West Bromwich Albion v Palace

The Hawthorns, Wednesday 7.45pm

Story so far

Much like last season, I saw West Brom as being the runaway leaders of the Championship. How wrong have I been?

Although unquestionably being the best footballing team in this division, Mowbray's side have that little problem with combating physical teams in this league. Not only that, but they are prone to conceding poor goals.

Much like Barnsley last night, West Brom may be high on confidence and set to demolish our defence after getting themselves through to the FA Cup Semi Finals.

The Baggies are currently 6 points off league leaders Bristol City, albeit with 3 games in hand.

Team news

Eagles boss Neil Warnock is set to name the same side that won 2-1 at home to Colchester on Saturday.

Paul Ifill will miss out due to a hamstring injury, Neil Danns has a groin problem while Mark Kennedy (Achilles) is also sidelined.

West Brom's Carl Hoefkens is pushing for a start after overcoming his hamstring injury, but Felipe Teixeira is out for the season with knee trouble.

Quotes

Tony Mowbray

"The league is our priority," said Mowbray.

"It is important for the players to stay very focused on their immediate jobs.

"They're immediate job is to try and win league games.

"Crystal Palace will offer a very stern test.

"They are a much-improved team I would suggest.

"They seem to have a game-plan about the way they play.

"We've watched them in a couple of games they've played recently.

"They've got very young, attacking legs, with a lot of pace and mobility up front.

"They're very well organised defensively with a sitting midfield player.

"It will be a big challenge for us."

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West Bromwich Albion - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
4th	35	18	7	10	61

Full league table

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West Bromwich Albion - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	4	0	1	15	3

Full form table

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Our away record v West Bromwich Albion

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
20	5	4	11	26	31

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
01/12/2007	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 1	West Bromwich Albion
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

All time results

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One to watch

Ishmael Miller

One thing West Brom aren't short of is attacking quality.

They've had 30 goals come from midfield alone, with Zoltan Gera and Robert Koren notching up 16 between them.

Up front they have three goalscorers with a goal tally lurking between 14-19 with a few others chipping in to help them out.

We all know about Kevin Phillips, he may not have the pace he used to but he knows where the goal is - he's nothing more than a clinical finisher.

Roman Bednar, currently on loan from Hearts, has been having fun in the Championship. The big man is capable of scoring goals with any part of his body. He doesn't just have the strength to trouble defences but he has the pace as well.

Then of coure there's Ishmael Miller. The hattrick hero from Sunday will be high on confidence and look to impose himself tonight.

The 21 year old former Manchester City youth product started pre-season looking to be part of the squad up at City. Mowbray brought him in loan with Sven (at City) insisting that Miller will be a part of his plans.

He signed permanently in the January window.

Miller is another powerful beast of a player who may trouble the least ferocious of our defenders.

Ref watch

P Walton

Last meeting

Palace 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

Saturday December 01 2007

Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hudson, Fonte, Hill, Soares, Watson, Derry, Songo'o (Martin, 79), Scowcroft, Morrison (Dickov, 47)

Subs not used: Freedman, Kennedy, Butterfield

Goals: Morrison 21

Bookings: Hill

West Bromwich Albion: Kiely, Hoefkens, Barnett, Cesar, Robinson, Gera, Koren (MacDonald, 63), Greening, Brunt (Beattie, 45), Bednar, Filipe Teixeira

Subs not used: Steele, Chaplow, Pele

Goals: Hudson 8 (og)

Bookings: Cesar

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