NORWICH CITY v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 24th October 2015, 3:00pm
Carrow Road

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 61st league and cup meeting between the two clubs. The Baggies currently lead the way in the victory stakes with 25 wins compared to the Canaries' 20.

The clubs have met eight times previously in the Premier League, with Albion winning three games and Norwich four.

Albion's last game on this date came in 2009 when a Roberto Di Matteo-led side drew 0-0 with Coventry City in a Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena. The club's last win on October 24 came in 2000 when goals from Jason Roberts, Jason van Blerk and Richard Sneekes gave the Baggies a 3-1 win over Wimbledon at The Hawthorns.

City's last game on this date also came back in 2009, the Canaries recording a 1-0 League One win over Swindon Town thanks to a goal from Chris Martin.

Albion are looking to record back-to-back league wins for the first time since September 2014 when they beat Spurs and Burnley

The Baggies have kept a league-high 15 clean sheets in the Premier League since Tony Pulis took charge in January.

Only Watford, with six, have scored fewer league goals this season than Albion.

Saido Berahino will make his 50th Premier League start for the club if selected.

Albion's last six games: Sunderland (H) 1-0; Crystal Palace (A) 0-2; Everton (H) 2-3; Norwich City (A, LC) 0-3; Aston Villa (A) 1-0; Southampton (H) 0-0.

Norwich's last six games: Newcastle United (A) 2-6; Leicester City (H) 1-2; West Ham United (A) 2-2; Albion (H, LC) 3-0; Liverpool (A) 1-1; Bournemouth (H) 3-1.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Tony Pulis could once again be without Scottish international midfielder James Morrison who is struggling with an ankle injury.

Norwich City

Gary Hooper and Lewis Grabban could both return following ankle problems but former Albion midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu will not be involved despite playing for the Canaries' under-21 side in midweek on his return from a broken metatarsal.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 14/5, Norwich City Win: 19/20, Draw: 11/5.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 7/1, Rondon 7/1, Lambert 8/1, Anichebe 9/1, McClean 11/1, McManaman12/1, Sessegnon 12/1, Gardner 14/1, Morrison 14/1, Gnabry 14/1, Brunt 25/1, Dawson 25/1, Fletcher 28/1, Yacob 33/1, McAuley 33/1.

Norwich City: Mbokani 9/2, Jerome 11/2, Hooper 6/1, Lafferty 6/1, Grabban 13/2, Redmond 7/1, Hoolahan 7/1, Howson 8/1, Brady 8/1, Jarvis 10/1, Dorrans 12/1, Tettey 16/1, O'Neil 20/1, Martin 20/1, Mulumbu 20/1, Whittaker 25/1, Olsson 33/1, Bennett 33/1, Bassong 33/1.

No goalscorer: 8/1.

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REFEREE

Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Friend officiated two Albion games last season - the 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in September and the return fixture between the clubs at The Hawthorns in January which Spurs won 3-0.

The Leicestershire official has taken charge of one Norwich game already this season - their 3-1 win at Sunderland in August.

Friend has issued 25 yellow cards and three red in the six games he has officiated so far this season.

A full run down of Friend's record when taking charge of Albion games can be found here

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for away supporters are on general sale priced at £35 adults, £25 Over-65s, £20 Under-17s and £12 Under-12s.

WEATHER FORECAST

Light cloud, 12°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST LEAGUE MEETING AT CARROW ROAD

Norwich City 0-1 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 5th April 2014, 3:00pm

Norwich City: Ruddy; Martin, Yobo, Bassong (c), M Olsson (Gutierrez 80); Snodgrass, Howson, Tettey, Hoolahan (Redmond 64); Elmander (Becchio 70), Hooper. Subs not used: Bunn (gk), Whittaker, Johnson, van Wolfswinkel.

Booked: Tettey 44 (foul)

Albion: Foster; Reid, McAuley, J Olsson (c), Ridgewell; Amalfitano, Morrison, Mulumbu, Dorrans (Gera 77 (O’Neil 83)); Sessegnon; Vydra (Berahino 70). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Thievy, Dawson, Anichebe.

Goalscorer: Amalfitano 16

Attendance: 26,859

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Durham)

West Brom put a troubled week behind them with a 1-0 win at struggling Norwich to boost their Barclays Premier League survival hopes. Saido Berahino was left on the West Brom bench and James Morrison started in midfield as Pepe Mel's side showed a united front following reports of dressing room unrest in the wake of last weekend's 3-3 draw at Cardiff. There was no late drama in Norfolk though, where a fine goal from Morgan Amalfitano on 16 minutes proved enough to settle what was for most a scrappy affair, although Norwich did twice hit the woodwork in the second half. A second successive defeat for the Canaries - whose players had offered to refund the away supporters at Swansea last weekend - was met by loud boos at the final whistle, and leaves Chris Hughton's men still looking anxious over their shoulders ahead of games against Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Norwich midfielder Alex Tettey had cracked in a brilliant 25-yard effort in the last match here against Sunderland, but the Norway international's radar was off range when trying his luck from a similar distance early on. At the other end, an angled 20-yard drive from Graham Dorrans was well held by John Ruddy, before Amalfitano sliced his shot into the side-netting after a quick break down the West Brom right. On 12 minutes, Johan Elmander crashed the ball high into the Barclay End after a deflected cross from Robert Snodgrass fell into his path on the edge of the West Brom penalty area. It proved a costly miss, as the visitors went up the other end and swept into the lead on 16 minutes. The ball was worked back inside from the left, and as full-back Martin Olsson slipped at the edge of the penalty area, Amalfitano skipped through before sliding a low shot across goal and into the far corner. Norwich had not lost at Carrow Road in 2014 and needed a response to lift the silenced home faithful, clappers and all. West Brom, though, remained comfortable in possession, determined to keep hold of their advantage. It was almost 2-0 when a deep free-kick floated right through the Norwich penalty area and Jonas Olsson just failed to connect at the far post. Norwich had Ruddy to thank when he blocked Matej Vydra's close-range effort after the visitors broke quickly down the left on a counter following a corner. It was then the turn of the West Brom keeper to produce a fabulous stop after 38 minutes as he made a superb reaction save to tip away a glancing header from Elmander after Gary Hooper's flick-on. Loud boos greeted the half-time whistle, leaving manager Hughton in no doubt of what was needed in his team-talk.

The Canaries boss sent the same XI out for the restart and did at least get something of a response as West Brom were forced on to the back foot. On 57 minutes, the ball dropped to Hooper at the back of a crowded six-yard box and the former Celtic striker was unfortunate to see his angled drive hit the woodwork. Foster then turned a clever 25-yard floated free-kick from Snodgrass up on to the crossbar as finally Norwich asked some questions of the West Brom rearguard. Hughton made a positive change on 64 minutes as England Under-21 winger Nathan Redmond replaced Wes Hoolahan. Snodgrass cut into the right side of the box after good hold-up play by Hooper, but could only slice his shot wide. Berahino replaced Vydra on 71 minutes and the forward was soon in the action as he dragged a half-hearted effort wide following a quick break down the left. Norwich sent on both Luciano Becchio and then Jonas Gutierrez as the hosts toiled for an equaliser. West Brom midfielder Dorrans was replaced by Zoltan Gera, who then himself had to go off because of injury as Liam O'Neil came on for the final eight minutes. Berahino waltzed into the Norwich box in stoppage time, but his near post shot was saved by Ruddy.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Glasgow-born Graham Dorrans joined Albion from Livingston in the summer of 2008 and went on to make 189 appearances for the Baggies over the next seven years. He was a vital figure in Roberto Di Matteo's promotion-winning side of 2010, the midfielder hitting 18 goals in a memorable season. In February 2015, Dorrans joined the Canaries on loan until the end of the 2014/15 season, eventually going on to make the move permanent in May 2015 for a rumoured fee of £3million.

Youssouf Mulumbu joined Albion in February 2009, initially on loan, from French giants Paris Saint-Germain. He made a permanent move to The Hawthorns in July 2009 for a fee of £175,000. The Zaire-born midfielder was a key figure as the Baggies finally established themselves as a Premier League force, making 211 appearances for the club before leaving for Norwich on a free transfer at the end of the 2014/15 season.

Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom spent the 2014/15 season on loan at The Hawthorns before joining Norwich on a similar deal for the 2015/16 campaign.

Norwich goalkeeper coach Dean Kiely spent four years as a player with Albion before moving onto the coaching staff. He left The Hawthorns in January 2015 following the appointment of Tony Pulis as Albion boss.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Mark Barham, Leon Barnett, Geoff Barnsley, Trevor Benjamin, Ron Bradley, Lee Camp, Paul Crichton, David Cross, John Deehan, Fernando Derveld, Edgar Duffett, Robert Earnshaw, Jimmy Edwards, Ken Foggo, Ruel Fox, Asa Hartford, John Hartson, Gerry Howshall, Andy Johnson, James Lamberton, Lee Marshall, Denis Parnell, Paul Peschisolido, Mike Phelan, Mel Rees, Colin Suggett, Billy Taylor, Andy Townsend, Steve Walford and Brian Whitehouse.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS NORWICH CITY