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English Premier League Preview: West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City [Thu Aug 25th, 2005]
Saturday lunchtime sees the first West Midlands derby of the season as Steve Bruce takes his Birmingham City side to face West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.
BACKGROUND
Former Manchester United team-mates Brian Robson and Steve Bruce lock horns at the Hawthorns this weekend, with local pride and a valuable three points up for grabs.
Robson’s West Brom side began the season well, before being humbled at Chelsea in midweek, but Bruce’s Birmingham are still in search of their first win of the season, having taken just one point from their opening three games.
The Blues manager has had to set the record straight in the week after it was reported he may resign from the St Andrew’s hot seat to take up a post as a television pundit should this season not go well.
He told the Birmingham Evening Mail he “intended to see through this job†having signed a new five-year contract last year and added “we’ve not started well but it’s my job to put things right and that’s what I intend to do.â€
The Blues have not won in four attempts at West Brom, with their 3-0 win in the 1999-2000 season the last time they took the points from their neighbours. Last season second half goals from Neil Clement and Kevin Campbell secured a valuable home win for West Brom, but Birmingham hammered the Baggies 4-0 at St Andrews to leave Robson’s men bottom of the table at Christmas.
FORM GUIDE
West Brom (All competitions, earliest result first): DWL
The Baggies made a promising start to the campaign with a 0-0 draw at Manchester City and followed that up with a fine win over Portsmouth at the Hawthorn’s. Brian Robson’s men came unstuck at Chelsea in midweek, conceding four goals with no reply to the champions.
Birmingham (All competitions, earliest result first): DLL
Steve Bruce’s side have made a shaky start to the season, picking up just one point from their opening three fixtures. A 0-0 opening day draw at Fulham was followed by two home defeats – 2-1 at the hands of Manchester City and 3-0 to a Mark Viduka-inspired Middlesborough.
TEAM NEWS
West Brom:
Brian Robson has the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from and will again have a dilemma up front with Nathan Ellington perhaps in line for his first start since joining from Wigan Athletic.
Birmingham:
Clinton Morrison was sold back to Crystal Palace in midweek for £2 million after scoring 16 goals from 97 appearances. Emile Heskey sat out the defeats to Manchester City and Middlesborough with a hip injury and is still a doubt for the weekend. David Dunn’s back injury will see him sidelined until the middle of September.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Brom:
Geoff Horsfield is a hero to Birmingham City fans after his goal in the 2002 play off final led to a 1-1 draw with Norwich City and a subsequent penalty shootout victory. He failed to establish himself for the Blues in the Premiership and moved to Wigan after just over a season in the top flight.
After just 18 appearances for the Latics he joined West Brom for £1 million, but again failed to hit the target frequently enough to earn a regular starting place. He scored just four times last season (including a vital goal in the baggies final game of the season), but has already netted twice this term, with both goals in West Brom’s 2-1 win over Portsmouth.
The 31-year-old penned a new two-year contract earlier this week and will be hoping to celebrate with a goal against his former side.
Birmingham:
On-loan midfielder Nicky Butt has made a promising start to his Birmingham City career and is currently the only member of the squad to have troubled the score sheet so far this season.
The former Manchester United man will be keen to make an impact at St Andrew’s and his big match experience may be a key factor against West Brom on Saturday.
POSSIBLE STARTING XIs
West Brom:
Kirkland, Albrechtsen, Gaardsoe, Clement, Robinson, Greening, Scimeca, Chaplow, Johnson, Horsfield, Ellington.
Subs: Moore, Kamara, Kuszczak, Kanu, Inamoto.
Birmingham:
Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Lazaridis, Pennant, Butt, Tebily, Clemence, Forssell, Pandiani.
Subs: Vaesen, Clapham, Izzet, Gray, Jarosik.
Mike Olford
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