WEST BROMWICH ALBION v PETERBOROUGH UNITED
FA Cup 4th round
Saturday 30th January 2016, 3:00pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 18th league and cup meeting between the two clubs. Albion currently lead the way in terms of victories with 11 compared to United's four. There have been three previous FA Cup games with Albion winning two and drawing one.

Albion's last game on this date took place in 2013 when a Steve Clarke-led side went down to a 2-1 Premier League defeat against Everton at Goodison Park, Shane Long the visitors' goalscorer. The Baggies' last win on this date came in 2010, Roberto Di Matteo's side beating Sheffield United 3-1 in a League Championship clash at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies' last FA Cup game on January 30 took place in 1974, Tony Brown scoring the only goal of the game as Albion beat Everton 1-0 in a fourth round replay at The Hawthorns.

Peterborough's last game on this date came in 2008, the Posh recording a 3-1 victory over Rotherham United in a League Two clash at London Road.

Since the infamous defeat against Woking in January 1991, Albion have not lost a FA Cup tie at The Hawthorns against a side from a lower division than themselves.

Albion's last six games: Aston Villa (H) 0-0; Bristol City (A, FAC) 1-0; Southampton (A) 0-3; Chelsea (A) 2-2; Bristol City (H, FAC) 2-2; Stoke City (H) 2-1.

Peterborough's last six games: Burton Albion (H) 0-1; Gillingham (A) 1-2; Southend United (H) 0-0; Preston North End (H, FAC) 2-0; Sheffield United (A) 3-2; Walsall (A) 0-2.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

James Morrison (hamstring), Callum McManaman (ankle) and Chris Brunt (hamstring) are all missing for the Baggies whilst captain Darren Fletcher (knee) is a doubt despite returning to action in last week's game against Aston Villa.

New loan signing Sandro is not eligible for the game but could feature against Swansea City on Tuesday.

Peterborough United

Posh defender Harry Toffolo is doubtful after suffering a head injury in the midweek defeat to Burton Albion but midfielder Michael Bostwick could feature for the first time since December after recovering from a calf injury.

Jermaine Anderson, Joe Gormley and Gabi Zakuani are all out due to injury whilst Aaron Williams and Callum Chettle are both cup-tied.

Recent signing from Albion - Adil Nabi - won't feature with the clubs agreeing as part of the deal that the player would sit this game out.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 7/10, Peterborough United Win: 11/4, Draw: 4/1.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 4/1, Rondon 4/1, Lambert 9/2, Anichebe 9/2, Sessegnon 6/1, Roberts 6/1, Gnabry 7/1, McClean 15/2, Gardner 8/1, Leko 9/1, Dawson 16/1, Fletcher 16/1, McAuley 20/1, Yacob 25/1, Chester 25/1, Evans 25/1, Gamboa 33/1, Olsson 33/1, Pocognoli 33/1.

Peterborough United: Angol 8/1, Coulthirst 9/1, Coulibaly 9/1, Maddison 11/1, Oztumer 12/1, Samuelsen 12/1, Forrester 14/1, Taylor 14/1, Bostwick 16/1, Beautyman 20/1, Wilson 28/1, Baldwin 33/1.

No Goalscorer: 10/1.

www.williamhill.com

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Assistant Referees: Simon Long (Cornwall) & James Mainwaring (Lancashire)
Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)

Friend has taken charge of one Albion game this season - the 1-0 win at Norwich City in October.

He 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 last took charge of a Peterborough game back in August 2009 - United's 1-1 Championship draw at home to Crystal Palace.

Friend has issued 57 yellow cards and four red in the 18 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 are currently on general sale to home supporters priced at £10 adults (17+) and £5 juniors (Under-17s).

Peterborough have been allotted the entire Smethwick End and have sold around 4,000 of their 5,300 ticket allocation.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunny intervals, 4°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 2-0 Peterborough United
Coca-Cola Championship
Saturday 26th December 2009, 3:00pm

Albion: Kiely; Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Mattock; Brunt, Jara, Dorrans, Thomas (Teixeira 70); Moore (Martis 90+2), Cox (Wood 78). Subs not used: Allsop (gk), Bednar, Cech, Mulumbu.

Goalscorers: Moore 61, Bennett 67 (own goal)

Booked: Mattock 68 (foul), Cox 75 (foul)

Peterborough United: Lewis; Bennett, Zakuani (Rowe 75), Geohaghon, Griffiths; Whelpdale (Morgan 62), Frecklington, Coutts (Batt 70), Boyd; Mackail-Smith, Mclean. Subs not used: McKeown (gk), Lee, Green, Simpson.

Booked: Frecklington 38 (foul), Zakuani 55 (foul), Morgan 78 (foul)

Attendance: 24,924

Referee: Mike Jones (Chester)

Jonas Olsson has condemned the West Bromwich Albion supporters who barracked their side when an insipid home performance threatened to dent their promotion campaign. The Swedish defender and his team-mates were jeered as they left the field at half-time, having been stifled by a workmanlike shift from second-bottom Peterborough. Were it not for two goals in six minutes after the interval, including a clumsy own goal, Albion would have finished a fourth successive game without a win.

"You can't win every game 4-0 as we have been doing sometimes this season," Olsson said. "But as long as we get that goal, it doesn't matter whether it comes late in the game or in the first minute. We've been struggling a bit at The Hawthorns, so it was very important for us to show we can get a win like this.

"There was a bit of frustration from the fans going into the half-time break, but in the second half we showed who the best team was."

This victory, which keeps Albion second in the Championship table - eight points below the leaders Newcastle United - going into tonight's fixture at Scunthorpe, was catalysed by a rare strike from Luke Moore. The 23-year-old found the net with a deflected effort on 61 minutes following a jinking run by Graeme Dorrans - it was only the forward's fifth goal in 41 appearances for the club. The second goal, from Ryan Bennett's wayward back-header, encapsulated a forgettable afternoon and consigned Peterborough to their third defeat in seven matches under Mark Cooper.

"Christmas is maybe the most important time of the season," said Olsson, who was expecting another tough game against lowly opposition tonight. "A few times this season we've been three, four, five points clear [of third place], and we just have to make sure that this time we take our opportunity and hopefully sail away from the other teams."

Albion have, by now, become inured to the anxieties of promotion and relegation battles - only twice in the past eight seasons have they lingered in one tier for more than 12 months.

Yet the manager, Roberto Di Matteo, is confident he can deliver sustained success, and believes the addition of a new defender in the transfer window will help their cause this season. "As soon as we have agreed with the club and with the player we will announce it," he said. "We are working to get one in January - one who will make an impact."

The Guardian

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Albion striker Saido Berahino spent a short spell on loan at London Road during the 2012/13 season, scoring two goals in ten appearances for the Posh.

Baggies' defender James Chester made five appearances for Peterborough whilst on loan from Manchester United in February 2009.

Peterborough striker Adil Nabi progressed through Albion's academy to become a regular in the club's under-21 side but failed to make a first team appearance for the club. He moved to London Road for an undisclosed fee earlier this month.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Kenny Allen, Ian Benjamin, Trevor Benjamin, David Bradford, Paul Bradshaw, Colin Brookes, Len Cantello, Campbell Chapman, Paul Crichton, Vic Crowe, Tom Daley, Tony Dobson, Bobby Downes, Exodus Geohaghon, Sid Glidden, Tony Godden, Harry Guy, Gary Hackett, Roy Horobin, Lyndon Hughes, Tony Kelly, Derek Kevan, Zat Knight, Noel Luke, Mick Martin, Alan Merrick, Tony Millington, Stuart Naylor, Martin Pike, James Quinn, Tony Rees, Reuben Reid, Justin Richards, Ronnie Robinson, Terry Simpson, Keith Smith, Luke Steele, Josh Thompson, George Thorne, Frank White, John Wile and Gary Woods.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS PETERBOROUGH UNITED

FA CUP 4TH ROUND FIXTURES

Friday 29th January

7:55pm - Derby County v Manchester United.

Saturday 30th January

12:45pm - Colchester United v Tottenham Hotspur.

3:00pm - Arsenal v Burnley; Aston Villa v Manchester City; Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United; Bury v Hull City; Crystal Palace v Stoke City; Nottingham Forest v Watford; Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers; Portsmouth v Bournemouth; Reading v Walsall; Shrewsbury Town v Sheffield Wednesday; Albion v Peterborough United.

5:30pm - Liverpool v West Ham United.

Sunday 31st January

13:30pm - Carlisle United v Everton.

4:00pm - MK Dons v Chelsea.

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