WEST BROMWICH ALBION v ASTON VILLA
Barclays Premier League
Monday 25th November 2013, 8:00pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 161st league and cup meeting between the two clubs. Villa currently have the edge in terms of victories with 74 compared to Albion's 52.

Six of the last ten matches have ended up with a team winning 2-1.

Albion are unbeaten in the last five league games against Villa. The Baggies have never gone six league games undefeated against the men from Aston.

Albion and Villa have met once before on this date, the game coming in 1978 at The Hawthorns when the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. Tony Brown with a penalty scored for the Baggies whilst Allan Evans hit the visitors' goal.

The Baggies last game on this date came in 2007 when they played out a 0-0 draw with Wolves at The Hawthorns. Their last win on November 25 came in 2000 when a Lee Hughes hat-trick helped Albion to a 3-1 win at home to Preston North End.

Villa's last game on this date took place in 2006 when they played out a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough at Villa Park.

The club will hold a minute's applause shortly before kick-off to honour former defender Stuart Williams who died recently.

Albion's last six games: Chelsea (A) 2-2; Crystal Palace (H) 2-0; Liverpool (A) 1-4; Stoke City (A) 0-0; Arsenal (H) 1-1; Manchester United (A) 2-1

Villa's last six games: Cardiff City (H) 2-0; West Ham United (A) 0-0; Everton (H) 0-2; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 0-2; Hull City (A) 0-0; Manchester City (H) 3-2

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies’ boss Steve Clarke is boosted by the return of Nicolas Anelka and Scott Sinclair following their recent injuries. Anelka has missed the last two games due to a groin problem whilst Sinclair has missed five due to his hamstring injury.

Chris Brunt, Gareth McAuley and Boaz Myhill should all feature despite withdrawing from their respective international squads during the international break.

Ben Foster (foot) and Billy Jones (hamstring) are both out but have returned to light training.

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

Aston Villa

Villa look like welcoming back a host of players following recent injuries. Strikers Andreas Weimann (hamstring) and Gabriel Agbonlahor (ankle) could return whilst fellow forward Christian Benteke should also figure despite playing no part in Belgium’s defeat against Japan in midweek.

Fabian Delph (knee) and Antonio Luna (hamstring) also return following injury but Joe Bennett is still missing due to a back problem.

Squad from: Guzan, Steer, Baker, Vlaar, Clark, Lowton, Luna, Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Delph, Westwood, Herd, Sylla, Tonev, Kozak, Helenius, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Benteke, Bowery.

QUOTES

Baggies' boss Steve Clarke:

“If we can use the frustration to kick on and get the points against Villa then fine. But the players are all experienced enough to know that you can’t dwell on the previous game, you have to look forward to the next one. Chelsea’s gone and we have to move on.

“The next game isn't a small game either - it's massive. It's a big game, we're looking forward to it. It’s just a shame we didn’t have a game quickly after; we’ve had to sit on it for more than two weeks.

“I haven't paid too much attention to the Chelsea game. I looked at the game again; the performance was good. We just have to make sure we take the positives out of the game and take them into the Villa game. It’s nice to put it to bed and get ready for Monday night, which is a tremendous game for everybody involved.”

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Villa boss Paul Lambert:

"Stevie has got a good team there. They're a good side with a lot of experienced lads. It was already set there. Roy did a great job. Steve has taken it on. They have added a few on to it. But they are a good team.

"However, we concentrate on our game. I have great belief in my own team. We will have a top travelling support too.They will make themselves heard. Our away fans are fantastic. You find that sometimes when you're smaller in numbers at a match, you make more noise. Our travelling fans have certainly been excellent and I am sure they will be again on Monday."

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MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 6/5, Aston Villa Win: 5/2, Draw: 21/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Anelka 6/1, Long 6/1, Sessegnon 6/1, Anichebe 13/2, Berahino 7/1, Vydra 8/1, Rosenberg 9/1, Morrison 11/1, Brunt 14/1, Amalfitano 14/1, Sinclair 16/1, Mulumbu 20/1, McAuley 20/1, Yacob 25/1, Dawson 25/1, Lugano 33/1, Reid 33/1.

Aston Villa: Benteke 11/2, Kozak 8/1, Agbonlahor 9/1, Weimann 10/1, Helenius 11/1, Tonev 11/1, Johnson 14/1, Bowery 14/1, Bacuna 16/1, El Ahmadi 20/1, Delph 25/1, Herd 33/1, Clark 33/1, Vlaar 33/1, Sylla 33/1, Westwood 33/1, Luna 33/1.

REFEREE

Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Oliver has refereed Albion once so far this season - the 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in September.

The official took charge of four Albion games last season - the 2-1 defeat at home to Liverpool in the Capital One Cup in September, the 2-1 win over Chelsea at The Hawthorns in November, the 2-1 defeat at Everton in January and the 5-5 draw with Manchester United in May.

Oliver refereed two Villa games last season - the 3-1 defeat at home to Everton in August and the 4-1 win at Norwich City in the Capital One Cup in December.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are currently on general sale to home supporters that are on the club's ticketing database.

WEATHER FORECAST

Clear but cold, -1°C

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 2-2 Aston Villa
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 19th January 2013, 5:30pm

Albion: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob (Thomas 36), Brunt (c) (Thorne 90+4); Odemwingie, Morrison, Dorrans (Rosenberg 82); Lukaku. Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Popov, Dawson, Tamas.

Goalscorers: Brunt 49, Odemwingie 83

Booked: Olsson 21 (unsporting behaviour), Dorrans 62 (foul)

Aston Villa: Guzan; Baker (Lichaj 5), Vlaar (c), Clark, Bennett; Lowton, Delph (Bannan 53), Westwood; N’Zogbia (Holman 66), Benteke, Agbonlahor. Subs not used: Marshall (gk), Bent, Ireland, Bowery.

Goalscorers: Benteke 12, Agbonlahor 31

Booked: Agbonlahor 21 (unsporting behaviour), Lichaj 58 (foul), Lowton 61 (foul)

Attendance: 25,583

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

Peter Odemwingie's late equaliser earned West Brom a share of the spoils as Aston Villa let slip a two-goal lead to remain in the Barclays Premier League bottom three. Christian Benteke opened the scoring with a superb finish before Gabriel Agbonlahor doubled Villa's lead before half-time. Albion skipper Chris Brunt pulled a goal back early in the second period and then QPR transfer-window target Odemwingie equalised seven minutes from time.

Villa dominated the opening 45 minutes with Charles N'Zogbia in superb form as he produced one of his best performances for the midlands club. He demonstrated the quality which had helped to keep Wigan in the top flight before his move to Villa during the summer of 2011 and set up the opening two goals. Agbonlahor has had a habit of scoring in local derbies and also looked back to his best as Villa controlled proceedings. But Albion were transformed after the break - no doubt after a half-time rocket from head coach Steve Clarke. Odemwingie looked a constant threat and showed why he is a target for QPR who have had one bid rejected already by the Baggies.

The home side started promisingly and Odemwingie's low centre picked out Romelu Lukaku whose first-time shot was deflected wide by fit again Villa skipper Ron Vlaar. Villa were forced into a fifth-minute substitution when defender Nathan Baker limped out of the action to be replaced by Eric Lichaj. Lukaku was looking sharp and a dipping, low cross from the on-loan Chelsea player was cut out by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan. But after 12 minutes a stunning strike from fellow Belgian Benteke put Villa ahead. N'Zogbia found Villa's £7million summer signing on the edge of the box and he turned past Claudio Yacob before firing an unstoppable rising shot past Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster. It was his 10th goal of the campaign. Albion tried to retaliate and an overhead kick from James Morrison flew straight at Guzan. Tempers became frayed and Baggies defender Jonas Olsson and Agbonlahor were booked after squaring up to each other. Villa were posing problems and after 31 minutes Agbonlahor doubled their lead with his fifth goal of the season. N'Zogbia again supplied the telling pass and Agbonlahor wriggled past Gareth McAuley before beating Foster with a low drive into the corner of the net. Yacob was struggling for fitness after his lengthy lay-off with a hamstring injury and he was replaced after 35 minutes by Jerome Thomas. Dorrans was not far off target from 20 yards but Villa were coping relatively comfortably with the threat of the home side. N'Zogbia was a constant threat and he teed up another opportunity for Lichaj whose shot was blocked by Foster.

Albion began the second half with more purpose and reduced the arrears after 49 minutes. Thomas' low cross was held up and turned back by Lukaku into the path of the onrushing Brunt who curled a 15-yard shot past Guzan. Lichaj and Matt Lowton were yellow carded for chopping down Thomas and Odemwingie respectively as the home side pushed for an equaliser. Then Graham Dorrans went into referee Lee Probert's notebook for fouling Agbonlahor. Joe Bennett came to Villa's rescue when he cleared McAuley's header off the line. Odemwingie then nicked the ball past Guzan but shot over from a narrow angle and the Nigeria international was only inches off target with a stinging drive. He was not to be denied and after 83 minutes brought Albion level. McAuley headed a Brunt corner back across goal and Odemwingie reacted first and volleyed past Guzan.

 Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Albion's back-up keeper Boaz Myhill started his career at Villa Park progressing through the club's youth system. The American-born Welsh international failed to make a first team appearance for Villa and in December 2003, after a number of loan spells at different clubs, he moved to Hull City in a £50,000 deal. Myhill spent a successful seven years at Hull before joining the Baggies in July 2010 for a rumoured £1.5 million fee.

Baggies' defender Liam Ridgewell joined Aston Villa as a 16 year old after leaving West Ham United's youth system. The Bexleyheath-born player spent six years at Villa Park before making the short move to arch-rivals Birmingham City. Ridgewell spent five and a half years at St Andrews before moving to The Hawthorns in January 2012.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Albert Aldridge, Darren Bradley, Franz Carr, Scott Carson, Andy Comyn, Paul Crichton, Jim Cumbes, Neil Cutler, Curtis Davies, John Deehan, Jack Devey, Derek Dudley, Jimmy Dugdale, Lloyd Dyer, Ugo Ehiogu, Albert Evans, Graham Fenton, George Garratt, Bill Garraty, Andy Gray, Tommy Green, Willie Groves, Harry Hadley, George Harris, Tom Haywood, Robert Hopkins, Steve Hunt, George Johnson, Phil King, Zat Knight, Arthur Loach, Ken McNaught, Luke Moore, Tony Morley, Dennis Mortimer, Tom Perry, Kevin Phillips, Tony Rees, Cyrille Regis, John Reynolds, Bob Roberts, Riccardo Scimeca, Nicky Shorey, Jimmy Spencer, Nigel Spink, Kenny Swain, Garry Thompson, Andy Townsend, Gavin Ward, Dave Walsh, Steve Watson, Freddie Wheldon, Jimmy Williams and Charlie Wilson.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS ASTON VILLA