SOUTHAMPTON v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 11th January 2014, 3pm
St Mary's Stadium

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 70th league and cup meeting of the two sides. Southampton currently have a slight edge in terms of victories with 25 compared to Albion's 22.

Albion's last game on this date took place in 2003 when they suffered a 3-1 Premier League defeat at home to Manchester United. The club's last win on January 11 came in 1992 when they defeated Bournemouth 4-0 at The Hawthorns in a Third Division fixture.

The Saints' last game on January 11 came in 2009 when they won 1-0 at Barnsley in a League Championship clash.

Albion have won just two of their last 14 league games whilst the Saints have won two out of their last 11.

Albion's last six games: Crystal Palace (H, FAC) 0-2; Newcastle United (H) 1-0; West Ham United (A) 3-3; Tottenham Hotspur (A) 1-1; Hull City (H) 1-1; Cardiff City (A) 0-1

Southampton's last six games: Burnley (H, FAC) 4-3; Chelsea (H) 0-3; Everton (A) 1-2; Cardiff City (A) 3-0; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 2-3; Newcastle United (A) 1-1

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies’ right-back Billy Jones is again missing due to the cut eye he suffered against Newcastle United on New Year’s Day. Goran Popov is also unavailable due to a neck problem whilst Victor Anichebe is not yet match fit following his groin injury.

Youssouf Mulumbu should return following his own eye problem along with Steven Reid who has missed the last three games.

Squad from: Foster, Myhill, Daniels, Ridgewell, Olsson, McAuley, Lugano, Brunt, Sessegnon, Amalfitano, Mulumbu, Berahino, Yacob, Vydra, Long, Anelka, Morrison, Dawson, Reid, Sinclair, Anichebe, Gera, Rosenberg.

Southampton

Saints' goalkeeper Artur Boruc could figure after a six-week absence with a fractured hand but Dani Osvaldo and Victor Wanyama are missing.

Gaston Ramirez and Rickie Lambert are expected to be available despite both picking up knocks last weekend.

Squad from: Boruc, K Davis, Gazzaniga, Clyne, Chambers, Shaw, Fox, Lovren, Fonte, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Schneiderlin, Reed, Cork, S Davis, Ward-Prowse, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Lallana, Gallagher, Lambert.

QUOTES

Baggies' assistant Head Coach Keith Downing:

“It’s exciting times. I’m pleased it’s settled down and we’ve got someone in place on an 18-month contract that brings stability to the football club. It’s been a little unsettling particularly over the last week with all the rumours flying around. The players have tried to get on with things and they’ve done very well to focus and concentrate on the game.

“I’m going to meet him over the weekend and I’m aware he’s going to be at the game tomorrow, then we’ll crack on next week. I’ve heard good things about Real Betis. He got them up, stabilised them before they recently hit difficult times financially. The Spanish press are positive about him. He’s a name I wasn’t aware of up until a few weeks ago. But I think he fits the criteria and wants to play positive attacking football. It’s a new way forward for the football club so it’s exciting.

“It’s going to be an interesting time; there will be some help coming along in terms of translating the language. But football is a universal language and I’m excited to work with someone with new ideas.

“I’m pleased with my record as caretaker. There’s a lot of people for me to thank. The players responded positively and the backroom staff have come together. We just want to continue those positive results and it would be nice to finish on a high and then get back to supporting next week. We’ve got nine days between games after Saturday and he’ll have some good time there to work with the players and get his ideas across.”

www.wba.co.uk

Saints' manager Mauricio Pochettino:

“The Burnley win was an important one, and this has been an important week. Slowly but surely the players are starting to come back into training fully-fit, so the team is becoming more dynamic and as it was at the start of the season.

“We are going to start to play games from Saturday to Saturday, which gives us consistency, and we are starting to train normally again.  It has been a very good week because we could get back to certain concepts we worked on in the past which we are refreshing.

“We aim to win games - there is nothing more to focus on than winning the games we have to face. It is clear that every single game in the league is important and every single one is going to be tough because all the teams have their own potential and virtues. Saturday’s will be a very important game for us in which we need to perform well to get a positive result.”

www.saintsfc.co.uk

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 14/5, Southampton Win: 17/20, Draw: 23/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Anelka 15/2, Long 15/2, Sessegnon 9/1, Berahino 9/1, Vydra 9/1, Anichebe 10/1, Sinclair 12/1, Gera 14/1, Morrison 14/1, Brunt 16/1, Amalfitano 20/1, Mulumbu 20/1, Dawson 25/1, McAuley 25/1, Thorne 25/1, Yacob 33/1, Reid 33/1.

Southampton: Lambert 9/2, Rodriguez 5/1, Gallagher 7/1, Lallana 15/2, Ramirez 8/1, Davis 11/1, Schneiderlin 14/1, Ward-Prowse 14/1, Wanyama 16/1, Reed 20/1, Fonte 25/1, Lovren 25/1, Fox 33/1, Hooiveld 33/1, Shaw 33/1, Cork 33/1, Chambers 33/1.

REFEREE

Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)

Webb has refereed two Albion games so far this season - the 0-0 draw at Stoke City in October and the 1-0 defeat at Cardiff City last month.

The Sheffield official has taken charge of one Southampton game this season - their 1-0 defeat at Norwich City in August.

So far this season Webb has issued 74 yellow cards and one red card in the 24 games he has officiated.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets will be available to Baggies fans at the St Mary’s Stadium ticket office on the day of the game.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunny and dry, 8°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

Saturday 17 August 2013 - Albion 0-1 Southampton - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Monday 28 April 2008 - Albion 1-1 Southampton - League Championship - The Hawthorns
Saturday 21 February 1981 - Southampton 2-2 Albion - First Division - The Dell
Saturday 27 September 1980 - Albion 2-1 Southampton - First Division - The Hawthorns

LAST LEAGUE MEETING AT ST MARY'S STADIUM

Southampton 0-3 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 27th April  2013, 3:00pm

Southampton: Boruc; Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Fox; Schneiderlin, Cork (Ramirez HT); Lallana (c) (Mayuka 69), S Davis, Rodriguez; Lambert (Fonte 86). Subs not used: K Davis (gk), Forren, Guly, Puncheon

Sent-Off: Ramirez 70 (violent conduct), Fox 82 (dangerous play)

Booked: Hooiveld 28 (foul), Fox 54 (foul)

Albion: Foster; Reid, McAuley, Olsson (c), Ridgewell; Yacob, Dorrans;Morrison (Jones 78); Fortune,Long (Rosenberg 88), Lukaku (Thomas 85). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Odemwingie, D Daniels, Tamas

Goalscorers: Fortune (6), Lukaku (67), Long (77)

Sent-Off: Fortune 70 (violent conduct)

Booked: Yacob 34 (foul), Ridgewell 67 (foul)

Attendance: 31,946 (3,195 Albion fans)

Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)

Referee Robert Madley had a Barclays Premier League debut to remember on Saturday, dishing out three red cards as West Brom romped to a record-breaking victory at Southampton. Having made a rapid ascent up the leagues, the Yorkshireman was handed his maiden top-flight match at St Mary's - one many had expected to be a quiet affair. How wrong they were, with Marc Antoine-Fortune opening the scoring in just the sixth minute after Saints failed to clear their lines. Fortune helped the Baggies double their lead after the break, putting through the ever-impressive Romelu Lukaku to slot home past Artur Boruc. Just three minutes later Fortune was sent off, having raised his hands to Gaston Ramirez after the Uruguayan had thrown an arm at Shane Long. The Saints substitute was sent off for the incident and was joined in the dressing room seven minutes from time by team-mate Danny Fox, who was sent off for a nasty two-footed challenge on Steven Reid. Long had already made it 3-0 by that point as West Brom set a new club record for Premier League matches won (14) and points gained (48), much to the delight of the bumper away crowd of 3,195.

Steve Clarke's side dominated from the outset and Reid played through Lukaku early on, forcing Boruc into action at his near post. The Poland international could only turn the ball for a corner from which West Brom took a sixth-minute lead. Graham Dorrans' set piece was nodded goalwards by Gareth McAuley and then Lukaku, allowing Fortune to bundle home from close range. Fox attempted to hack the ball clear but there was to be no goal-line controversy at the ground at which Hawk-Eye did their testing, with the ball clearly crossing the line. In truth, it was a poor goal to concede and typified a lacklustre start by the hosts. After Morgan Schneiderlin, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez all had shots, West Brom came close to punishing more lax defending. Fine team interplay saw the ball swept out wide to Lukaku, only for the Chelsea loanee to again be denied by Boruc. Saints were looking devoid of ideas going forward and ropey at the back - a combination that was making it an uncomfortable afternoon for the home side. Nathaniel Clyne had to be alert to thwart Long and only a dollop of good luck prevented West Brom netting a second before the half-hour mark. Dorrans sent in a free-kick that found Jonas Olsson unmarked at the back-post, but his ball across the face of goal just evaded Lukaku. Saints pulled themselves together for the remainder of the half but were unable to find an equaliser, with a powerful Nathaniel Clyne strike and Lambert free-kick the closest they came. Lukaku was denied by Boruc late on for the visitors, whose midfielder Claudio Yacob was fortunate not to be sent off after clattering Adam Lallana moments after being booked. Boos welcomed the half-time whistle as the home fans expressed their frustration with the performance of referee Madley.

Ramirez replaced Jack Cork when the teams returned, although Saints were still struggling to seriously threaten the Baggies goal. It took 10 minutes for the hosts to seriously threaten a leveller, with a Clyne cross-shot hitting the crossbar. Saints were still looking poor, though, and found themselves two goals behind in the 67th minute. Fortune was allowed to turn far too easily and his through ball found Lukaku, who rounded Boruc before slotting home. It was a fine assist by Fortune, whose afternoon was brought to a premature end three minutes later. Upset by Ramirez's elbow to Long, the West Brom frontman pushed the Uruguayan in the face. It led Madley to show Fortune a straight red card - something he also handed out to Ramirez. With the sides both reduced to 10 men the game became more open, with a last-ditch Morgan Schneiderlin tackle the only thing stopping James Morrison making it 3-0. West Brom would not be denied for long, though, with Long slotting home past Boruc after getting away from Jos Hooiveld. Things went from bad to worse for the visitors seven minutes from time when Fox, playing in place of the injured Luke Shaw, was sent off for a terrible two-footed lunge on Reid. Not since Portsmouth faced Sunderland in February 2010 has a Premier League match seen three cards - something that overshadowed a fine Baggies win.

 Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

None

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: James Bowden, Tommy Broad, Harry Brown, David Burnside, Richard Chaplow, Mickey Evans, Sammy Farrington, Ricardo Fuller, Bruce Grobbelaar, Harry Hadley, Ian Hamilton, Ivan Katalinic, Billy Light, Graham Lovett, Mike McCartney, Roddy McLeod, Nigel Quashie, Carlton Palmer, Pedro Pele, Chris Perry, Graham Potter, John Reynolds, Uwe Rosler, Terry Simpson, David Speedie, Derek Statham, Andy Townsend and Stuart Williams.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS SOUTHAMPTON