Both teams will consider this a must win game for differing reasons. Firstly, City will be looking to get their title challenge back on track after taking just one point from the last two games and the Baggies will be looking to come away put more daylight between themselves and the bottom three.
Both teams complained about penalty decisions in their midweek games. City for the one awarded for the foul on Kevin Phillips in their 2-2 draw with Birmingham and Albion for the one not given for handball by Caldwell in the game against Wigan which also finished 2-2. Refereeing decisions seem to have been really poor this season against Albion but I have also witnessed really bad decisions for other teams. There is a real danger that the game of football is going to be ruined by awful officiating. Let’s hope today’s game isn’t spoiled by the referee and his team.
Robbie’s thoughts on Man City
‘They play at home and obviously they’ve had a couple of results that they weren’t happy with.
They are a good team with a lot of dangerous players and can replace players with quality.
We will try to put some pressure on them. We are improving and getting better. We’ve got four points from the last three games.
We’ve had some good games and good results against the big teams so we’re going to be positive.
Even at home against Manchester United we matched them for long periods and we should have got something out of it’.
Man City Team News:
Micah Richards, Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson are all out. Nigel de Jong faces a late fitness test.
Player to watch: Carlos Tevez
Tevez is City’s Talisman and he is always likely to pop up with a goal.
West Bromwich Albion Team News:
The Baggies have doubts over Cech, Jara and Simon Cox. Graham Dorrans is also likely to miss out again.
Player to watch: Marc-Antoine Fortuné
After his impressive cameo appearance against Wigan Fortuné could come into the reckoning to play up front with Odemwingie playing just behind him.
Match Facts & Stats
The two teams have met 138 times with Albion winning 54 times and City 56 times. However, the Baggies have scored 233 goals to City’s 231.
Ref Watch:
Martin Atkinson is the man in charge and Baggies fans will remember him from the game against Fulham at Craven Cottage when he failed to give a foul on Mulumbu which led to the first goal.
Match Prediction:
3-1 to Man City
Next Fixtures:
Next up is West Ham at home on 12 February.