Palace v West Bromwich Albion

Selhurst Park, Tuesday 8.00pm

Story so far

After keeping them in the Premiership and subsequently relegating them from the Premiership, former Albion boss Bryan Robson parted company with the club in mid September.

After winning only 3 games in 8, the Albion board decided to part company with the mediocre tactician. Robson blamed it on a "personality clash between the chairman" and himself.

Since then, under the guidance of caretaker boss Nigel Pearson, Albion have won 3 and drawn 1 game, remaining unbeaten.

Tony Mowbray will take charge of the club from Wednesday but he will be at Selhurst to have a good look at the team that he has inherited.

Team news

Matt Lawrence is a doubt after breaking his toe in the 2-1 defeat against Cardiff on Saturday.

Mark Hudson came on for the injured right-back in the second half and is likely to replace the former Millwall man.

Danny Butterfield and Carl Fletcher (both ankle) and Michael Hughes (knee) will miss out. But Tom Soares should feature after overcoming his ankle injury.

West Brom's Neil Clement (knee) is sidelined and Thomas Gaardsoe (groin) is a doubt. Paul McShane could return after suspension.

Quotes

Paul McShane [scored the winner for Brighton last season]: "Scoring the winner there last season is a good memory and hopefully we can get a similar result tomorrow," said McShane.

"But Palace is a hard place to go. They are a good team, a big club and have a good squad of players.

"I'm sure I might get a bit of stick off their fans for scoring against them last season but it is part of football and it doesn't bother me."

Taylor: "We know it's going to be a difficult match but the players have good spirit and commitment so they will be looking to fight back tonight," he added.

"West Brom are one of the teams fancied for promotion this season, but I have no doubt that with the players here we can bounce back from Saturday's game and we're looking to do that.

"We were all disappointed that we didn't reward the Chairman with the three points on Saturday after buying the ground last week, so we'd like to get them tonight."

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West Bromwich Albion - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
4th	11	5	4	2	19

Full league table

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West Bromwich Albion - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	3	2	0	15	7

Full form table

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Our home record v West Bromwich Albion

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
20	7	6	7	24	23

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
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
20/09/2003	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 2	West Bromwich Albion
21/04/2002	League	West Bromwich Albion	2 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

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One to watch

Kevin Phillips

The last time we encountered Phillips was against Southampton in the penultimate game of our Premiership season. It was a ball from Phillips that allowed Danny Higginbotham to score that dramatic last-minute equaliser.

Phillips is in fine form for Albion, scoring 5 in 7 starts. He can score fantastic goals and is an excellent poacher of the ball. He also falls into the category of a true one season wonder - scoring 30 Premiership goals and earning the Golden Boot, but he never recaptured that goalscoring form.

Probable line-up

	Kuqi	Scowcroft
McAnuff	Kennedy	Watson	Green
Borrowdale	Ward	Cort	Hudson
Kiraly

Ref watch

R. Lee Brentwood

The man with no first name, Mr R. Lee, from Brentwood is a referee with little information to be found. Perhaps a secret agent from The Sun investigating shocking refereeing performances in the Football League.

Mr Lee is currently in his first full season as a Football League referee having spent many a game in the Conference. Tonight, he's taking charge of his eighth match of the season, and only his second ever in the Championship.

The card count suggests he's perhaps keen to get the book out, averaging just under a rash 4 yellows per game (25 in 7 matches), however he's only sent one player for an early shower.

Last meeting

West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Palace

Tuesday February 01 2005

West Bromwich Albion: Hoult, Albrechtsen (Richardson, 72), Purse, Clement, Robinson, Gera, Scimeca, Wallwork, Greening, Campbell, Horsfield (Earnshaw, 55)

Subs not used: Gaardsoe, Kanu, Kuszczak

Bookings: Gera

Goals: Campbell 82, Earnshaw 90

Palace: Kiraly, Boyce, Hall, Sorondo (sent off 12), Borrowdale, Routledge, Leigertwood, Hughes, Soares, Freedman (Powell, 13 (Riihilahti, 86)), Johnson

Subs not used Speroni, Lakis

Goals: Johnson 47, Riihilahti 90

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