WEST BROMWICH ALBION v NEWCASTLE UNITED
Barclays Premier League
Sunday 9th November 2014, 1:30pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 125th competitive meeting between the two clubs. Albion currently have a slight edge in terms of victories with 47 compared to United's 45.

Albion's last game on November 9 came last season when they recorded an excellent 2-2 Premier League draw away at Chelsea, the Baggies coming within seconds of a famous victory before conceding a controversial injury-time penalty. The club's last win on this date came back in 1991 with a 2-1 win at Reading in the old Third Division.

Newcastle's last game on this date came in 2008 when they suffered a 2-1 Premier League defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Like the Baggies, their last win on November 9 also took place in 1991 when they recorded a 2-0 win at home to Grimsby Town.

Albion have kept just three clean sheets against United in the last 29 matches between the sides.

The Baggies have exactly the same record as they did at this stage last season with three wins, three defeats and four draws and a goal difference of zero.

Only Southampton (6) and Swansea (5) have kept more clean sheets in the Premier League than Albion (4) this season.

The Baggies go into the game looking to record their 50th home Premier League win.

Albion's last six games: Leicester City (A) 1-0; AFC Bournemouth (A, LC) 1-2; Crystal Palace (H) 2-2; Manchester United (H) 2-2; Liverpool (A) 1-2; Burnley (H) 4-0.

Newcastle United's last six games: Liverpool (H) 1-0; Manchester City (A, LC) 2-0; Tottenham Hotspur (A) 2-1; Leicester City (H) 1-0; Swansea City (A) 2-2; Stoke City (A) 0-1.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Alan Irvine will be without midfielder Craig Gardner who serves a one match suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season in last weekend's win at Leicester City. Youssouf Mulumbu or Claudio Yacob will take Gardner's place in the starting line-up.

The duo of Jonas Olsson and Silvestre Varela have both returned to training but are lacking match fitness so will miss the game.

Newcastle United

Midfielder Gabriel Obertan will miss the Hawthorns' clash after tearing a thigh muscle.

United boss Alan Pardew will also be without Cheick Tiote (calf) and Mike Williamson (muscle strain) whilst Rolando Aarons and Papiss Cisse are doubts.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 13/10, Newcastle United Win: 23/10, Draw: 21/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 9/2, Ideye 6/1, Sessegnon 13/2, Anichebe 13/2, Samaras 7/1, Dorrans 9/1, Blanco 9/1, Morrison 10/1, Brunt 11/1, Mulumbu 14/1, Dawson 25/1, McAuley 25/1, Lescott 25/1, Baird 33/1, Yacob 33/1, Davidson 33/1, Pocognoli 33/1.

United: Ayoze 6/1, Cisse 6/1, Riviere 13/2, Ferreyra 9/1, Gouffran 9/1,  Sissoko 9/1, Armstrong 10/1, Cabella 10/1, Aarons 11/1, Ameobi 11/1, Abeid 14/1, Ryan Taylor 14/1, Colback 16/1, Dummett 25/1, Anita 25/1, Janmaat 33/1, Steven Taylor 33/1.

No Goalscorer: 9/1.

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REFEREE

Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Pawson will be taking charge of his first ever Albion game.

The official has taken charge of one Newcastle game so far this season - the 1-0 defeat at Stoke City in September.

Pawson has issued 24 yellow cards and two red in the seven games he has officiated so far this season.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the game are on general sale priced at £15 adults and £5 concessions apart from seats in the Halfords' Lane Stand which remain full price.

WEATHER FORECAST

Light cloud, 9°C

FIXTURE HISTORY

Monday 18 January 2010 - Newcastle United 2-2 Albion - League Championship - St James' Park
Saturday 8 August 2009 - Albion 1-1 Newcastle United - League Championship - The Hawthorns
Saturday 7 February 2009 - Albion 2-3 Newcastle United - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Saturday 4 May 1991 - Albion 1-1 Newcastle United - Second Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 27 October 1990 - Newcastle United 1-1 Albion - Second Division - St James' Park
Wednesday 1 November 1989 - Albion 1-5 Newcastle United - Second Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 16 February 1974 - Albion 0-3 Newcastle United - FA Cup 5th Round - The Hawthorns
Saturday 20 February 1954 - Albion 3-2 Newcastle United - FA Cup 5th Round - The Hawthorns
Saturday 8 January 1938 - Albion 1-0 Newcastle United - FA Cup 3rd Round - The Hawthorns

LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 1-0 Newcastle United
Barclays Premier League
Wednesday 1st January 2014, 3:00pm

Albion: Foster; Jones (Berahino HT), McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Amalfitano, Mulumbu, Yacob, Brunt(c); Sessegnon (Vydra 77); Anelka (Gera 88). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Morrison, Long, Lugano.

Goalscorer: Berahino 87 (pen)

Newcastle United: Krul; Debuchy, Coloccini (c) (Yanga-Mbiwa 65), Williamson, Santon; Cabaye, Tiote, Sissoko; Remy, Shola Ameobi (Haidara 76), Gouffran (Ben Arfa HT). Subs not used: Elliot (gk), S Taylor, Anita, Cisse.

Sent-Off: Debuchy 62 (serious foul play)

Attendance: 26,430

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Substitute Saido Berahino struck a late penalty as West Brom overcame 10-man Newcastle 1-0 for their first Barclays Premier League win under caretaker boss Keith Downing. Berahino stepped up to score with four minutes remaining on a wet and blustery afternoon at The Hawthorns after Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul brought down Matej Vydra. Krul escaped a red card for his challenge but team-mate Mathieu Debuchy saw no such leniency from referee Lee Mason after a two-footed challenge on Claudio Yacob.

It was West Brom's first victory in 10 games and was thoroughly merited after a hard-working performance. It lifted some of the gloom with which 2013 ended after the sacking of head coach Steve Clarke and put aside the controversy generated by Nicolas Anelka's goal celebration last weekend. Anelka could have done some of that himself had he not scooped over from close range before the break while Liam Ridgewell also missed a fine opportunity. The Baggies forced the pace in the second half but what creativity there was in a largely subdued first period was created by the hosts.

Newcastle's Loic Remy fired over with the first serious attempt of the game but the impressive Morgan Amalfitano was the first to test a goalkeeper when he shot straight at Krul. An ambitious attempt by Amalfitano to lob Krul from the right was dealt with by the goalkeeper before the same player shot over. West Brom continued to look the livelier and Stephane Sessegnon was inches away from turning in a Ridgewell cross after good work by Anelka. Baggies defender Billy Jones required treatment for a head injury after colliding with his own goalkeeper Ben Foster. The pair had both been forced to change direction and stretch for the ball after a Remy shot had taken a looping deflection. That proved a rare attack from Newcastle and Jonas Olsson went close at the other end when he headed wide from an Amalfitano cross. Amalfitano made more headway down the right and pulled back a good cross for Chris Brunt but the Albion captain, despite having time to aim from 10 yards, could not get direction on his header. Anelka spurned an even better opportunity just before half-time, after yet more trickery from Amalfitano, when he remarkably shot over from four yards.

Jones did not return for the second half as Downing decided to liven up the attack by sending on Berahino. Cheick Tiote tried his luck from distance for Newcastle after a clearance fell his way but Foster was alert to his bobbling volley. West Brom decided to try a few long-ball attacks and one of them almost paid off as Berahino lashed in a shot after combining with Brunt but a defender blocked. The tempo of the game started to increase as Remy controlled outside the area and cut inside to curl a shot over Foster's bar. Newcastle were left facing an uphill struggle after Debuchy was dismissed in the game's first moment of controversy just after the hour. Mason had no hesitation in showing a straight red card after Debuchy lunged in on Yacob, even though the Argentinian managed to jump and minimise contact. Albion grew in confidence after that and forced the pace even more. Newcastle regrouped and repelled a succession of attacks with Krul not seriously tested until Berahino fired a shot low at his near post after 75 minutes. Yohan Cabaye - who Newcastle fans made clear they do not want to leave as they contemplated a month of transfer speculation - needed treatment after a challenge by Amalfitano but played on. Ridgewell spurned a glorious opportunity nine minutes from time when he reached a Berahino cross ahead of Krul four yards out but somehow sidefooted wide. There was still time for West Brom and their chance came after Vydra raced through and was tripped by Krul. Berahino made no mistake and Newcastle could not recover, despite Cabaye shooting at Foster.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Baggies' boss Alan Irvine was United's academy director between 2001 and 2005.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Stan Allan, John Anderson, Harry Brown, Franz Carr, Eddie Connelly, Wayne Fereday, Ruel Fox, Andy Hunt, Tom Hutchinson, Dennis Martin, Mick Martin, David Mills, Bob Pailor, George Reilly, Dick Roberts, Mark Robinson, Colin Suggett, John Trewick, Imre Varadi, Steve Watson and Kenny Wharton.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS NEWCASTLE UNITED