West Bromwich Albion v Palace

The Hawthorns, Sunday 2.00pm

Nationwide Division One

Team news

Sunday’s game could possibly the most important game in West Brom’s recent history. A win would ensure the Baggies finally get to see what the Premiership is like, however anything less coupled by a Wolves win would mean having to go through the agony of the play-offs.

West Brom will be going into Sunday’s game without former Palace loan signing Trevor Benjamin. He found it hard to settle in during his month at Selhurst earlier this season and will sit out the first of a three-match suspension.

Veteran striker Bob Taylor is likely to partner Daniel Dichio up front. Taylor gave Baggies fans a fright, having come off injured in Albion’s last game, however having resumed training he is hoping to be fully involved in the possible promotion party.

This season, Palace fans can travel up north without the fear of relegation or the expectation of promotion. Instead 2002 is a rare occasion for all Eagles to relax, knowing that mid-table mediocrity has already been secured.

Alex Kolinko will once again be taking his place between the sticks with Matt Clarke still suffering from an eye injury. This will mean that Cedric Carasso should be named as the substitute goalkeeper.

Simon Rodger and Stevie Thomson are both out injured with a hamstring injury and cut foot respectively. This should mean space for David Hopkin in the starting line up following on from his stunning goal last weekend.

Julian Gray is another injury casualty and will miss the game due to a knock he picked up against Preston. His replacement is likely to be Latvian winger Andrejs Rubins, who was highly impressive last Saturday.

In attack, Ade Akinbiyi will partner Irish international Clinton Morrison as Dougie Freedman, who was recently named in the PFA division one team of the season, is sidelined with a hamstring strain.

West Bromwich Albion - league stats

Full league table

West Bromwich Albion - current form

Full form table

Our away record v West Bromwich Albion

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
31/10/2001	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 1	West Bromwich Albion
03/02/2001	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 2	West Bromwich Albion
03/09/2000	League	West Bromwich Albion	1 - 0	Crystal Palace
26/10/1999	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	West Bromwich Albion
25/09/1999	League	West Bromwich Albion	0 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

One to watch

Bob Taylor

The veteran striker has always been a threat for the midlands club and he will be the player that the Baggies hope will fire them into the Premiership with a win against Palace on Saturday. Not the quickest of strikers, Taylor has a good footballing brain and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He has scored some very important goals for West brom this season already and if Palace don't mark him well enough, he could just score the most important goal of his career!

Last meeting

English Division 1

West Brom 1 (1) McInnes 8 C Palace 0 (0) 03-09-2000

West Brom: Jensen, Lyttle, Clement, McInnes, Butler, Fox, Taylor, Hughes, Van Blerk (Carbon,66), Jordao, James Chambers Subs not used: Adamson, Oliver

C Palace: Taylor, Fan Zhiyi, Ruddock, Mullins, Rodger (Smith,71), McKenzie (Harris,71), Morrison, Black, Gray, Pollock, Harrison Subs not used: Fullarton, Austin, Thomson

Bookings: Harris (C Palace)

Attendance: 13,980

Referee: A R Leake (Darwen)

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