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CRYSTAL PALACE v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Premier League
Saturday 13th August 2016, 3:00pm
Selhurst Park

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 54th league and cup meeting between Albion and Crystal Palace. The Baggies currently lead the way in terms of victories with 23 compared to the Eagles' 16.

There have been eight Premier League meetings with both teams winning three games.

The clubs have met 26 times previously in competitive action at Selhurst Park with both teams recording nine victories.

Albion's last game on this date took place in 2005 when a Bryan Robson-led side opened the season with a 0-0 draw against Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Crystal Palace's last game on August 13 took place in 2011 in Championship action - the Eagles beating Burnley 2-0 at Selhurst Park with goals from Jonathan Parr and Owen Garvan.

The last goalless match between the sides came back in September 1999 at The Hawthorns - 22 games ago.

Albion have won only one of their ten season-opening Premier League games (W1, D3, L6) - the 3-0 win over Liverpool in August 2012.

The Baggies have never won an away game on the opening day of a Premier League campaign (D2, L3). They have scored just one goal in those five games.

Palace have only won one of their last eight season-opening games at Selhurst Park (D4, L3) - a 3-2 win against Leicester City in 2010.

There have been four penalties in the last five meetings of the sides.

Albion's last six games: Real Mallorca (A, Fr) 0-1; Torquay United (A, Fr) 1-2; Plymouth Argyle (A, Fr) 0-0; Vitesse Arnhem (A, Fr) 2-1; Kidderminster Harriers (A, Fr) 2-1; Paris Saint-Germain (N, Fr) 1-2.

Palace's last six games: Farnborough Town (A, Fr) 3-0; Valencia (H, Fr) 3-1; Bromley (A, Fr) 2-1; Fulham (A, Fr) 1-3; AFC Wimbledon (A, Fr) 3-2; Colchester United (A, Fr) 1-0.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Winger Matt Phillips looks likely to make his competitive debut for the Baggies who are still without long-term injury victim Chris Brunt. Scottish midfielder James Morrison also looks likely to miss out with the player reportedly still struggling with the hamstring injury he suffered last season.

Crystal Palace

Yannick Bolasie looks likely to feature despite specualtion linking the winger with a move away from the club.

New signing Andros Townsend will make his debut but fellow newcomer James Tomkins is struggling with a hamstring problem.

Bakary Sako and Fraizer Campbell are both out, while Pape Souare and James McArthur face late fitness tests.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
Assistant Referees: Harry Lennard (East Sussex) & Adrian Holmes (West Yorkshire)
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)

Pawson refereed two Albion games last season - the 2-2 draw at Liverpool in December and the 3-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Norwich in September.

The South Yorkshire official took charge of four Palace games during 2015/16 - the 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Watford at Wembley in April; the 1-0 FA Cup win at Tottenham Hotspur in February; the 1-1 draw at Everton in December and the 2-1 win at Chelsea in August.

Albion have yet to win any game that Pawson has officiated (D1, L3).

Pawson handed out 117 yellow cards and three reds in the 39 games he refereed last season.

A full run-down of Pawson's history refereeing the Baggies can be found here

FIXTURE HISTORY

The first ever meeting of Albion and Crystal Palace came in a friendly game which took place at Selhurst Park in January 1930. Two goals from Joe Carter saw the Baggies run out 2-1 winners.

The first competitive meeting of the two clubs took place in September 1969 during Palace’s first ever season in the top-flight, Albion running out 3-1 winners at Selhurst Park. Danny Hegan, Bobby Hope and Jeff Astle scored for the Baggies whilst Cliff Jackson hit the hosts’ solitary reply. The return game at The Hawthorns in January saw Albion complete the double over Palace with a 3-2 victory, Jeff Astle hitting a hat-trick for Alan Ashman’s team.

Albion’s biggest win over Crystal Palace came during the 1988/89 season, the Baggies winning a thrilling game 5-3 at The Hawthorns. Robert Hopkins, John Paskin and a Don Goodman hat-trick helping to overcome a Palace side that featured future Arsenal legend Ian Wright who missed a penalty in the game.

The Londoners’ best win over Albion came in February 1973 at The Hawthorns when two goals each from Alan Whittle and Derek Possee gave the visitors a 4-0 victory.

Probably the most important meeting of the two clubs came in the final game of the 2001/02 season when Albion needed three points to clinch a place in the Premier League for the first time. Goals from Darren Moore and Bob Taylor in front of a full-house at The Hawthorns gave the Baggies a 2-0 win and a place in English football’s elite.

A full fixture history between the two teams can be found here

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Saturday 8 February 2014 - Crystal Palace 3-1 Albion - Premier League - Selhurst Park
Saturday 4 January 2014 - Albion 0-2 Crystal Palace - FA Cup 3rd Round - The Hawthorns
Tuesday 1 February 2005 - Albion 2-2 Crystal Palace - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Saturday 27 March 2004 - Albion 2-0 Crystal Palace - League Division One - The Hawthorns
Saturday 20 September 2003 - Crystal Palace 2-2 Albion - League Division One - Selhurst Park
Sunday 21 April 2002 - Albion 2-0 Crystal Palace - League Division One - The Hawthorns
Tuesday 26 October 1999 - Crystal Palace 0-2 Albion - League Division One - Selhurst Park
Saturday 26 November 1988 - Albion 5-3 Crystal Palace - Second Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 4 October 1980 - Crystal Palace 0-1 Albion - First Division - Selhurst Park

LAST MEETING AT SELHURST PARK

Crystal Palace 2-0 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 3rd October 2015, 12:45pm

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Kelly, Hangeland, Dann, Souare, McArthur, Cabaye, Zaha (Ledley 89), Puncheon, Bolasie, Gayle (Campbell 75). Subs not used: McCarthy, Mariappa, Gray, Sako, Bamford.

Goalscorers: Bolasie 68, Cabaye 89 (pen)

Booked: Souare 25 (foul), Campbell 79 (foul), Zaha 87 (foul)

Albion: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Evans (Chester 24), Brunt, Yacob, Fletcher, Morrison (McManaman 69), McClean, Rondon, Berahino (Gardner 46). Subs not used: Gamboa, Lambert, Anichebe.

Booked: McClean 15 (foul), Chester 61 (foul), Yacob 87 (foul)

Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire)

Attendance: 24,033

Yannick Bolasie's first goal at Selhurst Park in over two-and-a-half years set Crystal Palace on their way to taking all three points from a steely West Brom. The 26-year-old has recently signed a new deal with the Eagles and was a constant thorn in the side of a stubborn Baggies defence - putting Alan Pardew's side ahead before the points were wrapped up as Yohan Cabaye's penalty sealed a 2-0 win. All but one of West Brom's eight points earned ahead of this clash have come away from home and they had not even shipped a goal on their travels in the Barclays Premier League before their trip to south London. Baggies manager Tony Pulis, returning to Selhurst Park for the second time since leaving on the eve of last season, set his stall out to maintain that record, with his side frustrating the Palace attack for large periods. But, in the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Jason Puncheon and Bolasie, Pardew has a trio who can unlock most defences and that was the story here as the latter scored his first goal of the campaign and his first at Selhurst Park since New Year's Day 2013 in a victory over Wolves in the Championship.

The warning signs for Pulis' men was quick in coming as Congo international Bolasie was involved from the start, cutting in from the left but shooting straight at Boaz Myhill. Zaha was the next to try his luck, picking up a long pass from Puncheon but only able to hit the side-netting once he had burst into the box. West Brom had started out resolutely at the back but were hit by another injury to their defence as Jonny Evans was replaced after 25 minutes before Chris Brunt was caught in the face by an accidental elbow from Zaha, forcing him off for treatment on a bloody nose. Cabaye, the match-winner at Watford last Sunday, tried his luck with a swinging volley but again it was too close to Myhill to cause the Baggies stopper any concern. The reshuffle at the back for the visitors opened up the chance for Palace to push forward and Zaha finally tested Myhill with a close-range shot the goalkeeper pushed behind for a corner. Moments later and it was almost a carbon copy as the England winger skipped past Brunt before drawing another smart stop out of an increasingly busier Myhill - who got through to half time with his clean sheet in tact.

Referee Jonathan Moss was unmoved when Palace wanted a penalty as Cabaye's free-kick struck the arm of half-time substitute Craig Gardner inside the box before Palace's pressure finally paid off as Bolasie timed his run perfectly to head home Cabaye's cross as the back post. Zaha was booked for an altercation with Claudio Yacob but moments later he showed why he is back in Pardew's good books as he burst past Brunt to earn a penalty just as he did at Watford - with Cabaye again on hand to convert from 12 yards.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Baggies' boss Tony Pulis spent a short but successful spell in charge of Crystal Palace between November 2013 and August 2014.

Pulis' current backroom team of David Kemp, Gerry Francis and Ben Garner also worked under him at Palace. The trio all played for the Eagles during their playing careers although Garner only at youth level.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Ronnie Allen, Jack Bannister, Paul Barron, Craig Beattie, Trevor Benjamin, Billy Birch, Jeroen Boere, Ally Brown, David Burnside, Peter Burridge, Billy Davies, Ian Edwards, Danny Gabbidon, George Garratt, George Handley, Adam Haywood, Charlie Hewitt, Roy Horobin, George Irwin, George Johnson, Derek Kevan, Jack Lewis, Steve Mackenzie, Tommy Magee, Paul McShane, Tommy Magee, Tony Millington, Pat Mulcahy, Paddy Mulligan, Shaun Murphy, Darren Patterson, Arthur Perry, Kevin Phillips, Ray Potter, Dick Roberts, Alex Ross, Scott Sinclair, Keith Smith, Wilfred Smith, Arthur Swift, Jerome Thomas, John Thomas, Garry Thompson, Jeff Turton, Ben Watson, Brian Whitehouse, Chris Whyte, Brian Wood and George Wood.

Baggies' legend Tommy Magee was a player-coach at Palace for a short spell during the mid-1930s; Dick Graham was trainer at Albion and later manager at Palace; Former Albion scout Arthur Rowe also managed Palace; Albion reserve goalkeeper George Irwin played for, coached, acted as trainer and managed Palace; Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Mike Kelly coached at both clubs.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS CRYSTAL PALACE

 VENUE P W D  L F A
 Home 27 14 6 7 42 35
 Away 26 9 8 9 30 31
 Total 53 23 14 16 72 66

LAST TEN MATCHES AGAINST CRYSTAL PALACE

DATE COMPETITION H/A F-A GOALSCORERS      GATE
Sat 27 Feb 2016 Premier League H 3-2 Gardner, Dawson, Berahino - Wickham 2     24,806
Sat 03 Oct 2015 Premier League A 0-2 Bolasie, Cabaye (pen)     24,033
Sat 18 Apr 2015 Premier League A 2-0 Morrison, Gardner     24,765
Sat 25 Oct 2014 Premier League H 2-2 Anichebe, Berahino (pen) - Hangeland, Jedinak (pen)     24,738
Sat 08 Feb 2014 Premier League A 1-3 Thievy - Ince, Ledley, Chamakh (pen)     24,501
Sat 04 Jan 2014 FA Cup H 0-2 Gayle, Chamakh     12,700
Sat 02 Nov 2013 Premier League H 2-0 Berahino, McAuley     26,397
Mon 26 Apr 2010 Championship A 1-1 Tamas - Reid (og)     17,798
Sat 26 Sep 2009 Championship H 0-1 N'Diaye     21,007
Wed 12 Mar 2008 Championship H 1-1 Phillips - Moses     20,378

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday 13th August

12:30pm - Hull City v Leicester City.

3:00pm - Burnley v Swansea City; Crystal Palace v Albion; Everton v Tottenham Hotspur; Middlesbrough v Stoke City; Southampton v Watford.

5:30pm - Manchester City v Sunderland.

Sunday 14th August

1:30pm - Bournemouth v Manchester United.

4:00pm - Arsenal v Liverpool.

Monday 15th August

8:00pm - Chelsea v West Ham United.


 
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