Palace v West Bromwich Albion

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Story so far

Boing, boing - West Brom are about. There's not really too much to say about them that isn't well publicised this season.

We all know they made the playoffs last season but somehow missed out to Derby. Well they're going for promotion again, only this time they don't fancy the lottery of the playoffs.

Without Robson holding them back, they have stormed to the top of the table and amassed an amazing 37 goals - 5 more than league leaders, Watford.

Mowbray's West Brom side know nothing other than to attack and to play football. They were the best team I had seen at Selhurst last season and there is no doubt that they will be the best team this season.

Team news

Carl Fletcher is pushing for a recall after a spell on the sidelines but Warnock is likely to keep faith with the players who have chalked up successive wins against Colchester and Preston. Eagles winger Paul Ifill (thigh) and left-back Tony Craig (shoulder) will miss out. With Watford not playing until Saturday evening, West Brom can go top of the table with a win at Selhurst Park. But boss Tony Mowbray will again be without first choice strikers Kevin Phillips and Ishmael Miller, who both have knee injuries. Martin Albrechtsen and James Morrison are also ruled out with knee problems.

Quotes

Neil Warnock: "It has been a great week, the best since I've been here.

"Obviously results change everything, but I think we all know we are probably in for the hardest game since we've been here tomorrow from looking at the reports and everything.

"It looks like they have the best squad in the league, so it will be good to gauge whether we can compete with them or not."

"It will be good to see how we cope against the best team with the problems they will cause us.

"They have got loads of forward players and I think everybody goes forward in their team, so there will be no chance of them being defensive."

Tony Mowbray: I've had a look at their reports," he said. "They had a good victory on Tuesday. They are a Neil Warnock side so what do you expect?

"They will be hard-working, committed, Scowcroft and Morrison will be a handful, Ben Watson, who is a good footballer, will be a threat.

"They are fighting and scrapping and it seems to be gelling now. We need a similar performance to Wednesday's.

"We need ambition and need to go to Palace in a similar vein. Hopefully the extra day won't take its toll on the players."

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West Bromwich Albion - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
2nd	18	10	4	4	34

Full league table

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West Bromwich Albion - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	3	2	0	8	2

Full form table

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Our home record v West Bromwich Albion

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
21	7	6	8	24	25

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
14/03/2007	League	West Bromwich Albion	2 - 3	Crystal Palace
17/10/2006	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	West Bromwich Albion
01/02/2005	League	West Bromwich Albion	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
23/10/2004	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 0	West Bromwich Albion
27/03/2004	League	West Bromwich Albion	2 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

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One to watch

Robert Koren

Having just looked at the BBC preview for tomorrows game, I ended up jumping and skipping around the room.

West Brom have two players out that have scored 19 goals between them since the beginning of the season. Kevin Phillips and Ishmael Miller will not be putting the ball in the back of the net tomorrow.

Therefore, I have turned my one to watch attention to the Baggies number 7. I must admit, I'd never heard of Bostjan Cesar before the beginning of this season but I'm fully aware of him now.

He signed for West Brom on a free in January but I don't remember him playing at their place last season when we beat them 3-2. Saying that, Koren is having a stormer this season compared to last year.

He's already knocked in 5 goals in 12 starts. The best player to liken him to would be Jovan Kirovski. He's a creative, attacking midfielder who can thread in a goalscoring ball or complete the perfect pass - just look at the goalscoring of the front men this season.

Like the rest of Mowbray's team, the only thing Koren wants to do is attack. I thought Jason Koumas would be missed - not with this bloke about.

Ref watch

U Rennie.

Balls.

Last meeting

West Bromwich Albion 2-3 Palace

Wednesday March 14 2007

West Bromwich Albion: Kiely, McShane, Clement, Curtis Davies (Albrechtsen, 38(sent off 41)), Robinson, Greening, Chaplow (Koren, 58), Koumas, Gera, Phillips, Kamara

Subs not used: Daniels, Carter, MacDonald

Bookings: Phillips

Goals: Clement 26, Phillips 76

Palace: Kiraly, Lawrence, Cort, Hudson, Borrowdale (Butterfield, 72), Watson, Soares, Fletcher, Hughes (Grabban, 86), Morrison (Martin, 78), Scowcroft

Subs not used: Speroni, Freedman

Goals: Morrison 35, Watson 42 (pen), Grabban 90

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