wasted no time in attempting to change things around with Robbie Elliott, Armando Sa and Tore Andre Flo all arriving in the last few days to join the club's battle for survival, the signing of Flo perhaps the one most likely to excite the Elland Road faithful. If Flo can regain anything like the form he showed at Chelsea and Rangers then United will have snapped up a bargain and a player with more ability than most in the Championship. The only fear now perhaps for United fans being with Flo's arrival, have the chances of star striker David Healy leaving the club this month increased? Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic are said to be monitoring the situation. The Baggies too have been busy during the recently opened transfer window, snapping up Slovenian international midfielder Robert Koren on a 'Bosman' free from Norwegian side Lillestrom. The signing is something of a coup for Albion with the 26 year-old playmaker said to have been attracting the attentions of a number of Premiership clubs including Newcastle United and Manchester City. Whilst all Albion fans will be eagerly awaiting news of new signings, the next few weeks will undoubtedly see a number of departures with Nathan Ellington, Zoltan Gera, Nigel Quashie, Chris Perry and John Hartson all linked with moves away from the club. Given the form and questionable commitment of all five so far this season few fans will shed any tears should any of them leave with only Gera and perhaps Ellington likely to be remembered as making any worthwhile contribution to the club. Hungarian star Gera is particularly badly out of form and is a shadow of the player that made such a difference to the side two years ago. If media reports are to be believed then Gera will be on his way from the club within the next few weeks. Tony Mowbray's men will be hoping to continue their impressive home form which has seen them win 11 out of 15 games played at The Hawthorns this season. With the visitors having not only one of the worst away records in the division. but also the worst defence, hopes are high that an Albion team containing the likes of Kamara, Phillips, Koumas, Hartson and Ellington will have way too much firepower for the United back four to handle. All the signs and predictions are heading towards a comprehensive victory for the home side but with Albion's defence looking seriously shaky in recent weeks and with United possessing strikers capable of punishing mistakes United could spring something of a surprise. Having said that, Albion do possess impressive attacking power for this division and should be able to see off the challenge of Wise's men. I'm going for a 3-1 home win. COME ON YOU BAGGIES !!! TEAM NEWS Albion In goal for the Baggies Russell Hoult looks likely to continue despite a poor performance at Southend on New Year's Day. Pascal Zuberbuhler will provide back-up to Hoult on the bench with Luke Steele looking set to extend his loan spell at Coventry City until the end of the season. Tony Mowbray will be without Martin Albrechtsen in defence after the Danish international suffered a groin injury at Roots Hall with Paul McShane looking Albrechtsen's likely deputy allowing Neil Clement to return to the centre of defence to partner Curtis Davies. Paul Robinson will start at left-back whilst Steve Watson, Jared Hodgkiss and the out of favour Chris Perry vie for a place on the bench. In midfield Mowbray looks set to keep faith with Jonathan Greening and Jason Koumas but the out of form duo of Darren Carter and Zoltan Gera may find themselves under pressure from Richard Chaplow and new signing Robert Koren, the latter looking likely to start on the bench. Nigel Quashie sits out the game due to suspension whilst Ronnie Wallwork is still recovering from injuries sustained in a serious assault at the end of November. Up front Kevin Phillips looks likely to partner leading scorer Diomansy Kamara with John Hartson having to settle for a place on the bench despite his goal at Southend. Nathan Ellington may be overlooked with reports suggesting the player could be set for a transfer to Wigan Athletic. Albion From: Hoult, Zuberbuhler, McShane, Davies, Clement, Robinson, Hodgkiss, Perry, Watson, Koumas, Greening, Carter, Gera, Chaplow, Koren, Kamara, Phillips, Hartson, Ellington. Leeds United The previously out of favour Neil Sullivan looks set to continue in goal for United with Graham Stack sidelined due to an ankle injury and Tony Warner returning to Fulham after his loan deal expired. In defence United are expected to stick with Robbie Elliott, Rui Marques, Hayden Foxe and Frazer Richardson after the quartet put in an impressive performance in Monday’s victory over Coventry. New signing Armando Sa could figure if the player receives international clearance in time. The long-serving Gary Kelly will most probably miss out due to a back injury whilst former Baggie Ugo Ehiogu has returned to Middlesbrough following his loan spell at Elland Road. Lining up in midfield for United are likely to be influential captain Kevin Nicholls, former Preston wideman Eddie Lewis, Shaun Derry and Ian Moore with Jonathan Douglas out suspended. Up front the duo of David Healy and Robbie Blake, with 11 goals between them, look likely starters although new signing Tore Andre Flo will also be looking to figure. United will be without Tresor Kandol who is cup-tied. Leeds United From: Sullivan, Richardson, Sa, Westlake, Marques, Foxe, Elliott, Heath, Carole, Derry, Howson, Beckford, Nicholls, Lewis, Moore, Blake, Healy, Flo MATCH OFFICIALS Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham) Refereed November’s St Andrews’ clash with Birmingham City which ended in a 2-0 defeat for Albion. Awarded Blues a dubious free-kick which led to their first goal and in the closing stages of the game sent off Baggies’ left-back Paul Robinson for violent conduct following a poor challenge on Damien Johnson.
Assistant
Referees: Chris Francis (Cambridgeshire), Steve Rubery (Essex) FORM GUIDE Albion - Last Six Games: Southend (a) Lost 1-3; Ipswich Town (h) Won 2-0; Preston North End (h) Won 4-2; Plymouth Argyle (a) Drew 2-2; Coventry City (h) Won 5-0; Barnsley (a) Drew 1-1 Leeds United - Last Six Games: Coventry City (h) Won 2-1; Stoke City (a) Lost 1-3; Sunderland (a) Lost 0-2; Hull City (h) Drew 0-0; Ipswich Town (a) Lost 0-1; Derby County (h) Lost 0-1 WHAT THE BOOKIES SAY Albion to win: 8/13; Leeds United to win: 7/2; Draw: 5/2 First Goalscorer: Diomansy Kamara (4/1); John Hartson, Kevin Phillips (9/2); Jason Koumas (5/1); David Healy, Zoltan Gera (7/1); Richard Cresswell, Ian Moore, Tresor Kandol, Robbie Blake, Tore Andre Flo (8/1) LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS
Albion: Zuberbuhler, Albrechtsen, McShane, Perry, Robinson, Gera (Chaplow 80), Greening, Carter, Koumas, Phillips, Hartson (Kamara HT). Subs not used: Hoult (gk), Nicholson, Hodgkiss Scorers: Albrechtsen 40, Kamara 65, 92, Phillips 79
Leeds United: Warner, Kelly (Stone HT), Kilgallon, Butler, Crainey, Douglas, Derry, Nicholls (Westlake 54), Lewis (Moore 70), Horsfield, Healy. Subs not used: Sullivan (gk), Foxe Scorers: Horsfield 82, Stone 88
Referee:
Rob Styles (Hampshire) Half-Time: Albion 1-0 Leeds United Attendance: 21,435 Goals from Martin Albrechtsen and Kevin Phillips plus a Diomansy Kamara double gave 10-man West Brom a 4-2 victory over Leeds at The Hawthorns. The Baggies had Paul McShane dismissed by referee Rob Styles after conceding the first-half penalty which David Healy would waste. The visitors were made to pay for their profligacy when Albrechtsen netted shortly before the interval ahead of second-half goals from Kamara which sandwiched Phillips' strike. The Leeds consolations came from Geoff Horsfield and Steve Stone. Albion made a positive start as Jonathan Greening burst into the box with eight minutes gone but saw his shot saved by Tony Warner. It was not until the 20th minute that Leeds responded when Jonathan Douglas' header from Stephen Crainey's crossfield ball was comfortably saved by Pascal Zuberbuhler. But in the 24th minute Albrechtsen crossed for John Hartson, whose header was palmed away by Warner and when presented with the rebound, Phillips blazed over. Crainey's long ball was collected by Horsfield in the 32nd minute with the former Baggies striker shaking off marker McShane as he bore down on goal. McShane and Horsfield tangled inside the box, Styles awarded a penalty and dismissed the centre-back with a straight red card. Healy stepped up to the spot but slammed the ball wide of Zuberbuhler's right-hand post. Albion went in front five minutes before the break as an unmarked Albrechtsen headed home a Jason Koumas header floated from the left. Hartson was replaced by Kamara and Gary Kelly by Stone in time for the start of the second half. Only nine minutes later Leeds were forced to make another substitution as Kevin Nicholls was carried off on a stretcher, to be replaced by Ian Westlake. Leeds' afternoon lurched from bad to worse after Phillips won possession in midfield with 65 minutes on the clock and spread the ball wide to Darren Carter. In came the cross from the left wing to the back post where the unchallenged Kamara slid the ball home. Phillips himself was among Styles' long list of second-half bookings with the Albion frontman adjudged to have dived when colliding with Warner. But the former Watford, Sunderland and Aston Villa forward was beaming in the 79th minute though after Kamara beat four defenders inside the penalty box and then teed up his team-mate for a point-blank finish. There were further twists though as Douglas found Horsfield inside the penalty box for the striker to turn and thump the ball low past Zuberbuhler, and Stone tapped home for Leeds' second after Horsfield had hit the post. But Albion's nerves were calmed after Phillips counter-attacked during injury time and found Kamara, who chipped over Warner from the left channel. (Sporting Life) CURRENT CONNECTIONS None PAST CONNECTIONS Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Peter Barnes, Paul Beesley, Martin Dickinson, Ugo Ehiogu, Johnny Giles, Sean Gregan, Geoff Horsfield, Rob Hulse, Jack Mahon, Andy McCall, Stuart Naylor, Carlton Palmer, Neil Parsley, Kevin Pressman, Ronnie Robinson, David Stewart, Bob Taylor, Mickey Thomas, Imre Varadi, Frank Waterhouse and Chris Whyte. Norman Hunter played for and coached Leeds before becoming Johnny Giles' assistant at The Hawthorns in 1983; Don Howe, an Albion player and manager, coached at Leeds during the 1970's; Ex-Albion boss Brian Little was a trialist at both clubs.
A full guide to
Leeds United can be found
here
whilst a full fixture history can be found
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