LEYTON ORIENT TEAM NEWS: O’s boss Martin Ling made six changes from the side that lost 3-1 at Carlisle United last Saturday. Justin Miller, Brian Saah, Donny Barnard, Wayne Corden, Jabo Ibehre and Paul Connor came into the side replacing Michael Simpson, Adam Tann, Gary Alexander, Lee Steele, Joe Keith and the injured John Mackie.

EASY FOR BAGGIES IN CARLING CUP STROLL

After seeing numerous Championship clubs knocked out by lower league opposition on the previous two nights, Bryan Robson’s men travelled to East London for what promised to be a tricky test in front of the Sky TV cameras.

As expected the Baggies’ boss rested a number of first team regulars, giving Kevin Phillips, Paul McShane and Stuart Nicholson their first starts for the club and Darren Carter, Martin Albrechtsen and Richard Chaplow their first starts of the season.

On seven minutes it was Nicholson that had the game’s first chance, a deflected Phillips’ shot put him clear on goal but the youngster delayed his shot allowing O’s defender Matt Lockwood to block his effort.

An even game came to life in the13th minute when Donny Barnard got his head on the end of Wayne Corden's left-wing corner. Thankfully for Albion Curtis Davies was once again in the right place at the right time to head away the danger and from the clearance Albion, led by Phillips Carter and Greening broke quickly, the counter-attack culminating in a weak shot from Carter that Orient keeper Glyn Garner saved comfortably.

Albion had a lucky escape just three minutes later when Pascal Zuberbuhler, who once again looked far from steady, mis-hit a clearance straight to Jabo Ibehre. The big striker hit a first-time effort from 35 yards which flashed just wide of the post with the Swiss keeper stuck in no-mans land. Although his goals against record is impressive this season it’s surely only a matter of time that one of his ‘clangers’ will cost us a goal and game.

The lively Nicholson, who was linking up well with debutant Phillips, was the next player to try his luck, latching onto a Albrechtsen cross to hit a weak shot from 15 yards that Garner easily gathered.

The hosts came close to taking the lead in the 28th minute when the dangerous Ibehre leapt highest to get on the end of Matt Lockwood's right-wing corner-kick. His downward header was fumbled by Zuberbuhler but thankfully for the Swiss keeper Ronnie Wallwork was on hand to clear the danger.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 41st minute, when a Phillips' flick-on sent Chaplow through on goal. The ex-Burnley midfielder took the ball on and hit an 18 yard shot that Garner could only parry straight into the path of Nicholson who dispatched the ball into the roof of the net for his first senior goal. The joy of the moment sent the youngster running over into the crowd to get a handshake off his dad, predictably referee Kevin Wright was not far behind him waiting to issue a yellow card.

Ex-Birmingham City man Carter came close to doubling the visitors lead a minute before half-time flashing a 25 yard free-kick just wide.

Two minutes into the second half, Phillips went close to opening his Albion goalscoring account, heading a Greening cross just over the Orient goal. The former England international almost turned villain minutes later however when his misplaced pass gave Shane Tudor a sight of goal but the former Wolves’ star could only fire weakly wide from 20 yards out. Albion had started to get sloppy, allowing the home side more and more possession and in the 55th minute Wayne Corden tested Zuberbuhler with a 12 yard shot after being set up by Paul Conner. The Baggies’ keeper was tested again three minutes later, tipping over a 20 yard strike from Craig Easton.

Goalscorer Nicholson should have grabbed his second of the game in the 67th minute when he headed wide from Albrechtsen's excellent right-wing centre, it was an excellent chance created by the pace of the Danish defender, something all too rarely seen in the Albion team nowadays.

Five minutes later the visitors did grab a second goal to effectively kill the tie off, Carter unleashing a fierce left-foot volley from the corner of the six-yard box after Greening had flighted the ball to the far post. The strike brought applause from the vast majority of the paltry 3,000 crowd. After winning last year’s goal of the season award for his strike against Arsenal it would be a major surprise and will take something really special to prevent him picking up this season’s award too.

On 75 minutes Greening gave the scoreline a far more emphatic look when he slotted home following a neat one-two with Nicholson. Albion, with the outstanding Davies and impressive McShane at the heart of defence played out the remaining fifteen minutes with ease and so booked themselves a place in the second round.

ALBION MAN OF THE MATCH: Curtis Davies
LEYTON ORIENT MAN OF THE MATCH: Jabo Ibehre

PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF TEN

Zuberbuhler 5 - Made yet more blunders, this time with his kicking. Unfortunately looks only a matter of time before he costs us goals and games.
Albrechtsen 5 - Handed chance to impress but failed to. Passing was poor at times as was his defending.
Robinson 6 - Not his best performance of the season but generally sound.
Davies 8 - A fantastic display of defending only let down by his occasionally sloppy distribution.
McShane 7 - A little bit 'ring rusty' but otherwise a fully committed display.
Wallwork 5 - Struggled to impose himself fully on the game.
Chaplow 6 - A typical hard-working performances with some nice passing. Does tend to lose possession a bit too often though.
Greening 6 - Better than of late although still struggling to find form. Took his goal well and set up the second for Carter.
Carter 5 - Following his impressive cameos in previous games this was a poor outing for Carter although he did score 'that goal'.
Phillips 7 - An impressive start to his Albion career. Movement was good and rarely wasted the ball.
Nicholson 7 - Excellent full debut from the youngster. Took his goal well and set up the third for Greening. Full of running.

SUBS:
Hartson 4 - Made no impact in time on pitch.

REF WATCH

Kevin Wright 7 - Not too bad a performance, fair to both sides and kept game flowing.