Barnsley play their first game on a Sunday today for the first time since the visit to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday 17th October 2004.
Antony Kay and Brian Howard are both major doubts for the visit of the Baggies in front of the Sky cameras. Kay still hasn't recovered from the groin injury that kept him out of last weekends clash at Leeds whilst Howard hasn't trained all week after coming down with flu. That means Bobby Hassell and Paul Reid should stay in central defence and it could lead to either a return to the starting line-up for Martin Devaney or a first start for loanee Kyel Reid who returns from suspension.
Ronnie Wallwork remains a long term absentee after recovering from surgery following his stabbing.
Probable Line-Up:
Nick Colgan
Neil Austin
Paul Reid ©
Bobby Hassell
Paul Heckingbottom
Martin Devaney/Kyel Reid
Sam Togwell
Grant McCann
Paul Hayes
Daniel Nardiello
Leon Knight
This is the first meeting between the two sides since 2002 and Barnsley are undefeated in FOURTEEN home matches against the boys from the Midlands including winning the last two. The last time West Brom left Oakwell with three points was back on 30th August 1947.
The last meeting at Oakwell saw The Reds triumph in a thrilling 3-2 win on another Sunday, 28th October 2001. It was the first match since the midweek sacking of Nigel Spackman and The Reds got off to a bad start when goalkeeper Kevin Miller made a complete hash of a backpass to leave Andy Johnson with a gaping goal on 10mins.Barnsley fired back though and within 50 seconds Bruce Dyer levelled the scores with a great 30yard strike.
Chris Lumsdon then converted a penalty on 46mins after Dyer had been pushed in the area.
Dyer then sealed the points in the final minute racing through to score coolly past Russell Hoult.
Neil Clement did curl in a great free kick in stoppage time to keep nerves frayed. Bob Taylor was sent off for head butting Miller in a melee to retrieve the ball.
Barnsley: Miller ,Crooks ,Morgan ,Chettle ,Barker ,Neil (Sand ,86 ) ,Tinkler ,Lumsdon ,Barnard ,Dyer ,Gallen (Fallon ,68)
Subs not used: Marriott,Gorre,Regan,
West Brom: Hoult ,Larus Sigurdsson (Fox ,46 ) ,Moore ,Gilchrist ,Lyttle (Balis ,63 ) ,Johnson (Tony Butler ,81 ) ,McInnes ,Appleton ,Clement ,Quinn ,Bob Taylor (sent off 90)
Subs not used Jensen,Cummings,
Bookings: Dyer ,Miller (Barnsley)
Attendance: 12490
Referee: Michael Ryan (Lancashire)
Russell Hoult and Neil Clement are still at West Brom today.
Barnsley moved up to 22nd in Division One after that victory
West Brom were 11th after that defeat
In the return match at the Hawthorns on 30th March 2002 the Baggies were too strong winning 3-1 Jordao, Dichio and Bejamin put West Brom 3-0 up before a Darren Barnard penalty rescued some pride.
West Brom: Hoult ,Varga ,Moore ,Gilchrist (Lyttle ,63 ) ,Balis ,Chambers (Benjamin ,45 ) ,McInnes ,Jordao ,Clement ,Dobie (Fox ,75 ) ,Dichio
Subs not used: Petterson,Bob Taylor,
Barnsley: Marriott ,Mulligan (Crooks ,52 ) ,Flynn ,Chettle ,Barker ,Betsy ,Jones (Gorre ,64 ) ,Neil ,Barnard ,Dyer ,Naylor (Sheron ,75)
Bookings: None
Attendance: 23167
Referee: S W Mathieson (Cheshire)
Barnsley were 22nd after that defeat and were of course ultimately relegated come May.
West Brom went 3rd with victory and were promoted in 2nd place come the end of the season.
Onto 2006-2007 then and despite boasting arguably the strongest squad in the Championship after being relegated from The Premiership in May West Brom are not finding the going easy.
The Baggies lie 13th in the Championship with 2 victories on the road and are 4 points off the Play-Offs. They have lost their last 4 on the road despite boasting talent such as John Hartson, Kevin Phillips and Jason Koumas.
They have also seen a managerial change this season.
Bryan Robson who became the first manager ever to keep a team in the Premiership after being bottom at Christmas was fired in September with the team in 9th place to be replaced by Tony Mowbray. The team have since dropped 4places with Mowbray winning just 3 of his 10 matches in charge, all at home. Let's hope we can keep his away day misery continuing today.
In contrast Barnsley have won their last 3 games at home and kept clean sheet in the last two meaning no home defeat since October.
A win for The Reds today would see them leapfrog QPR into 20th place and put them 5 points clear of the relegation zone after Leeds' defeat yesterday, if they win by 2 or more they will also leapfrog Luton into 19th!! Nosebleed territory!
A win for West Brom would move then massively to 7th place and leave them just a point off the playoffs.
Last 6 Barnsley v West Brom Results:
2001/2002:
Sat 30 Mar West Brom. 3 - 1 Barnsley (Division One)
Sun 28 Oct Barnsley 3 - 2 West Brom. (Division One)
2000/2001:
Mon 01 Jan West Brom. 1 - 0 Barnsley (Division One)
Sat 26 Aug Barnsley 4 - 1 West Brom. (Division One)
1999/2000:
Sat 08 Apr Barnsley 2 - 2 West Brom. (Division One)
Mon 03 Jan West Brom. 0 - 2 Barnsley (Division One)
Overall Record:
Barnsley Wins: 19
West Brom Wins: 21
Draws: 20
Barnsley Goals: 87
West Brom Goals: 102
Records:
Highest Aggregate: 8- West Brom. 6 - 2 Barnsley 1928/1929
Highest Barnsley score: 5- West Brom. 2 - 5 Barnsley 1946/1947
Highest West Brom. score: 7- West Brom. 7 - 0 Barnsley 1989/1990
Last 6 2006-2007 Results:
Barnsley:
2/12/06 Leeds 2-2 Barnsley (Championship)
28/11/06 Barnsley 2-0 Southend (Championship)
25/11/06 Barnsley 1-0 Ipswich (Championship)
18/11/06 Crystal Palace 2-0 Barnsley (Championship)
11/11/06 Birmingham City 2-0 Barnsley (Championship)
4/11/06 Barnsley 3-2 Leeds United (Championship)
W:3 D:1 L:2 F:8 A:8 GD:0 Points:10
West Brom:
2/12/06 West Brom 1-0 Derby (Championship)
28/11/06 Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 West Brom (Championship)
25/11/06 Stoke 1-0 West Brom (Championship)
18/11/06 West Brom 3-0 Burnley (Championship)
11/11/06 West Brom 0-1 Norwich (Championship)
4/11/06 Derby 2-1 West Brom (Championship)
W:2 D:0 L:4 F:6 A:7 Points:6
Barnsley currently lie 21st in the Coca-Cola Championship with 22 points from 21 games, 10 points below West Brom who lie 13th with 32 points from 21 games.
WHO ARE YA!
Full name: West Bromwich Albion
Nickname(s): The Baggies, The Throstles
Founded: 1878
Ground: The Hawthorns
Capacity: 28,003
Chairman: Jeremy Peace
Manager: Tony Mowbray
League: The Championship
2005-06: 19th, FA Premier League
(relegated)
Honours
League
Football League Division One (old) [1], FA Premier League
Champions: 1920
Runners-Up: 1925, 1954
Football League Second Division (old), Division One (modern), Football League Championship
Champions: 1902, 1911
Runners-Up: 1931, 1949, 2002, 2004
Football League Third Division (old), Division Two (modern), Football League One
Play-off Winners: 1993
Cup Competitions
Winners: 1888, 1892, 1931, 1954, 1968
Runners-Up: 1886, 1887, 1895, 1912, 1935
Winners: 1966
Runners-Up: 1967, 1970
Winners: 1920, 1954 (shared with Wolves)
Runners-Up: 1968
Minor Cup Competitions
Winners: 1976
Runners-Up: 1955, 1969
Winners: 1977
Runners-Up: 1971
Winners: 2003
Runners-Up: 2005
County Cups
Winners: 1886, 1895, 1987, 1990, 1991
Runners-Up: 1887, 1888, 1889, 1892, 1894, 1903, 1905, 2002
Winners: 1883, 1886, 1887, 1889, 1900, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1924, 1926, 1932, 1933, 1951, 1969 (Shared with Stoke City)
Runners-Up: 1884, 1888, 1898, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1925, 1938
Team Records |
Victory: | 12-0 v Darwen, Division 1, 4th April 1892 |
Defeat: | 3-10 v Stoke City, First Division, 4th February 1937 |
Attendance: | 64,815 v Arsenal, F.A. Cup 6th Round, 6th March 1937 |