WEST BROMWICH ALBION v MANCHESTER UNITED
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 8th March 2014, 12:45pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

Albion will be attempting to complete their first league double over United since the 1978/79 season.

The two teams have met twice before on March 8, first in 1902 and then in 1958. The Baggies won both games 4-0.

Albion have won just two of the last 22 league games between the sides, although one of those victories was in the last meeting back in September.

The Baggies' last game on March 8 came back in 1997 when they suffered a 1-0 defeat away at Oxford United in League Division One clash. Albion's last win on this date came in 1995 when they beat Portsmouth 2-1 at Fratton Park, again in a League Division One fixture.

United's last game on this date came in 2012 when they lost 3-2 at home to Athletic Bilbao in a Europa League game.

Gareth McAuley will make his 100th Albion appearance if he plays a part in the game.

Albion's last six games: Fulham (H) 1-1; Chelsea (H) 1-1; Crystal Palace (A) 1-3; Liverpool (H) 1-1; Aston Villa (A) 3-4; Everton (H) 1-1.

United's last six league games: Olympiakos (A, CL) 0-2; Crystal Palace (A) 2-0; Arsenal (A) 0-0; Fulham (H) 2-2; Stoke City (A) 1-2; Cardiff City (H) 2-0.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Pepe Mel will be without the trio of Nicolas Anelka, Billy Jones and Diego Lugano for the visit of the defending Premier League champions. Anelka starts a five game ban for his controversial 'la quenelle' celebration, whilst Jones (hamstring) and Lugano (knee) are both injured.

Mel will check on the fitness of midfield duo Chris Brunt and James Morrison after both figured in midweek internationals.

Squad from: TBC

Manchester United

Robin van Persie has been declared fit for the trip to The Hawthorns despite falling ill on international duty this week. Fellow striker Javier Hernandez is unavailable after he suffered a knee injury in Mexico's friendly against Nigeria, but Juan Mata returns after being cup-tied for United's Champions League defeat to Olympiakos.

Jonny Evans (calf) and winger Nani (hamstring) are doubtful but centre-back Phil Jones (hip) could return.

Squad from: De Gea, Lindegaard, Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Smalling, Jones, Vidic, Buttner, Giggs, Carrick, Young, Cleverley, Fletcher, Valencia, Kagawa, Fellaini, Januzaj, Mata, Rooney, Welbeck, Van Persie.

QUOTES

Baggies' Head Coach Pepe Mel:

"My job depends on winning games and being a head coach is a risky business. I came here extremely excited to do a good job and I'm certain that I'm going to carry this out.

"We've been here six weeks and had six meetings. There was one this morning but it's intelligent to try and adapt to the style of play that we want.

"They are small things but they will make us better because the players will feel more comfortable. The players are the important ones, that are the coach's bread and butter.

"I'm the third coach at the club this season and it's not been a pleasant situation this season. Winning games changes everything and we could all be here on Saturday evening smiling.

"In football you should never look to the following game and we are totally convinced we can win against Manchester United."

United Boss David Moyes:

"Everyone keeps talking about the manager not winning for six games but West Brom won at Old Trafford this season and we need to try and avenge that and pick up the three points down there.

"I'd be very surprised if Pepe Mel is under pressure at this moment. I wouldn't think for one minute that after six games they were thinking about bringing in a new manager."

skysports.com

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 15/4, United Win: 3/4, Draw: 13/5.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Anichebe 15/2, Thievy 8/1, Berahino 9/1, Vydra 10/1, Sessegnon 10/1, Sinclair 14/1, Morrison 16/1, Gera 16/1, Brunt 16/1, Dorrans 20/1, Mulumbu 25/1, Amalfitano 25/1, Dawson 25/1, McAuley 25/1, Yacob 33/1.

Manchester United: van Persie 7/2, Rooney 5/1, Hernandez 6/1, Welbeck 13/2, Mata 15/2, Januzaj 8/1, Kagawa 10/1, Young 10/1, Valencia 11/1, Fellaini 14/1, Giggs 16/1, Cleverley 16/1, Carrick 25/1, Buttner 25/1, Fletcher 25/1, Vidic 33/1, Jones 33/1, Evra 33/1, Smalling 33/1, Rafael 33/1.

REFEREE

Jonathan Moss (West Yorkshire)

Moss has refereed two Albion games so far this season - the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool in October and the 1-1 draw at home to Hull in December.

He took charge of three Albion games last season - the 2-0 win at home to Everton in September, the 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford in December and the 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in February.

The West Yorkshire official has taken charge of  just one United game so far during 2013/14 - the 2-0 win at home to Crystal Palace in September.

Moss has handed out 87 yellow cards and two red cards in the 27 games he has refereed so far this season.

TICKET INFORMATION

The club have a very limited number of tickets remaining for the game with seats only available for the West Stand and Birmingham Road End. There are also a number of restricted view seats remaining.

Tickets are only on sale to season ticket holders or members with a booking history.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunny intervals, 13°C

FIXTURE HISTORY

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Sunday 19 May 2013 - Albion 5-5 Manchester United - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Tuesday 27 January 2009 - Albion 0-5 Manchester United - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Saturday 7 May 2005 - Manchester United 1-1 Albion - Premier League - Old Trafford
Wednesday 3 December 2003 - Albion 2-0 Manchester United - Carling Cup 4th Round - The Hawthorns
Saturday 4 September 1982 - Albion 3-1 Manchester United - First Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 27 December 1980 - Albion 3-1 Manchester United - First Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 30 December 1978 - Manchester United 3-5 Albion - First Division - Old Trafford
Wednesday 1 February 1978 - Albion 3-2 Manchester United - FA Cup 4th Round Replay - The Hawthorns
Saturday 16 October 1976 - Albion 4-0 Manchester United - First Division - The Hawthorns
Wednesday 5 March 1958 - Manchester United 1-0 Albion - FA Cup QF Replay - Old Trafford

LAST LEAGUE MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 5-5 Manchester United
Barclays Premier League
Sunday 19th May 2013, 4,00pm

Albion: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell (Lukaku HT); Yacob, Mulumbu; Dorrans, Morrison (Fortune 79), Brunt; Long (Rosenberg 79). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Dawson, Tamas, Popov.

Goalscorers: Morrison 40, Lukaku 50, 81 & 86, Mulumbu 81

Manchester United: Lindergaard; Valencia, Evans (Ferdinand 83), Jones, Buttner; Anderson, Carrick, Cleverley (Giggs 60), Kagawa (Scholes 69); van Persie, Hernandez. Subs not used: De Gea (gk), Evra, Vidic, Januzaj.

Goalscorers: Kagawa 6, Olsson 9 (og), Buttner 28, van Persie 53, Hernandez 63

Booked: Scholes 82 (foul)

Attendance: 26,438

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Sir Alex Ferguson was denied a winning send off into retirement as West Brom roared back from three goals down to snatch a draw in a quite staggering 10-goal thriller at The Hawthorns. Only once in Premier League history has more goals been scored in a game. And never have both sides found the net five times. Maybe it was destiny that after so many milestones, Ferguson's career should end in a manner that is unlikely to be forgotten either. Not that the Scot looked hugely impressed as he chomped on his chewing gum, knowing his side could easily have lost when Markus Rosenburg spurned a late chance. In the end though, not even four minutes of "Fergie Time" could yield a winner as referee Michael Oliver called time on the greatest career English football has ever known.

It was typical of Ferguson that his last team selection should be made with an eye on the future he will be watching unfold from the Old Trafford directors' box. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra might have a combined total of 40 Premier League title medals and shared in some of Ferguson's greatest days, but they were all named on the bench. With them was 18-year-old Belgian Adnan Junzaj, the latest promising youngster to roll off the Red Devils production line. For a short while, after the guard of honour and the jovial handshake with fourth official Chris Foy, it seemed Ferguson's team might let him down as West Brom started with a clear sense of purpose. It soon became apparent however, that this was to be a day that will live as long in the memory as Ferguson's career. With Wayne Rooney granted an absence due to the impending birth of his second child, the Scot had been saved a potentially tricky selection dilemma. In Rooney's place the United boss chose Javier Hernandez, who chased a long ball down to the corner flag and quickly crossed to Shinji Kagawa, who had been left completed on his own on the edge of the six-yard box. The Japan international has struggled for consistency during his debut campaign. He evidently has lots of talent though. And he had no bother putting the visitors ahead. On their next attack, United struck again. This time Antonio Valencia found space out wide before drilling a low shot across the six-yard box which the hapless Jonas Olsson turned into his own net. The start was in keeping with West Brom's lamentable end of season form. With just one victory from their final nine games, the Baggies have put themselves in a position where a poor start to next term will trigger a revision of history that will have Steve Clarke's position as manager under scrutiny no matter what wonders he performed in the first half of the campaign. When Alexander Buttner strode onto Tom Cleverley's pass and drove his first goal since September into the bottom corner, plenty of home fans headed for the concourses even though there was less than a third of the contest completed. In addition to late goals, the other aspect of United's DNA Ferguson knows only too well is that they always seem to make life difficult for themselves. It is what he meant in his on-pitch address last week when he declared he was looking forward to watching United play, rather than suffering with them.

And so, when James Morrison managed to pull one back just before the interval and substitute Romelu Lukaku struck immediately afterwards, it was as much in keeping with Ferguson's reign as Ferdinand's 87th winner seven days ago against Swansea. Order was quickly restored though as Valencia crossed for Robin van Persie to set the seal on a second successive Golden Boot title, the difference being that this year, the Dutchman has a team prize to go alongside it. By now the game had seen the introduction of Ryan Giggs, for his 941st appearance under Ferguson, and the veteran Welshman quickly crossed for Hernandez to touch home. Amazingly though, West Brom refused to surrender. First Lukaku, then Youssouf Mulumbu scored to give the scoreboard as surreal a look as the number of years Ferguson has been manager. That old competitive instinct resurfaced as the Scot demanded to know how long was left. Not long enough was the answer as Lukaku scored the final goal to take some of the sheen of Ferguson's day.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Ben Foster spent five years at Old Trafford but made just an handful of first team appearances. The Leamington-born keeper had joined United from Stoke City in July 2005.

Albion goalkeeper Luke Daniels started his career at Old Trafford before moving to The Hawthorns in 2004 following his release by United.

Alan Fettis, who had a short spell on loan at The Hawthorns in 1995, is United's Academy goalkeeping coach.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Arthur Albiston, Michael Appleton, Jack Banks, Peter Barnes, Henry Boyd, Garth Crooks, Laurie Cunningham, Arthur Fitton, Johnny Giles, Jonathan Greening, Graeme Hogg, Jim Holton, Tomasz Kuszczak, Paul McShane, Mick Martin, Remi Moses, Michael Nardiello, Jimmy Nicholl, Mike Phelan, Billy Richards, Kieran Richardson, Bryan Robson, Maurice Setters, Arthur Smith, Jimmy Stanton, Luke Steele, Mickey Thomas and Ronnie Wallwork

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS MANCHESTER UNITED