West Brom Preview

The Manager

Star Player

Past Positions

Past Meetings

Well, which game would you like? Recent meetings between the Baggies and Town have been heated and full of excitement, all for one reason. Alan Buckley. After storming out of Town in 1994, taking his backroom staff and half of Towns team with him, everybody looked forward to the return of Buckley and co. After loosing the first battle 2-0 in the 1994/95 season, Town wanted revenge and got it the next season with one of THE most exciting games at Blundell Park for years.

With 4 ex-Town players in their line up, everything was set up for a bruising encounter. It was. First of all manager Brian Laws (playing at right back) nearly kicked Dave Gilbert into the John Smiths, while Shaun Cunnington was being run down in midfield by his successor Paul Groves, in goal, ex stopper Paul Reece was being bombarded with shots from everywhere with Livvo and Jamie Forrester tearing current Town centre half Paul Raven, apart. While up front, Welshman Tony Rees was doing nothing, because he couldn't get near the ball.

If ever there was a 1-0 thrashing, this was it. Shot after shot, Town failed to score, and by the time it got to half time, Town fans were wondering if we would ever score. Then came along the little Italian by the name of Ivano Bonetti. As a cross from Gary Childs looped through the air, Bonetti hit the sweetest volley into the bottom corner, sending Town fans into delirium. After the game everyone thought Bonetti had played his last for the Mariners, Town not being able to afford the £250,000 transfer fee. But after a plea to supporters and local business, the money was raised and Bonetti stayed.

This was just the first chapter of a series of results against WBA. Following that WBA got revenge at the Hawthorns, winning 3-1. The next season was the last game Buckley would visit Blundell Park as an opposing manager. The game ended 1-1 with the return fixture a 2-0 win for Baggies. After Towns relegation and Buckley's Grimsby return, the sides met again, with Towns team sheet full of ex WBA players. Two of them got on the scoresheet in a terrific 5-1 win, that was described by ex WBA winger David Smith as "sweet revenge".

After that came two successive draws between the sides, but the spice in the fixture had dried up. Fortunately for Town the wins haven't dried up. Last season Town did the double over WBA with a 2-0 win at Blundell Park and a 1-0 win at the Hawthorns, courtesy of a Luke Cornwall goal.

WBA Head-to-Head (77th on The Opposition Ladder).

Hopes For This Season

After the sale of striker Lee Hughes to local neighbours Coventry for £5 million there seems to be an air of uncertainty surrounding both the ambition and the future of WBA this season. Despite having quality strikers at their disposal still, there is not a great quantity of them, and a striker will be top of Gary Megson's agenda.

If a 20 goal striker can be bought, WBA will again be hovering around the play-offs. But this depends on the rest of the team. Indeed this could be where the problem lies. Especially in defence where boss Gary Megson believes the problem lies. This was made public last week when the team crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Walsall. After this early defeat, a seemingly wobbly defence and the sale of Hughes, perhaps the best WBA can hope for is mid table, and avoidance of any relegation battle.

Ins/Outs

Visitors Injury List

Striker Jason Roberts will be ruled out of the clash, leaving Bob Taylor and Scott Dobie the only fit forwards on the books, meaning they pick themselves for the forward positions. Elsewhere the Baggies are injury free and have the following squad to choose from:

West Brom: Hoult, Butler, Gilchrist, Sigurdsson, Balis, Appleton, McInnes, Jordao, Clement, Taylor, Dobie, Jensen, Fox, Cummings, Quinn, Adam Chambers

Lennie's Teamtalk

"OK Lads, we'll have to play with 10 men I'm afraid! So, defend, defend and defend. "

Prediction For Game

The pressure will be on WBA to come up with the goods after a first day defeat, and after the sale of Lee Hughes it could be said that WBA should prove easier to beat. But with last season's defeats against Town at the back of their minds, the West Midlanders will want a win, as will Town. However with Grimsby having only 10 fit senior players available, Town will find it hard to break WBA down. Since it's only the second game, and being an optimist, I'll go for a 1-1 draw (again)!

Fishy prediction: 1-1 Honours Even

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