The Baggies have big chances against faithless Sunderland
Last updated: October 12, 2015 by Leon Marshal
Game details
. .
| Kick-off: | Saturday, 3pm |
| Venue: | The Hawthorns |
| Coverage: | Sky Sports 1, BBC 5 Live |
| Home form: | LLLWD |
| Away form: | DLLLL |
| Last season: | 2-2 |
| Referee: | |
| Competition: | The Premier League |
Sunderland’s manager Dick Advocaat has recently informed the club’s chairman of his decision to leave his position. The Dutchman revealed his feeling saying, things had gone wrong and he wanted to give enough time for Sunderland to turn things around and avoid relegation at the end of the season. The manager’s resignation is another big problem for The Black Cats; they still haven’t won a single Premiership match this season.
This is the right time for West Bromwich Albion to take another three points – from the 19th team in the standings of The Premiership, a team without a head coach. In addition, The Baggies will play at The Hawthorns, a place where they rarely lose against weaker teams. West Brom haven’t showed their best form so far; they’ve lost 4 of their first 8 matches.
West Brom has lost two consecutive games, having recorded only 8 points so far it seems they will be also involved in the relegation battle; this means the match is a real “six-pointer”. The Baggies’ schedule is really hard; they will have to play against Leicester, Man United and Arsenal next month, so they will have to win this game.
Team News
No injured players for West Bromwich Albion, except the long-term injured goalkeeper Ben Foster who will be fit in a month.
Sunderland’s striker Danny Graham has recently received an injury and surely will miss the game. Graham has taken part in 3 of The Black Cats’ matches this season.
Adam Johnson is injured again. After returning to the pitch a month ago, the ex Man City player picked up another injury and won’t be available.
There is a possibility, Sunderland’s new signing Adam Matthews, will be selected for the team, but he is not yet ready to start a match.
Quotes of the week
Tony Pulis (WBA) :
“When you look at Alan’s record over the years he’s been as good as anybody.”
Sam Allardyce (Sunderland) :
“Mental fragility is there, no doubt about it.”
Expected line-ups:
| . | |
| WBA (4-5-1): | Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Lescott, McClean, Gardner, Fletcher, Morrison, Yacob, Berahino. |
| Subs | Lambert, McManaman, Gamboa, Ideye, Anichebe, Rondon, Rose |
| Injured: | Foster |
| Doubtful: | — |
| Not available: | — |
| . | |
| Sunderland (4-3-3): | Pantilimon, Kaboul, O’Shea, Jones, van Aanholt, Lens, Cattermole, Larsson, M’Vila, Defoe, Toivonen. |
| Subs | Mannone, Rodwell, Gooch, Jordi Gomez, Bridcutt, Watmore, Coates |
| Injured: | Graham, Johnson |
| Doubtful: | — |
| Not available: | — |
Key Battle
 |
McManaman this season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Minutes | Goals | Shots per game | Assists | MotM | Yellows | Reds | |
| 2 (4) | 215 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
 |
M’Vila this season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Minutes | Goals | Shots per game | Assists | MotM | Yellows | Reds | |
| 7 | 630 | 1 | 0,4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
So far this season
| . | . | . |
|---|---|---|
| West Bromwich this season | Sunderland this season | |
| 17 | League Position | 19 |
| 0 (2) | (at home) Wins (away) | 0 (0) |
| 1-0 vs. Stoke and Aston Villa | Biggest win | — |
| 1 (1) | (at home) Draws (away) | 2 (1) |
| 3 (1) | (at home) Losses (away) | 2 (3) |
| 0-3 to Manchester City | Biggest Defeat | 0-3 to Manchester United |
| Morrison, Berahino (2) | Top scorer | Lens, Defoe, Fletcher (2) |
| Morrison (2) | Assist Leader | Lens, M’Vila (2) |
| Y19, R0 | Discipline | Y21, R2 |
| 4 | Failures to score | 3 |
| 4 | Clean Sheets | 0 |
| 2 | Both Teams to Score Games | 5 |
| 3 | Over 2.5 Games | 5 |
| 5 | Under 2.5 Games | 3 |
- Sunderland hasn’t won at The Hawthorns since 3rd March 2007 when in The Championship, The Black Cats won 2-1.
- West Bromwich Albion have achieved one victory more in the Head to Head stats over their opponents: (42 WBA victories – 31 draws – 41 Sunderland victories).
- Sunderland has collected just one point from their four away matches this season. The Black Cats drew 2-2 against Aston Villa.
- The Baggies have lost 3 of their 4 home matches this season; this is maybe down to their opponents WBA have met – Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton. Their only home point is against Southampton (0-0).
Head to Head
| Last 5 meetings between the two sides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Competition | Game Result | First Goalscorer |
| 21/02/15 | The Premier League | Sunderland 0-0 WBA | — |
| 16/08/14 | The Premier League | WBA 2-2 Sunderland | Cattermole 5′ |
| 07/05/14 | The Premier League | Sunderland 2-0 WBA | Colback 13′ |
| 21/09/13 | The Premier League | WBA 3-0 Sunderland | Sessegnon 20′ |
| 23/02/13 | The Premier League | WBA 2-1 Sunderland | Lukaku (PG) 35′ |