West Bromwich Albion v Palace

The Hawthorns, Wednesday 7.45pm

Story so far

After a dramatic finish to the 2004/05 campaign to ensure survival, West Brom were guided to relegation by the brilliant Bryan Robson at the end of the following season.

The Baggies board stuck with Robson through the summer of 2006 and, after a run of good results, looked odds on for an instant return to the Premiership. However, results started to wane and the Baggies found themselves five points adrift of top spot in mid September.

Tony Mowbray was appointed and results immediately turned back into wins – however, Mowbray had a full team to choose from, whereas Robson had to deal with depleted team with numerous injuries.

West Brom are currently seven spots off of an automatic promotion spot and sit in the last play-off spot, with the same points total as 7th-placed Cardiff.

Team news

Shefki Kuqi had been sidelined with a knee injury since February and will be in contention for a starting place.

Paul Ifil (Achilles), Stuart Green (shoulder), Jobi McAnuff and Mark Kennedy (both hamstring) are all missing for the Eagles.

So manager Peter Taylor is likely to keep with the same team that beat Leicetser 2-0 at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

West Brom forwards John Hartson and Nathan Ellington are still out. Ellington is serving a suspension, while Hartson has a knee injury.

Quotes

Peter Taylor: "It's a big game and a tough one, but I think they will see us in different form to what they saw before," he said.

"Tony Mowbray had just gone there and they have a lot of good players, who were trying to impress the new manager I'm sure and they looked a very good side.

"I think everyone thought that night that they would go on to win the league and they're still up there, but I think they will see a different Palace team."

"I'm not over the moon about the fixture being on the Wednesday," admitted Taylor.

"I'd have preferred to play on the Tuesday, as to go and travel to Plymouth after playing on Wednesday makes it a tough week for us and the travelling makes it harder for us."

Mark Venus (Baggies #2): "Palace are a good team who are hoping to nick in the back door of the play-offs.

"Peter sold some players in the summer and he has reinvested that money.

"They have some players of Premier League pedigree and young players on the way up.

"They're a decent team, who are big and strong, and they've won more games than they've lost over the last ten.

"It will be a hard game - just like all of the last nine will be."

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West Bromwich Albion - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
6th	37	18	9	10	63

Full league table

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West Bromwich Albion - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	1	2	2	4	5

Full form table

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Our away record v West Bromwich Albion

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
19	4	4	11	23	30

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Last five results

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

All time results

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One to watch

Diomansy Kamara

Kamara is a pacy forward with a lot of skill. He's good in the air and can operate out wide or in a more orthadox striking role.

He started his career in England with Portsmouth and, after a good start, injuries picked up and form dropped. Portsmouth offloaded him to West Brom while they were in the top flight, but he only managed the one Premiership goal.

This season he is averaging nearly a goal a game and showing why there were a few clubs trying to prise him away from the Baggies in the summer.

Ref watch

K A Friend

Last meeting

Palace 0-2 West Bromwich Albion

Tuesday October 17 2006

Palace: Kiraly, Ward, Hudson (Freedman, 46), Cort, Borrowdale, Watson, Kennedy, Fletcher (Green, 68), Soares, Scowcroft, Kuqi (Morrison, 68)

Subs not used: Speroni, Granville

Bookings: Hudson, Scowcroft

West Bromwich Albion: Zuberbuhler, Robinson, Perry, Curtis Davies, Albrechtsen, Greening, Gera, Carter, Koumas, Ellington (Quashie, 73 ), Kamara

Subs not used: Steele, Watson, Hartson, McShane

Bookings: Curtis Davies, Perry

Goals: Gera 45, Kamara 48

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