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WEST BROMWICH ALBION v WATFORD
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 16th April, 2016,
3:00pm
The Hawthorns
MATCH
NOTES
The game will be the 37th league
and cup meeting between the two clubs. Albion currently lead the way in terms of
victories with 17 compared to Watford's 10. There have been 17 matches played on
Albion soil of which the Baggies have won ten and Watford three.
The game will be the first top-flight meeting of
the sides at The Hawthorns since December 1985 when the
Baggies beat the Hornets 3-1 thanks to goals from Imre Varadi, Steve Hunt (pen)
and Robbie Dennison.
Albion's last game on April 16
took place in 2011 - the Baggies losing against Chelsea 3-1 at The Hawthorns.
Peter Odemwingie scored the hosts' solitary goal. Albion's last league win on
this date came back in 1969 when Dick Krzywicki and a Tony Book own goal gave
the Baggies a 2-0 win over Manchester City in a First Division clash at The Hawthorns.
Watford's last game on April 16 took place in 2013,
the Hornets losing 1-0 away at Millwall in a Championship fixture.
Albion are unbeaten in 15 league games against the
Hornets - their last defeat coming in February 1995.
As a manager, Tony Pulis has lost just one out of
twelve games his sides have played against Watford, winning five and drawing
six.
Albion's last six games:
Manchester City (A) 1-2;
Sunderland (A) 0-0; Norwich City
(H) 0-1; Manchester United (H) 1-0; Leicester City (A) 2-2; Crystal Palace (H)
3-2.
Watford's last six games: Everton (H) 1-1; Arsenal (A) 0-4; Stoke City (H) 1-2;
Arsenal (A, FAC) 2-1; Leicester City (H) 0-1; Manchester United (A) 0-1.
TEAM
NEWS
Albion
Salomon Rondon is expected to
play after recovering from the back injury he suffered last weekend against
Manchester
City.
On-loan Alex Pritchard is a
doubt due to a hip injury whilst Callum McManaman (ankle) is also likely to be
missing. James Morrison remains sidelined along with the long-term injured Chris
Brunt.
Watford
Hornets' boss Quique Sanchez
Flores is likely to make changes for the Hawthorns' clash with one eye on next
weekend's FA Cup semi-final.
Midfielder Etienne Capoue is
available despite picking up a knock in last weekend's draw against Everton.
MATCH
ODDS
Result
Albion Win: 7/5, Watford Win: 9/4, Draw: 2/1.
First Goalscorer Albion:
Berahino 9/2, Rondon 11/2, Anichebe 6/1, Lambert 13/2, Gardner 8/1, Sessegnon
9/1, Pritchard 11/1, McClean 11/1, McManaman 12/1, Leko 12/1, Fletcher 14/1,
Dawson 20/1, Sandro 20/1, McAuley 25/1, Yacob 33/1, Olsson 33/1, Evans 33/1.
Watford: Ighalo 5/1, Deeney 11/2, Oulare 8/1,
Amrabat 9/1, Guedioura 11/1, Berghuis 11/1, Abdi 12/1, Jurado 12/1, Capoue 16/1,
Anya 20/1, Watson 25/1, Holebas 25/1, Suarez 25/1, Ake 25/1, Cathcart 33/1,
Prodl 33/1, Behrami 33/1.
No Goalscorer: 7/1.
www.williamhill.com
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Assistant Referees: Gary Beswick (County Durham) & Derek Eaton
(Gloucestershire)
Fourth Official: Nigel Miller (County Durham)
Oliver has refereed two Albion games so far this
season, both resulting in 1-0 wins for the Baggies - at Everton in February and at Stoke City in August.
He officiated four Albion games last season - the
1-0 win over Stoke at The Hawthorns in March, the 0-0 draw at Everton in
January, December's 0-0 draw at Hull City and the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool in
October.
Albion have not conceded a goal in the last five games Oliver has officiated.
The Northumberland official has taken charge of three Watford games this season
- their 1-0 FA Cup win at home over Leeds United in February, the 1-0 defeat at
Swansea City in January and their 1-1 draw at Bournemouth in October.
Oliver has issued 109 yellow cards and eight red in the 30 games he has officiated so far this season.
A full run-down of Oliver's history refereeing the
Baggies can be found
here
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets remain on general sale
to home supporters priced at £20 adults, £17.50 over-60s, £15 under-21s/students
and £10 under-17s.
WEATHER FORECAST
Sunny intervals, 7°C.
FIXTURE HISTORY
 The two clubs met in competitive action for the
first time in October 1977, Tony Brown scoring the only goal of the game in a
1-0 League Cup 3rd round win for the Baggies at The Hawthorns.
The first league meetings between the clubs took place during the 1982/83
season with Watford coming out on top both times. The first game at
Vicarage Road in September saw the hosts run out
comfortable 3-0 winners with Luther Blissett (2) and Les Taylor the
goalscorers. The return game at The Hawthorns in April wasn't much better
for Albion with Watford this time recording a 3-1 win, John Barnes, Nigel
Callaghan and Jan Lohman hitting the goals for the Hornets with Martin Jol
hitting the Baggies' solitary goal.
Albion's biggest win over Watford came in October 2009 when goals from Olsson,
Dorrans, Moore, Zuiverloon and Cox saw Roberto Di Matteo's men run out easy 5-0
winners at The Hawthorns. The Baggies have also recorded two 4-1 wins over
Watford, the first in October 1993 and then in October 1998, both times at The
Hawthorns.
The
Baggies' biggest loss to Watford came in August 1985 at Vicarage Road, future
Albion striker Colin West leading the scoring for the Hornets with a hat-trick.
The previous season had seen Albion suffer a 4-1 defeat at the same venue in a
4th round Milk Cup tie.
Albion legend Bob Taylor hit his only league hat-trick for the club in a
dramatic 4-4 draw against the Hornets at The Hawthorns in March 1996, the
Baggies blowing 3-0 and 4-2 leads in a game that also saw the debut of another
Baggies' hero of the 1990s - Richard Sneekes.
Albion have an excellent recent record against Watford and are currently
unbeaten in 15 league games.
A full fixture history between the two teams can be found here
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS(Click on game to view)
Saturday 31 October 2009 - Albion 5-0 Watford - League Championship - The Hawthorns
Saturday 3 November 2007 - Watford 0-3 Albion - League Championship - Vicarage Road
Saturday 31 January 2004 - Albion 3-1 Watford - League Championship - The Hawthorns
Saturday 15 September 2001 - Watford 1-2 Albion - League Division One - Vicarage Road
Saturday 16 December 2000 - Watford 3-3 Albion - League Division One - Vicarage Road
Saturday 23 January 1999 - Watford 0-2 Albion - League Division One - Vicarage Road
Tuesday 12 March 1996 - Albion 4-4 Watford - League Division One - The Hawthorns
Saturday 9 April 1983 - Albion 1-3 Watford - First Division - The Hawthorns
LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS
 Albion
5-0 Watford
League Championship
Saturday 31st October 2009,
3:00pm
Albion: Carson,
Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Mattock, Jara, Dorrans, Thomas (Brunt 64), Teixeira,
Moore, Cox. Subs not used: Kiely, Cech, Martis, Koren, Bednar, Wood
Goalscorers: Olsson 5, Dorrans 18 (pen),
Moore 49, Zuiverloon 63, Cox 68.
Booked:
Moore 33 (simulation)
Watford: Loach, Mariappa,
Doyley, Harley, Cathcart, Hodson, Lansbury, Cowie (Helguson 52), Cleverley,
Eustace (Severin 85), Graham (Ellington 64). Subs not used: Bond, Sadler,
Bryan, Henderson.
Booked:
Hodson 5 (foul)
Attendance: 21,421
Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham)
West Brom went back to the top
of the Championship with a clinical demolition of Watford at The Hawthorns. They
took an early lead when Jonas Olsson headed in Graham Dorrans' free-kick before
Adrian Mariappa fouled Luke Moore and Dorrans scored from the spot. Mariappa
nodded over and Danny Graham drilled wide for Watford, Moore then tapping in
after his shot was saved. Gianni Zuiverloon slammed in from 20 yards and Simon
Cox lashed in from even further out to complete the rout. With Newcastle not in
action until Monday it meant West Brom go top of the league, despite only having
won one of their previous six league games. They had not scored in four of those
six matches, but boss Roberto Di Matteo's extra shooting sessions during the
week clearly paid dividends. Watford had gone six games unbeaten away from home,
but they never looked like maintaining that record as they went 2-0 down within
18 minutes. Nathan Ellington had a late header tipped around the post, but it
was a thoroughly miserable afternoon for Malky Mackay's men.
BBC
Sport
CURRENT CONNECTIONS
Albion and England goalkeeper Ben Foster
spent the 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons on loan at Watford whilst a Manchester
United player. He moved to The Hawthorns in July 2011, initially on loan, from
Birmingham City.
Watford striker Matej Vydra spent the
2013/14 season on loan at The Hawthorns from parent club Udinese. Vydra had
spent the 2012/13 season on loan at Watford and returned to Vicarage Road for
another season-long loan in July 2014. The Czech Republic international signed
permanently for the Hornets in July 2015. The player is currently on loan to
Reading.
Hornets' midfielder Ben Watson spent a short
spell on loan at The Hawthorns from Wigan during the latter stages of the
2009/10 season. He joined Watford from Wigan in January 2015 for an undisclosed
fee.
PAST
CONNECTIONS
Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for
both clubs are: Keith Andrews, Gerry Armstrong, Chris Baird, Craig
Beattie, Trevor Benjamin, Luther Blissett, David Carlisle; James Chambers,
Perry Digweed, Bobby Downes, George Drury, Lloyd Dyer, Nathan Ellington,
Bill Hicklin, George James, Tomasz Kuszczak, Billy Law, Des Lyttle,
Carlton Palmer, Tom Pangborn, Kevin Phillips, Jimmy Poxton, Mel Rees,
George Reilly, Paul Robinson, Sam Sodje, Brian Talbot, Gabriel Tamas,
Garry Thompson, George Thorne, Colin West and Harry Wilcox.
Former Albion boss Ron Saunders spent a year as a Watford player
during the mid-1960s, scoring 18 goals in 41 appearances for the club;
Luther Blissett played for both clubs and also coached at Vicarage
Road; Brian Talbot also played for both clubs and would go on to
manage the Baggies between October 1988 and January 1991; Bobby
Downes - an Albion reserve in the late 1970s, played league football
for Watford and would later become the Hornets' Director of Football;
Tommy Jones - Albion's physio between 1965 and 1971 was a former
Watford player; Goalkeeper Eric Steele played for Watford and would
spend a short time as Albion's goalkeeping coach.
ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS WATFORD
|
VENUE |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
Home |
17 |
10 |
4 |
3 |
37 |
17 |
|
Away |
19 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
22 |
26 |
|
Total |
36 |
17 |
9 |
10 |
59 |
43 |
LAST
TEN MATCHES AGAINST WATFORD
|
DATE |
COMPETITION |
H/A |
F-A |
GOALSCORERS |
GATE |
|
Sat 15 Aug 2015 |
Premier League |
A |
0-0 |
|
20,011 |
|
Mon 05 Apr 2010 |
Championship |
A |
1-1 |
Brunt - Graham |
14,555 |
|
Sat 31 Oct 2009 |
Championship |
H |
5-0 |
Olsson, Dorrans (pen), Moore, Zuiverloon, Cox |
21,421 |
|
Sat 12 Apr 2008 |
Championship |
H |
1-1 |
Barnett - Bromby |
26,508 |
|
Sat 03 Nov 2007 |
Championship |
A |
3-0 |
Miller, Phillips, Albrechtsen |
18,273 |
|
Sat 31 Jan 2004 |
League Division 1 |
H |
3-1 |
Horsfield 2, Hughes - Fitzgerald |
23,958 |
|
Sat 23 Aug 2003 |
League Division 1 |
A |
1-0 |
Hughes |
15,023 |
|
Sat 25 Jan 2003 |
FA Cup |
A |
0-1 |
Helguson |
16,975 |
|
Tue 05 Mar 2002 |
League Division 1 |
H |
1-1 |
Dichio - Brown |
19,580 |
|
Sat 15 Sep 2001 |
League Division 1 |
A |
2-1 |
Dobie 2 - Gayle |
15,726 |
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday 16th April
12:45pm - Norwich City v Sunderland.
3:00pm - Everton v Southampton; Manchester United v
Aston Villa; Newcastle United v Swansea City; Albion v Watford.
5:30pm - Chelsea v Manchester City.
Sunday 17th April
1:30pm - Bournemouth v Liverpool; Leicester City v
West Ham United.
4:00pm - Arsenal v Crystal Palace.
Monday 18th April
8:00pm - Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur.
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