West Brom looking for play off spot

Tony Mowbray was finally given the job but after getting off to a winning start against Wolves had to wait another six games for his next win. That was a painful one for us as they beat us 3-0 at the Hawthorns. They were quickly 2-0 up and we never recovered from that poor start.

I'd backed them and Birmingham right from the start of the season and by February they were beginning to look a very good bet for one of the two promotion places. They were in such good form that they even went to Colchester and won. But things have changed recently and they've won two of their last nine league games, against QPR and Norwich.

It has left them still in the top six but there are so many clubs in the chase for three of those play off places it is a case of every result counts. Sheffield Wednesday in tenth place are only two points behind the Baggies who are fifth.

There have been some additions to the West Brom squad since we met in November. Mowbray made three permanent signings in January and has also added a couple of loan players.

Slovenian Robert Koren was the first to sign, from Lillestrom, and if he's not known to Burnley fans then the next signing definitely is, goalkeeper Dean Kiely. He was in the York side fifteen years ago on Friday when we clinched the fourth division title, the goalkeeper who thought it was fine to go and kick Robbie Painter.

The last of the signings was a surprise, Mowbray paid £50,000 to Bury for David Worrall. The 17-year-old midfielder had made only one nine minute substitute appearance for Bury, as it happens on the day we played at West Brom.

Sherill MacDonald arrived in January in a loan deal from Anderlecht and in March, following the injury to Curtis Davis, they brought in Reading defender Sam Sodje. That deal has just been extended to the end of the play offs.

Last time out they were beaten 1-0 at home against Sheffield Wednesday in a game they ended with nine men, and it could so easily have been eight. Only referee Neil Swarbrick will know why he didn't red card Paul Robinson for dragging an injured Wednesday player off the pitch.

Click HERE to see all West Brom's results this season.

Tony Mowbray will certainly have to make at least one change from the side that lost to Sheffield Wednesday. They had two players sent off that night and both will be suspended. Neil Clement could have only expected a substitute place but Darren Carter would have started and his place is now expected to go to former Claret Richard Chaplow.

There are doubts over Sam Sodje because of an illness but the loan player is expected to play. If not, and with Clement suspended and Curtis Davis ruled out for the season it could mean a recall for Chris Perry who hasn't featured since November.

They are also without loan signing Sherill MacDonald through injury but there could be a place on the bench for Ronnie Wallwork. The midfielder hasn't played since he was stabbed in Manchester last November.

West Brom are expected to line up: Dean Kiely, Paul McShane, Martin Albrechtsen, Sam Sodje, Paul Robinson, Robert Koren, Richard Chaplow, Jonathan Greening, Jason Koumas, Diomansy Kamara, Kevin Phillips. Subs from: Luke Daniels, Jared Hodgkiss, Zoltan Gera, Nathan Ellington, Chris Perry, Ronnie Wallwork.

Click HERE to see the full West Brom squad.

Burnley have Paul McVeigh back in the squad after he had to sit out last Tuesday's game against Norwich. Both strikers scored that night so it might not be quite so straight forward as just bringing him back in as a straight swap for Ade Akinbiyi although I think he probably will come back in with Ade on the bench. Elsewhere I don't envisage any changes with the side looking settled right now, although with him back in training there could be a surprise return to the bench for Alan Mahon.

Our side will probably be: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Wayne Thomas, Steven Caldwell, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott, Eric Djemba-Djemba, James O'Connor, Steve Jones, Andy Gray, Paul McVeigh. Subs from: Danny Coyne, Graham Coughlan, Chris McCann, John Spicer, Alan Mahon, Kyle Lafferty, Ade Akinbiyi.

We have to go back just over three years for the last Turf Moor meeting between Burnley and West Brom. At the time Albion were second in the league, two points behind Norwich, whilst we were down in twentieth position although five points clear of the relegation positions.

I think it is fair to say this was an over physical encounter, with the over physical part coming from the visitors. They had Rob Hulse sent off for elbowing Mark McGregor and Sean Gregan got away with one far worse that left Tony Grant in need of treatment.

Referee was Nigel Miller, so no surprise things were getting out of hand, and Stan Ternent stormed with rage after a shocking challenge by Andy Johnson on Grant right in front of him. As the Burnley manager demanded another red card, Miller incredibly awarded a free kick the other way.

It was a hard working performance, but disappointing performance, from the Clarets. We did eventually get ourselves in front on 68 minutes through Robbie Blake, only to concede an equaliser five minutes later scored by Geoff Horsfield.

Overall it was a point gained. Brian Jensen had a good game in goal, Glen Little battled hard in an unfamiliar central midfield role, and Robbie Blake looked the only player ever likely to score a goal. Man of the match though was Tony Grant, despite being kicked form pillar to post by Gary Megson's henchmen.

The teams were;

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Lee Roche, Mark McGregor, David May, Mo Camara, Luke Chadwick (Dean West 45), Glen Little, Tony Grant, Graham Branch (Alan Moore 78), Robbie Blake, Ian Moore. Subs not used: Nathan Abbey, Joel Pilkington, Matt O'Neill.

West Brom: Russell Hoult, Thomas Gaardsoe, James Chambers, Darren Moore (Mark Kinsella 88), Bernt Haas (Lloyd Dyer 72), Andy Johnson, Sean Gregan, Neil Clement, Paul Robinson, Rob Hulse, Geoff Horsfield. Subs not used: Joe Murphy, Artim Sakiri, Lee Hughes.

Previous 20 Seasons
Season	Div	Ven	Result	Att	Scorers
1992/93	2	h	2-1	14,796	Harper Conroy
.	.	a	0-2	15,722	.
1994/95	1	a	0-1	13,539	.
.	.	h	1-1	11,885	Robinson
2000/01	1	a	1-1	17,828	Branch
.	.	h	1-1	18,199	Little
2001/02	1	a	0-1	21,422	.
.	.	h	0-2	15,846	.
2003/04	1	a	1-4	22,489	Blake
.	.	h	1-1	13,106	Blake
2006/07	C	a	0-3	18,707	.

Click HERE to see all our results against West Brom, and the first was a 4-3 defeat in 1888 in the very first season of the Football League.