‘The excitement of the cup is no longer there’. Well tell that to the 4000 Peterborough fans that are travelling up to the Hawthorns with great expectations of causing an upset against West Brom.
The Posh visit the Baggies in great form having defeated Cheltenham 6 – 3 away at Whaddon Road and flying high in League Division One. They play football the right way, like the Baggies and don’t fear anybody.
Mackail-Smith is a quality striker who will score given the opportunity but he is not quite in the £5m bracket as suggested by Barry Fry. Throughout their team Peterborough have players who are comfortable on the ball that can create problems for any defence, even Premier League defenders like West Brom’s.
However, it will take a big effort for the Posh to be in the draw for the next round of the cup. As a Coca Cola Championship side the Baggies knocked Peterborough out of both cup competitions last year and will expect to beat them again this time around and hopefully improve upon last season’s Semi-Final appearance.
Vital Quotes:
Speaking about the game Posh Manager, Darren Ferguson had this to say,
‘It’s a cliche, but it’s also a fact that we will have to be at our best and they will have to have an off day.’
‘It’s going to take a superb performance from us to pull it off, but the players are up for it, they are confident and they’re looking foward to the challenge.’
West Brom Team News:
James Morrison, Abdy Meite and Gianni Zuiverloon all miss out through injury and it remains to be seen whether Marek Cech will keep the left back spot ahead of Paul Robinson.
Graham Dorrans is expected to start following his impressive substitute appearances against Man City and Spurs.
Recent arrival Jay Simpson will almost definitely feature, either on the wing or up front.
West Brom from:
Carson, Barnett, Olsson, Cech, Valero, Greening, Brunt, Moore, Bednar, Simpson, Robinson, Koren, Dorrans, Hoeskens, Beattie, Kiely, Do-Heon Kim, MacDonald, Donk.
Player to watch: Jay Simpson
Simpson’s pace and directness is expected to add something extra to the Baggies frontline which has just begun to fire in recent weeks.
Speaking about the clash, Darren had this to say,
‘It’s a cliche, but it’s also a fact that we will have to be at our best and they will have to have an off day.’
‘It’s going to take a superb performance from us to pull it off, but the players are up for it, they are confident and they’re looking foward to the challenge.
Peterborough Utd Team News:
Tom Williams is likely to miss out with a knee injury and Andrew Crofts is cup-tied.
Player to watch: Craig Mackail-Smith
Mackail-Smith will be looking to enhance his reputation against Premier League opposition and perhaps earn a big money move.
Match Facts & Stats
Stats don’t really count in a cup tie. Look at last season where three of the four semi-finalists were from the Championship.
Ref Watch:
Kevin Friend from Leicester.
Match Prediction:
3-1 to the Baggies
Next Fixtures:
Away to Aston Villa on Saturday 10 January