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Premier League preview: West Brom v Aston Villa

16 January 2013 17:36

West Brom manager Steve Clarke has ruled out further signings but hopes key players will return for Saturday's Midlands derby with Aston Villa.

The Baggies were as high as third in late November but has slipped to seventh after just two wins in their past nine Premier League fixtures.

A disappointed Clarke will be looking to turn around their mid-week FA Cup defeat to QPR with midfielder Claudio Yacob and striker Shane Long rated a '50-50' chance of returning for the visit of Paul Lambert's men.

"Ten months is a long season – there will be periods where things don't go for you but we need to turn it around against Aston Villa," Clarke said of West Brom's recent woes.

"Claudio has trained a couple of days. He has a chance for Saturday – he's 50-50. Shane's dead leg is improving – he's 50-50 too.

"But I won't risk any of my players. If they're fit they'll play, if not they won't."

Defender Jonas Olsson and striker Peter Odemwingie were subjects of bid from rival clubs during the week but Clarke insists there is no need to make changes to the squad in January.

Lambert's Villa were left desperately frustrated to lose to relegation rivals Southampton last Saturday.

A controversial penalty was enough to win it for the visiting Saints, a result that leaves an inexperienced Villa squad languishing in the relegation zone by a point.

Lambert is looking at Toulouse enforcer Moussa Sissoko to bolster his threadbare midfield but it is the defence, where Villa have conceded an equal league-worst 42 goals, that is of graver concern.

It's a vitally important fixture for Villa's Premier League survival hopes ahead of a heavy fixture load with a League Cup tie against Bradford and an FA Cup clash with Millwall.

Villa are still without Chris Herd (ankle), Shay Given (hamstring), Darren Bent (knee), Marcus Albrighton (ankle), Gary Gardner (ACL) and Richard Dunne (groin).

West Brom are missing Zoltan Gera (ACL), with Long, Yacob and Marc-Antoine Fortune all a chance to play.

Info

West Bromwich Albion

D L L L W

2 - 2

Aston Villa

D L W W L

Competition

Half-time: 0 - 2
Full-time: 2 - 2

Venue: The Hawthorns (West Bromwich)
Attendance: 25583

Goals

	0 - 1	12' C. Benteke (assist by C. N'Zogbia)
	0 - 2	31' G. Agbonlahor (assist by C. N'Zogbia)
C. Brunt 49' (assist by R. Lukaku)	1 - 2
P. Odemwingie 84' (assist by G. McAuley)	2 - 2

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	B. Foster
3	J. Olsson	21'
6	L. Ridgewell
28	B. Jones
23	G. McAuley
7	J. Morrison
5	C. Yacob
11	C. Brunt	49'
17	G. Dorrans	62'
24	P. Odemwingie	84'
20	R. Lukaku	44'
Coach: S. Clarke

#	Player	Bookings
22	B. Guzan
4	R. Vlaar
27	J. Bennett
34	M. Lowton	61'
6	C. Clark
32	N. Baker
10	C. N'Zogbia
16	F. Delph
15	A. Westwood
11	G. Agbonlahor	21' 31'
20	C. Benteke	12'
Coach: P. Lambert

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
14	J. Thomas for C. Yacob 36'
8	M. Rosenberg for G. Dorrans 82'
15	G. Thorne for C. Brunt 90+4'
4	G. Popov
13	B. Myhill
25	C. Dawson
30	G. Tamaş

#	Player	Bookings
30	E. Lichaj for N. Baker 5'	58'
25	B. Bannan for F. Delph 53'
14	B. Holman for C. N'Zogbia 67'
7	S. Ireland
9	D. Bent
21	J. Bowery
33	A. Marshall

Friday 24 May

22:23	Blackburn give Bowyer permanent role
21:50	Dortmund can get better, insists Klopp
21:33	Fernandes: No Caterham exit plans
21:11	Inter appoint Mazzarri, sack Stramaccioni
20:42	Benitez in Napoli link
20:17	Adams signs new Ross County deal
19:39	Heynckes: Bayern are extraordinary
19:01	Platini: European sports police needed
18:12	Taylor calls on Coloccini to stay
18:06	Verratti is going nowhere, says agent
17:56	Neymar set to leave Santos ´within 10 days´
17:51	Gill expects Rooney stay
17:44	Departing Cole thanks West Ham fans
16:59	Shechter grateful for Swansea support
16:44	Townsend charged over betting rules
16:43	Reading release six players
16:41	Monaco splash out for Moutinho, Rodriguez
16:32	Rummenigge: Bayern not complacent
16:07	Giroud seeks improvement
16:04	Palermo chief welcomes bids for Ilicic
16:03	AZ bolster defensive stocks
16:00	Lambert: Benteke needs to stay at Villa
15:52	Andreolli poised for Inter return
15:22	Bianchi: Boca players tired
15:05	Cech: Mourinho a great manager
14:52	Blatter outlines racism resolution aim
14:37	Manchester City players coy on Pellegrini
14:14	Marseille priced out of Damiao move
13:55	McAuley: West Brom could have done more
13:52	Osman extends Everton stay
13:43	Stoke reject N´Zonzi transfer request
13:19	Carragher retirement ´sad´, says Mourinho
12:58	Manolev happy to help
12:37	Europa league winners to get Champions League spot
11:22	First goal bittersweet for Azpilicueta
11:06	La Liga Preview: Real Sociedad v Real Madrid
10:54	La Liga Preview: Pressure on for Euro spots
10:46	Ligue 1 Preview: Victory only hope for Troyes
10:40	MLS preview: Second place up for grabs
10:37	Coentrao heading for Real exit
10:26	Coppa Italia Preview: Roma v Lazio
10:02	Ligue 1 Preview: Lorient v PSG
08:56	Malaga win was catalyst, says Klopp
07:10	Milan finalise Zapata switch
07:01	Montella braced for Jovetic departure
06:20	Simeone will not block Falcao exit
05:58	Van Gaal talks down Netherlands´ chances
05:49	Coupet doubts Monaco´s potential
05:47	Man City edge Chelsea in thrilling friendly
05:41	Torres wants Mourinho at Chelsea
04:57	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Atletico Mineiro snatch late draw
04:49	Galliani dismisses Berlusconi row reports
04:37	San Lorenzo renew Coloccini pursuit
04:29	Benteke sparks fears of Villa exit
04:27	Weidenfeller: We can be heroes
04:18	Injured Messi called up by Argentina
04:13	Cleverley taking inspiration from Spain
03:16	Kellermann proud of resilient Wolfsburg
03:05	Robben hails dominant Germany
02:49	Europe the benchmark for Zaccheroni´s Japan
01:39	Osieck backs Schwarzer to shine

Thursday 23 May

23:59	Van der Gun shoots Utrecht to away win
23:39	Firmino double fires Hoffenheim to win
21:41	Davies hails ´great´ debut season
21:17	Foster happy with eighth-placed finish
20:15	Wickham eyeing first team
19:44	UEFA to announce Europa League incentive
19:31	Fonte looking to hit the ground running
19:21	Hodgson keen to hand Jones defensive role
18:43	Onuoha: Keep the faith with QPR owners
18:09	Karagounis praises Fulham fans
18:07	McDermott: Byram keen on Leeds stay
18:02	Martinez´s Wigan future to be decided next week
17:47	Rodriguez: I think I will leave Porto
17:44	Erbes ´relaxed´ ahead of Newell´s clash
17:20	CSL Preview: Shandong Luneng eye top spot
17:18	Kwakman to leave Groningen
16:45	Werder Bremen complete Petersen signing
16:28	Mancini Inter return is possible, says Moratti
16:20	Baines: Everton must progress without Moyes
16:07	Nicollin: Cabella worth 100 million euros
15:56	Demel proud of West Ham´s home record
15:49	Debuchy: Premier League is difficult
15:21	Pazzini to miss start of next season
15:09	Ferdinand extends Manchester United deal
14:23	Pulis thanks fans after Stoke departure
14:07	Berlin to host 2015 UEFA Champions League final
14:04	Werder face Dutt wait
13:43	Finke appointed Cameroon boss
13:38	Wilshere keen to improve after comeback season
13:08	Vieira excited by MLS franchise
13:04	Rodgers wants quick decision on Carroll future
12:55	Kagawa wants European success
11:21	Mata hopes for Mourinho arrival
10:44	Welbeck disappointed with goals tally
10:36	UEFA Champions League Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich
10:23	Zabaleta excited by Pellegrini
09:53	Ramos: Bale is ´Real Madrid-quality´
08:59	Hart urges City to go forward
05:27	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Santa Fe earn away win
05:24	Fiorentina reject Jovetic rumours
05:16	Piszczek set for post-season surgery
04:48	Adriano signs Barca extension
04:33	International Friendly: Venezuela 2 El Salvador 1
04:22	Bundesliga chief slams Qatar World Cup scheduling
03:52	Gignac wants Barton to stay
02:35	Ramsey, Walcott hail Wenger´s achievements
02:20	Loew regrets timing of German finale

Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester United	38	+43	89
2	Manchester City	38	+32	78
3	Chelsea	38	+36	75
4	Arsenal	38	+35	73
5	Tottenham Hotspur	38	+20	72
6	Everton	38	+15	63
7	Liverpool	38	+28	61
8	West Bromwich …	38	-4	49
9	Swansea City	38	-4	46
10	West Ham United	38	-8	46
11	Norwich City	38	-17	44
12	Fulham	38	-10	43
13	Stoke City	38	-11	42
14	Southampton	38	-11	41
15	Aston Villa	38	-22	41
16	Newcastle United	38	-23	41
17	Sunderland	38	-13	39
18	Wigan Athletic	38	-26	36
19	Reading	38	-30	28
20	Queens Park Ra…	38	-30	25

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