West Brom take on Derby County on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways after the slip up at home to Queens Park Rangers in midweek. But Derby are in need of another win to bring them up to where the leaders are in the league.
Vital Quotes:
Tony Mobray: ‘Football clubs are about the strength and quality of your senior professionals.
‘The dressing room will handle the pressure but if you can’t handle the expectation don’t be at a big club, don’t be at a club that expects to win football matches or at a club that wants to go places.
‘When you are at the top of the table everyone wants to beat you. If it brings external pressure then so be it, we have to stick close together and look after each other.
Derby County Team News:
Midfielder Morten Bisgaard has shaken off a hamstring problem and will be looking to be called up into the side.
Giles Barnes will play but Matt Oakley is suffering with sciatica while Michael Johnson has a hamstring injury keeping them both out.
Player to watch: Steve Howard
Steve Howard: Always dangerous, has scored twice in the last four games including one against Cardiff City.
West Brom Team News:
The big question is whether West Brom manager Tony Mowbray will replace first choice keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler with Russell Hoult because the former is lacking confidence at the moment.
Left-back Paul Robinson is banned for this game.
Darren Carter is unlikely to be risked after picking up a hamstring problem
Nigel Quashie misses out.
Player to watch: Diomansy Kamara
Another brace of goals last time out and will be only too pleased to add a couple more to his tally for the season.
Match Facts & Stats
Last time West Brom played at Derby was in August 2003 when Rob Hulse got the goal that proved to be enough to pick up the points.
Derby are what you would call of average form at home with two wins, two draws and two losses in their last six games at Pride Park. In that time they have scored seven and let in five.
Likewise, West Brom. have an average recent record on the road, two wins, one draw and three defeats from the last six scoring nine times and conceding eight.
Match Prediction:
I think West Brom have a little more firepower than Derby so I`ll go for a 2-1 win.
Next Fixtures:
West Brom vs Norwich 11-11-2006
West Brom vs Burnley 18-11-2006
Stoke vs West Brom 25-11-2006