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WEST BROMWICH ALBION v ASTON VILLA
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 13th December 2014, 3:00pm
The Hawthorns

If under-fire Baggies' boss Alan Irvine wanted an easier low-key game to lift the pressure off him, he couldn't have asked for a worse team to be this weekend's visitors to The Hawthorns. Whilst there have been many important games during the 132 year history of the fixture, it's doubtful as to whether many have held the potential to end the reign of one of the managers. A defeat and poor performance against the Villans would surely see dissent against an Albion manager grow to levels not seen since the days of Alan Buckley, increasing pressure on club owner Jeremy Peace to remove the man he 'head-hunted' just six months ago.

With various players being shipped out to the media during the last week to sing the praises of their manager, it's pretty obvious the club are attempting to put a positive spin on Irvine but no matter what they say, there's only one guaranteed way for Irvine to win over the disenchanted Baggies' supporters and that's to start winning games.

Hull last week was seen by many as an ideal game to pick up three points, especially given Hull's wretched run of form which was arguably even worse than Albion's. However, travelling supporters hoping to see the likes of Brown Ideye, Cristian Gamboa and Silvestre Varela in the starting line-up were once again disappointed and were once again subjected to a dour and lifeless performance. As so many times this season, it appears the focus on the game was to make sure the team didn't lose as opposed to chasing a win. Things have to improve and quickly.

The game at Hull did have one major plus point - the return of Gareth McAuley to the centre of defence. Whilst Craig Dawson hasn't particularly played poorly, the time was right for the Irishman to make his return to the team, and alongside the always impressive Joleon Lescott, the Baggies' defence did look more solid and organised than it had recently, although the opposition offered very little in truth.

With Chris Brunt missing the Villa game through injury, supporters have been calling for Portuguese winger Varela to make his first start for the club but Irvine would be springing a major surprise if he chose that option. More likely he will once again play with four natural central midfielders across the middle of the park, once again meaning the team lacks natural width, one of our biggest concerns this season.

With the Baggies' boss praising record signing Brown Ideye during the week, and with the Nigerian striker scoring a brace in a behind closed doors friendly against Northampton on Tuesday, it does appear he may be given another chance to kick-start his so far faltering Albion career.

As for Villa, it's just Albion's luck that they face them after they've experienced an upturn in results and performances, helped no doubt by the return of classy striker Christian Benteke. Along with Gabby Agbonlahor, the duo can cause problems for any defence and McAuley and Lescott will have to be at their best to negate any threat they pose.

Whilst Villa's results have picked up recently, they are still a fairly average team and in all honesty very little separates the two sides. One would have to imagine that for Albion to get anything out of the game it's vital they get off to a good start. Conceding first would be a huge blow to the already fragile confidence of the Albion players, and could turn an already downbeat mood amongst supporters into a mood of anger against Alan Irvine.

ATWD Predicition: 1-1.

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 163rd league and cup meeting between the two clubs. Villa currently lead the way in terms of victories with 75 compared to Albion's 52.

Albion's last game on this date came in 2008 when they suffered a 4-0 Premier League defeat at Sunderland following a dismal display. The Baggies' last win on December 13 came in 1995 when they won 1-0 away at Brescia in an Anglo-Italian Cup tie. The club's last league win came in 1969 - a 1-0 win away at Ipswich Town.

Villa's last game on this date also came in 2008, Gabby Agbonlahor scoring twice as Villa beat Bolton Wanderers 4-2 in a Premier League clash at Villa Park.

The Baggies have won just three out of their last 22 home league games, a run stretching back 12 months.

Albion go into the game looking for their 50th home Premier League win.

If he features in the game, Youssouf Mulumbu will make his 150th Premier League appearance for the club.

Albion's last six games: Hull City (A) 0-0; West Ham United (H) 1-2; Arsenal (H) 0-1; Chelsea (A) 0-2; Newcastle United (H) 0-2; Leicester City (A) 1-0

Villa's last six games: Leicester City (H) 2-1; Crystal Palace (A) 1-0; Burnley (A) 1-1; Southampton (H) 1-1; West Ham United (A) 0-0; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 1-2.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Youssouf Mulumbu (ankle) and Stephane Sessegnon (calf) have both shaken off knocks and have been declared fit by Baggies' boss Alan Irvine who is also boosted by the return, following suspension, of Argentine midfielder Claudio Yacob.

Irvine however will be without captain Chris Brunt (hamstring) and Swedish defender Jonas Olsson (Achilles).

Aston Villa

Villa boss Paul Lambert will be without midfielder Ashley Westwood for the Hawthorns’ clash after the former Crewe man suffered knee ligament damage during last weekend’s win over Leicester. He could be joined on the sidelines by Tom Cleverley who faces a late fitness test after picking up a knock against the Foxes.

Lambert though will be boosted by the return of Andreas Weimann following suspension whilst Dutch defender Ron Vlaar and England midfielder Fabian Delph could also feature following their return to training following injury.

Joe Cole (hamstring), Nathan Baker (knee) and Philippe Senderos (calf) remain sidelined.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 11/10, Aston Villa Win: 13/5, Draw: 9/4.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 9/2, Anichebe 11/2, Ideye 6/1, Samaras 13/2, Sessegnon 13/2, Blanco 8/1, Dorrans 9/1, Varela 9/1, Gardner 11/1, Morrison 11/1, Mulumbu 16/1, Dawson 20/1,  McAuley 20/1, Lescott 25/1, Baird 33/1, Yacob 33/1, Pocognoli 33/1.

Aston Villa: Benteke 11/2, Agbonlahor 13/2, Weimann 8/1, Robinson 9/1, Cole 9/1, N'Zogbia 10/1, Richardson 11/1, Grealish 12/1, Cleverley 14/1, Bacuna 16/1, Sanchez 25/1, Herd 25/1, Clark 25/1, Cissokho 33/1, Okore 33/1, Vlaar 33/1.

No Goalscorer: 13/2.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Mike Dean (Wirral)

Dean has officiated one Albion game so far this season - the 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United in October.

He refereed four Albion games last season - the 1-0 win at home to West Ham in April, the 1-1 draw at home to Fulham in February, the 3-3 draw at West Ham in December and the 2-0 defeat at home to Swansea City in September.

The Wirral official has taken charge of one Villa game during 2014/15 - the 0-0 draw against Newcastle United at Villa Park in August.

Dean has issued 63 yellow cards and four red in the 14 games he has officiated so far this season.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the game are currently on sale to season ticket holders and members priced £39 adults, £29 seniors, £25 students/Under-21s and £15 Under-17s.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunny but cold, 3°C

FIXTURE HISTORY

The first ever meeting of the two clubs came on December 9, 1882, in a Staffordshire Cup 2nd round tie at Villa. In front of a reported crowd of almost 14,000, the game ended in a 3-3 draw with George Bell (2) and perhaps somewhat ironically, Harry Aston, scoring the visitors' goals. The replay two weeks later at the Four Acres saw Albion win with a solitary goal from George Timmins.

The first league meetings took place during the inaugural Football League season of 1888/89. The first game, played at Perry Barr on January 19, ended in a 2-0 defeat for the Baggies, Dennis Hodgetts and Albert Allen the Villa goalscorers. The return match at Stoney Lane a week later saw the two teams share six goals in a 3-3 draw, Tom Pearson and the aforementioned Allen scoring two goals each.

Albion’s biggest win against Villa is 7-0 which came in a First Division match at Villa Park on October 19, 1935. W.G. Richardson scored four of the visitors' goals with Stan Wood, Jack Mahon and Jack Sankey the other players on the scoresheet.

Other big wins for the Baggies include 6-2 at The Hawthorns in 1926/27 and 6-1 in a League Cup tie, again at The Hawthorns, in September 1966. Midfielder Bobby Hope scored three of the Albion goals in the latter match.

Villa’s biggest win against Albion is 7-1, achieved in a First Division game during the 1898/99 season. Bill Garraty, who would later join the Baggies, scored a hat-trick.

Villa have also recorded a 6-3 win at Stoney Lane in October 1893, and a 6-1 victory at Villa Park in a First Division game in April 1954.

Albion have lost just one of their last seven league games against Villa, winning two and drawing four. Prior to the first of those victories in April 2011, the Baggies had gone 17 league and cup games without a win against their old rivals, a sequence spanning 26 years.

In total there have been 162 league and cup games between Albion and Villa with the men from Aston having by far the better record with 75 wins to Albion's 52.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

(Click on game to view)

Sunday 21 September 2008 - Albion 1-2 Aston Villa - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Monday 2 January 2006 - Albion 1-2 Aston Villa - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Sunday 10 April 2005 - Aston Villa 1-1 Albion - Premier League - Villa Park
Saturday 14 December 2002 - Aston Villa 2-1 Albion - Premier League - Villa Park
Saturday 17 February 1990 - Albion 0-2 Aston Villa - FA Cup 5th Round - The Hawthorns
Saturday 27 August 1983 - Aston Villa 4-3 Albion - First Division - Villa Park
Saturday 2 October 1982 - Albion 1-0 Aston Villa - First Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 25 November 1978 - Albion 1-1 Aston Villa - First Division - The Hawthorns

LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 2-2 Aston Villa
Barclays Premier League
Monday 25th November 2013, 8:00pm

Albion: Myhill; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Popov (Anichebe 82); Mulumbu, Yacob; Amalfitano, Sessegnon (Morrison 83), Brunt; Long. Subs not used: L Daniels (gk), Berahino, Dawson, Vydra, Anelka.

Goalscorers: Long 3 & 11

Booked: Mulumbu 54 (foul)

Aston Villa: Guzan; Bacuna, Vlaar, Baker, Clark; Sylla (Delph 57), Westwood, El Ahmadi, Tonev (Weimann 57); Kozak (Agbonlahor 57), Benteke. Subs not used: Steer (gk), Herd, Bowery, Lowton.

Goalscorers: El Ahmadi 67, Westwood 76

Booked: Clark 86 (foul)

Attendance: 24,902

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Aston Villa came from two goals down to draw with West Bromwich Albion in a thrilling West Midlands derby. The hosts established their early dominance as Shane Long scored twice in the first 11 minutes.  He controlled superbly to fire in from 18 yards before chipping over Brad Guzan after Leandro Bacuna's poor pass. But Villa were transformed by a triple substitution around the hour mark, with Karim El Ahmadi volleying in before Ashley Westwood's fierce 25-yard shot. It was an unexpected turnaround at The Hawthorns after a poor first half from the visitors, but the introduction of Andreas Weimann, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fabian Delph paid instant dividends as the sides produced a repeat of the result in last season's corresponding fixture. On that occasion it was West Brom who were two goals in arrears before they salvaged a draw, and after another entertaining game huge credit must go to Villa boss Paul Lambert, who masterminded his side's change in approach.  Sharing the points means Albion - in 11th place - stay one position ahead of their rivals on goal difference, with both sides moving to 15 points.

Steve Clarke's West Brom have now lost only one of their last nine Premier League games, but they will regret failing to convert their early dominance into a three-goal lead.  As much as Long's direct running and rasping shooting caused Villa nightmares, the visitors' defensive organisation in the first half left much to be desired.  The opener was a superb piece of control as Long took down Chris Brunt's long pass, but with plenty of time to do so, the 26-year-old skipped past Nathan Baker before leaving no chance for the diving Guzan.  Despite going close with Aleksandar Tonev's deflected shot soon after, Villa went further behind and this time the defending was even worse. With the Villa defence split to play the ball out, right-back Bacuna mishit a pass towards the centre of the defence, found Long rather than a team-mate, and the striker beat Baker again and chipped over Guzan for his third of the season.  Leaving it lateThen came the crucial reprieve. West Brom forward Stephane Sessegnon somehow managed to miss from three yards out and Villa's confidence grew when Libor Kozak's fizzing 25-yard shot kissed the Albion bar.  Marshalled by Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob in central midfield, West Brom continued to press high up the pitch, and they could have gone further ahead when Long fired straight at Guzan.

Lambert gave his side 12 minutes of the second half to show some willingness and, when there was no change, he made his triple change.  It almost made an instant difference when Weimann's shot was deflected just wide of the post but with a switch in formation, Villa got a goal back after Bacuna's right-wing cross was headed back by Weimann and El Ahmadi volleyed in.  Agbonlahor - who, in addition to Weimann, returned from injury - gave the Villa side an injection of pace and put pressure on the West Brom defence. And it was from his cross that Goran Popov's poor header landed on the edge of the box for Westwood to smash in 14 minutes from the end for his first Villa goal.

 BBC Sport

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' midfielder Craig Gardner started his career at Villa, making his first team debut in 2005. The Solihull-born player joined Birmingham City in January 2010 but following the club's relegation from the Premier League 18 months later he left for Sunderland in a reported £6 million deal. He moved to The Hawthorns on a 'Bosman' free in May 2014.

Villa midfielder Kieran Richardson was a key figure during Albion's 'Great Escape' at the end of the 2004/05 season after joining the Baggies on loan from Manchester United. He left Old Trafford in 2007 to join Sunderland where he spent five years before moving onto Fulham. He joined Villa in July 2014 on a free transfer.

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, Liam Ridgewell, 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.

Ron Atkinson, Ron Saunders and Brian Little all managed both clubs, Atkinson and Little also played for Villa; Former Baggies' boss Ron Wylie played for and was later a coach at Villa; Another former Albion manager Alan Ashman later scouted for Villa; Brian Whitehouse, an Albion player during the 1950s and coach during the 1970s, coached at both clubs; Ex-Villa defender Allan Evans was a coach at The Hawthorns under Brian Little; Former Albion full-back Stuart Williams spent a short time as trainer at Villa Park; Paul Barron, who kept goal for Albion during the early 1980s, coached at Villa during the 1990s; Gary Shelton played for Villa and was later a coach at The Hawthorns.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS ASTON VILLA

 VENUE P W D  L F A
 Home 80 32 21 27 125 111
 Away 77 19 13 45 92 141
 Neutral 5 1 1 3 5 6
 Total 162 52 35 75 222 258

LAST TEN MATCHES AGAINST ASTON VILLA

DATE COMPETITION H/A F-A GOALSCORERS      GATE
Wed 29 Jan 2014 Premier League A 3-4 Brunt, Delph (og), Mulumbu - Weimann, Bacuna, Delph,     36,083
  Benteke (pen)
Mon 25 Nov 2013 Premier League H 2-2 Long 2 - El Ahmadi, Westwood     24,902
Sat 19 Jan 2013 Premier League H 2-2 Brunt, Odemwingie - Benteke, Agbonlahor     25,583
Sun 30 Sep 2012 Premier League A 1-1 Long - Bent     34,489
Sat 28 Apr 2012 Premier League H 0-0     25,984
Sat 22 Oct 2011 Premier League A 2-1 Olsson, Scharner - Bent (pen)     34,152
Sat 30 Apr 2011 Premier League H 2-1 Odemwingie, Mulumbu - Meite (og)     25,889
Sat 11 Dec 2010 Premier League A 1-2 Scharner - Downing, Heskey     37,015
Sat 10 Jan 2009 Premier League A 1-2 Morrison - Davies, Agbonlahor     41,757
Sun 21 Sep 2008 Premier League H 1-2 Morrison - Carew, Agbonlahor     26,011

 

 
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