WEST BROMWICH ALBION v MANCHESTER CITY
Barclays Premier League
Wednesday 4th December 2013, 8pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

This is the 144th league and cup meeting of the two clubs. City have the slight edge in terms of victories with 60 compared to Albion's 54.

Albion's last game on this date took place in 2007 when they lost 4-2 against Coventry City in a league fixture at The Hawthorns. The Baggies' last victory on December 4 came in 1991 when goals from Paul Williams and Gary Robson gave Bobby Gould's men a 2-1 win at Lincoln City in the Autoglass Trophy.

City's last game on this date came as recently as last year when they lost 1-0 away at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Albion have scored just one goal in their last six Premier League games against City.

There have been four red cards in the last five meetings between City and Albion at the Hawthorns, three of which have been given to the Baggies.

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

Manchester City's last six games: Swansea City (H) 3-0; Viktoria Plzen (CL, H) 4-2; Spurs (H) 6-0; Sunderland (A) 0-1; CSKA Moscow (CL, H) 5-2; Norwich City (H) 7-0

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Steve Clarke will be without influential midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu who serves a one game ban after collecting his fifth booking of the season at Newcastle on Saturday.

On-loan winger Scott Sinclair is ineligible to face his parent club whilst goalkeeper Ben Foster remains out as he recovers from his broken foot.

Former City striker Nicolas Anelka faces a fitness test on his groin injury ahead of the Hawthorns' clash.

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

Manchester City

Club captain Vincent Kompany could return for City after missing 10 games due a thigh injury.

Matija Nastasic, David Silva and Stevan Jovetic all remain out with calf injuries.

Squad from: Pantilimon, Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Demichelis, Boyata, Clichy, Kolarov, Milner, Navas, Nasri, Toure, Fernandinho, Rodwell, Garcia, Aguero, Negredo, Dzeko, Guidetti.

QUOTES

Baggies' boss Steve Clarke:

"Manchester City at home is a great game to bounce back in. We look forward to the big teams coming down to The Hawthorns and playing against them.It’s a big challenge for us but I’ve challenged the lads already to get the three points.

“It would be nice to do a Manchester double. Not many teams will do that this year and we’re in a position where we can do it, so that’s always a positive.

“We’re unbeaten in four at home and we’ll look to continue that on Wednesday against City.”

www.wba.co.uk

City defender Gael Clichy:

"We need to go away from home and make sure we start to pick up points. You have to look at the positive side - even if we lost against Cardiff, Aston Villa and Sunderland away, we still managed to play better than the opposition.

"Maybe we need to be more focused in the last pass, the last moment, in the box, and score the first goal. When you score the first goal, the game is different.

"But this is a new team with a new manager and new players and we are only going to get better. We are confident it will get better, hopefully starting on Wednesday at West Brom.”

www.mcfc.co.uk

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 5/1, Manchester City Win: 8/13, Draw: 13/5.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Anelka 8/1, Long 8/1, Anichebe 9/1, Berahino 10/1, Vydra 11/1, Sessegnon 11/1, Rosenberg 12/1, Brunt 16/1, Morrison 16/1, Gera 16/1, Amalfitano 20/1, McAuley 25/1, Jones 33/1, Dawson 33/1, Yacob 33/1.

Manchester City: Aguero 7/2, Negredo 9/2, Dzeko 5/1, Guidetti 7/1, Toure 7/1, Navas 9/1, Nasri 9/1, Kolarov 12/1, Rodwell 12/1, Milner 14/1, Garcia 20/1, Fernandinho 20/1, Lescott 25/1, Zabaleta 25/1, Richards 33/1, Demichelis 33/1, Kompany 33/1.

REFEREE

Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Foy refereed three Albion games last season - the 1-0 victory at home to Reading in September, the 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in October and the 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in December.

The Merseyside official took charge of three City games last season - the 3-1 win at home against Queens Park Rangers in September, the goalless draw at Chelsea in November and the 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win in April against Chelsea at Wembley.

The official has issued 28 yellow cards and two red in the eleven games he has officiated so far this season.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are currently on general sale to Albion fans only who turn up in person at the club's ticket office.

WEATHER FORECAST

Clear skies, 3°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

(Click on game to view)

LAST LEAGUE MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 1-2 Manchester City
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 20th October 2012, 3:00pm

Albion: Foster; Tamas, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Yacob; Fortune, Morrison (Gera 72), Dorrans (Odemwingie 64); Long (Lukaku 82). Subs not used: L Daniels (gk), Rosenberg, Jara Reyes, Popov.

Goalscorer: Long 67

Booked: Long 27 (deliberate handball), Tamas 32 (foul), Yacob 35 (foul), Fortune 61 (deliberate handball).

Manchester City: Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Milner, Barry (Dzeko 78), Y Toure, Nasri; Balotelli (Aguero 64), Tevez (Kolarov 83). Subs not used: Pantilimon (gk), Zabaleta, Sinclair, K Toure.

Goalscorers: Dzeko 80 & 90+2

Booked: Balotelli 19 (foul), Y Toure 90 (foul).

Sent-Off: Milner 23 (professional foul).

Attendance: 24,891

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

Two-goal Edin Dzeko came off the substitutes' bench to earn a dramatic victory for 10-man Manchester City in a pulsating Barclays Premier League clash with West Brom at The Hawthorns. Shane Long broke the deadlock mid-way through the second period with his fifth goal of the campaign but Dzeko equalised for the champions within 60 seconds of entering the action. Then in injury-time Dzeko struck the winner as the champions completed their comeback after James Milner's first-half red card for a professional foul.

It was no more than City deserved for they dominated proceedings despite their numerical disadvantage with Ben Foster the busier of the two keepers. Carlos Tevez was a constant threat and Yaya Toure an impressive figure in midfield while right-back Micah Richards got forward to good effect. Victory kept City within four points of leaders Chelsea who came from behind to win at Tottenham in the lunch-time kick-off. It also signalled the end of Albion's 100% home record.

Albion opened promisingly and the recalled Marc-Antoine Fortune flashed a low shot across the face of goal but City quickly assumed control. Samir Nasri's free-kick was deflected wide and, from the resulting corner by Gareth Barry, a goal-bound header from Micah Richards was blocked by Gabriel Tamas. Mario Balotelli burst into the Baggies box after exchanging passes with Barry but his eventual shot was comfortably dealt with by Ben Foster. The former England keeper was more severely tested in tipping over a Richards header from Nasri's corner. Balotelli became the first player to be yellow carded after a challenge on Youssouf Yacob. After 23 minutes City were reduced to 10 men when Milner was sent off for a professional foul. The England player was the last defender when bringing down Long as he raced on to a pass from James Morrison. Tempers were becoming frayed with Long booked for handball and Gabriel Tamas and Yacob then yellow carded for a fouls on Gael Clichy and Tevez respectively. Hart needed treatment after saving bravely at the feet of Graham Dorrans who was played in by Gareth McAuley. Foster clung on to Nasri's volley from a Tevez centre and then denied Balotelli after he had showed great skill in evading three challenges. But referee Mark Clattenburg spoke to City skipper Vincent Kompany after a challenge by Balotelli on Long which could have produced a second caution.

City began the second half on the offensive and Foster tipped over a 20-yard drive from Tevez. Tamas blocked another fierce effort from Clichy after being teed up by the impressive Balotelli. Albion were struggling to make any impression as an attacking force despite having the extra man. Yaya Toure headed over from close range after Balotelli's miskick from a Richards ball into the danger area had fallen invitingly into his path. City then appealed in van for a penalty after Fortune was yellow carded for handball but Clattenburg adjudged the offence took place just outside the box. Balotelli was taken off after 64 minutes and replaced by Sergio Aguero as City continued to press for the breakthrough. McAuley made a great block on a shot from Aguero but after 67 minutes Long stunned the visitors by putting Albion in front. Substitute Peter Odemwingie looked like he was attempting a shot but the ball fell into the path of Long who steered it past Joe Hart. City brought on Dzeko after 79 minutes and within a minute he had brought his side level with a header from a deep Tevez free-kick. Hart made a superb save with a minute remaining to turn over an overhead kick from West Brom substitute Romelu Lukaku. It proved decisive as with seconds remaining Dzeko steered home Aguero's perfectly weighted pass.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Baggies' winger Scott Sinclair is currently on loan from City whom he joined from Swansea in August 2012.

Nicolas Anelka spent almost three years as a City player after joining them from Paris-Saint Germain in 2002 for £13million. He left for Turkish side Fenerbahce in January 2005.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Peter Barnes, Paul Beesley, Tommy Broad, Gerry Creaney, David Cross, Andy Dibble, George Dorsett, Joe Dorsett, Frank Dyer, Tony Grant, Tony Grealish, Henry Hancock, Asa Hartford, Robert Hopkins, Derek Kevan, Steve MacKenzie, Ken McNaught, Ishmael Miller, Gary Owen, Bruce Rankin, Nicky Reid, Uwe Rosler, Barry Siddall, Jason van Blerk and Imre Varadi.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS MANCHESTER CITY