WEST BROMWICH ALBION v NEWPORT COUNTY
Capital One Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 27th August 2013, 8:00pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

This will be the first meeting between Albion and the reformed Newport County although the Baggies did meet the original club five times.

The original County's last visit to The Hawthorns came in February 1947.

Albion's last game on this date came in 2005 when they lost 3-2 to Birmingham City in a Premier League game at The Hawthorns.

Newport's last game on August 27 came in 2011 when they lost 2-1 away at AFC Telford United in a Conference Premier game.

Albion's last six games: Everton (A) 0-0; Southampton (H) 0-1; Bologna (H, Fr) 2-0; Cork City (A, Fr) 6-0; Genoa (N, Fr) 0-1; Atromitos (N, Fr) 3-1.

Newport's last six games: Dagenham & Redbridge (A) 1-1; Bristol Rovers (H) 1-0; Northampton Town (A) 1-3; Brighton & Hove Albion (A, LC) 3-1; Accrington Stanley (H) 4-1; Aston Villa (H, Fr) 5-2.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Steve Clarke looks set to make a number of changes for the clash with County.

Keeper Ben Foster is out after suffering a foot injury at Everton on Saturday whilst Nicolas Anelka is still missing after the Baggies granted the French star indefinite compassionate leave. With Foster out and Boaz Myhill doubtful, Luke Daniels is on standby to make his full debut in goal.

Defender Steven Reid is also out whilst long-term injured trio Zoltan Gera, George Thorne and Adil Nabil all remain sidelined.

Recent signings Scott Sinclair, Matej Vydra and Diego Lugano all look set to make their first starts for the club.

Squad: Myhill, Daniels, Olsson, Popov, Ridgewell, Lugano, McAuley, Dawson, Jones, Tamas, Yacob, Morrison, Brunt, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Rosenberg, Long, Vydra, Berahino, Sinclair.

Newport County

Defenders Ismail Yakubu (calf) and Byron Anthony (ankle), along with midfielder Max Porter and striker Aaron O'Connor (both groin), will all be missing for the trip to the Hawthorns.

County are boosted however by the news that former Baggie Tony James could make his first start of the season after the defender recovered from his recent hamstring injury.

Squad: TBC

QUOTES

Baggies' boss Steve Clarke:

“I've got players who need to play. We will regroup, look at the injuries, look at the freshness of the players and make a decision on the team.

“It will be a difficult game tomorrow. Newport got a great result in the first round - going to Brighton and winning is fantastic. Winning there is not easy. They're a team who have just won promotion, so are used to success. We won't underestimate them.

“No matter how many changes I may or may not make, the team will hopefully be strong enough to go through.”

www.wba.co.uk

County boss Justin Edinburgh:

"If you go back to the FA Trophy it was a bit like that. We were going for a day out and the result didn't’ matter, but that’s not the case for us, we want to give back to the fans, but not just with a day out, with a good performance as well.

“There is no pressure on us, as a club on the whole what this is, it’s an occasion, a ‘look how far we’ve come pat on the back’ sort of day for the fans and the board, but for us, we go there looking for more than that.

“We won’t see anyone do a Bradford for a long, long time, but there will be upsets tonight, one, two, maybe more and let’s see if we can be one of them. It’s a massive task and a tall order but there will be an upset and that’ll be the challenge I set to my players.

“You saw last season with us being knocked out of the cups early, it favoured us a bit, both Grimsby and Wrexham got caught up in their cup runs and faded towards the end of the season. But we know what is more important. Tonight is a bonus and the biggest game this week is Scunthorpe away, but we have a focused group and the squad is so competitive, if anyone drops off they’ll be out the team and they know that.”

www.newport-county.co.uk

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 1/4, Newport Win: 17/2, Draw: 9/2.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Vydra 7/2, Long 7/2, Rosenberg 7/2, Berahino 4/1, Sinclair 11/2, Morrison 13/2, Dorrans 7/1, Roofe 15/2, Brunt 8/1, Mulumbu 11/1, Dawson 11/1, McAuley 14/1, Lugano 16/1, Jones 20/1, Yacob 20/1, Olsson 20/1.

County: Zebroski 10/1, Jolley 10/1, Crow 11/1, Washington 12/1, Willmott 14/1, Sandell 16/1, Chapman 20/1, Minshull 25/1, Flynn 25/1, Pipe 40/1, Worley 40/1, Jackson 40/1, James 40/1.

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REFEREE

Andy D'Urso (Essex)

Last took charge of an Albion game in March 2010 when the Baggies played out a 1-1 draw with Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

In 41 games last season, D'Urso issued 99 yellow cards and seven red. In his four games this season he has already issued 16 yellow cards and two red.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets will be available up until kick-off and are priced at adults £16, seniors/students £10 and under-17s £6. There is availability in all stands.

WEATHER FORECAST

Dry and clear, 17°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Tony James was a regular in Albion's youth and reserve sides during the mid-late 1990s but the central defender left The Hawthorns for Hereford United in 1998 after failing to break into the Baggies' first team. After spells with Hereford United, Weymouth and Burton Albion, Tony joined Newport in the Summer of 2012.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: William Arch, Lee Baker, Alan Bennion, Steve Benton, Tommy Bowen, Paul Bradshaw, Ernie Edwards, Paul Hall, Arthur Hickman, Simeon Hodson, Kevin Kent, Alistair Love, Billy Lunn, Sandy McNab, Jack Mann, Tudor Martin, Harry Parkes, Sammy Richardson, Walter Robbins, Jack Southam, Trevor Thompson, Willie Thompson, Frank White, Harry White, Paul A Williams, Doug Witcomb and Harry Wright.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS NEWPORT COUNTY