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http://www.breakingnews.ie/2004/12/10/story179768.html

Addicks forced to reshuffle
10/12/2004 - 08:41:05

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley will have to juggle his frontline for tomorrow
's Barclays Premiership clash at West Brom after losing both Jonatan
Johansson and Kevin Lisbie to hamstring injuries.

Dennis Rommedahl netted a dramatic late winner at Crystal Palace last week
after coming on for Johansson and the winger could be in line for his first
start since the end of October at The Hawthorns.

Jason Euell and Francis Jeffers are, though, also both in line for a chance
to support Shaun Bartlett.
Defender Mark Fish could make a return to the squad after a frustrating
three months out with a combination of niggling injuries. Chris Perry
remains unavailable, though, because of a groin problem.

Provisional squad: Kiely, Andersen, Hreidarsson, Young, Fortune, El
Karkouri, Murphy, Holland, Kishishev, Thomas, Bartlett, Euell, Konchesky,
Rommedahl, Jeffers, Stuart, Fish.

 

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4072053.stm

West Brom v Charlton
The Hawthorns
Saturday, 11 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT

West Brom's Romanian midfielder Cosmin Contra is fit again after missing out
last week with a groin strain.

Manager Bryan Robson now has a fully fit squad to choose from as the Baggies
aim to move off the bottom.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley faces a striker shortage as both Jonatan
Johansson and Kevin Lisbie are out with hamstring injuries.

Defender Mark Fish could return to the squad after three months out but
Chris Perry (groin) remains unavailable.


West Brom (from): Hoult, Scimeca, Moore, Purse, Clement, Contra, Johnson,
Greening, Gera, Earnshaw, Kanu, Hulse, Horsfield, Koumas, Gaardsoe,
Albrechtsen, Robinson, Dyer, Sakiri, Kuszczak.

Charlton (from): Kiely, Andersen, Hreidarsson, Young, Fortune, El Karkouri,
Murphy, Holland, Kishishev, Thomas, Bartlett, Euell, Konchesky, Rommedahl,
Jeffers, Stuart, Fish.

BIG-MATCH FACTS


a.. WEST BROMWICH ALBION may have picked up just one win in 16 League
matches this season and go into this home game with Charlton at the foot of
the table but they are still only three points below the safety line.
However they're in danger of tumbling to a third Premiership defeat on the
spin for the first time since suffering seven successive losses in a row
between 19 February and 12 April 2003.

a.. Bryan Robson began his managerial career at the Hawthorns with a single
goal defeat at home to Middlesbrough and a creditable 1-1 draw with
champions Arsenal at Highbury. But since then they were thrashed 0-3 by
Manchester United in the west Midlands and ended odd goal in five losers at
Portsmouth. If victorious this weekend, Charlton would become only the sixth
club they've beaten in Premier League history.

a.. There's nothing to choose between these clubs. Both have won 15 of 42
League clashes against each other, with 12 draws.

a.. CHARLTON ATHLETIC head for the black country buoyed by Sunday's last
kick victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, and seeking back-to-back
away victories for the first time since claiming six points out of six at
Blackburn and Birmingham on 20 October and 3 November last year,
respectively.

a.. Alan Curbishley's side have shipped more goals on their top flight
travels than any other club - 12 of the 19 were leaked in just three games.
The block-out against the Eagles was their first clean sheet on the road in
this Premiership campaign. While the Baggies are eager to rise off the foot
of the table, the Addicks would like to improve on their placing on the
bottom rung of the top half.

a.. Although there's parity between these clubs in the League head-to-head
standings, Charlton 'doubled' Albion in their only previous season together
in the Premiership. Albion were already struggling ahead of both games.
Kevin Lisbie netted the only goal in the December meeting at the Valley and
Shaun Bartlett repeated the formula at the Hawthorns a month later.

Referee:

Chris Foy (St. Helens)
a.. In five Premiership games presided over, Chris Foy has shown just six
yellow cards.

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

WEST BROMWICH ALBION
20th 10 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 17th
Lowest could fall:
Increase gap at the foot to three points


a.. Not won in eight - all Premiership.
a.. Claimed three points from the last available 24, since beating Bolton
2-1 at home in the Premiership on 2 October.
a.. Lost the last two.
a.. Conceded three goals in each of the last two matches.
a.. Gone seven games since keeping a clean sheet.
a.. Won only once in the Premiership this season. Norwich can identify with
that.
a.. Dropped more top flight points than any other club (38).
a.. Recorded only one win in 19 League games (Premiership and Nationwide
Division One).
a.. Looking for an eighth win in 55 Premiership games.
a.. Picked up 36 points from 54 Premiership matches.
a.. Scored a mere 15 goals in the top tier this season. Only Birmingham (12)
and Norwich (14) have netted fewer times.
a.. Conceded 31 times in the uppermost division. A total matched only by
Newcastle.
a.. Managed just one clean sheet in 16 League outings this term - the only
club to have managed just one shut-out in the highest League.
a.. Recorded one block-out in 19 League games, and just one in 31
Premiership contests.
a.. Opening the scoring in four Premiership games. Only Norwich have netted
the first goal in fewer top flight matches (two).
a.. Boast the shortest goalscorers list in the top division (six players).
a.. Bottom of the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with two
points from a last possible 18.
a.. Five points inferior to this identical stage in their first and only
previous Premiership campaign, the season before last. Then they picked up
15 points after the first 16, 17 and 18 games, but finished bottom-but-one
and were relegated.
a.. Never won a Premiership match, where the opposition has scored first.

a.. Lost their last three home Premiership matches.
a.. Picked up just seven points at the Hawthorns and at the foot of the
Premiership's "home" table.
a.. Secured only one home victory in the top League level (v Bolton).
a.. Scored seven League goals on home turf. Birmingham have scored just five
times in front of their home fans - the lowest such total in the top
division.
a.. Kept just one clean sheet at home in the top tier (0-0 v Norwich on 16
October).
a.. Seeking a fifth home victory in their Premiership history.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
10th 21 points
Highest realistically achievable after Saturday's games: 8th
Lowest could fall: 12th


a.. Completed eight League and Cup games (seven Premiership) since a draw.
a.. Conceded 27 Premiership goals. Only Newcastle and West Brom (31 each)
and Blackburn (30) have shipped more.
a.. Failed to score in six top flight matches. Only Birmingham and
Southampton (seven each) have fired more blanks.
a.. Four goals shy of conceding 250 in Premier League history.
a.. Scored only once in the first 15 minutes of Premiership games.
a.. At their most vulnerable in the first quarter-hour of the second half of
top flight matches when 10 of 27 goals have been conceded.

a.. Drawn only one away Premiership game.
a.. Conceded more Premiership goals away from home than any other club (19).
a.. Failed to score in four matches on their Premiership travels. Only
Southampton have fired more blanks on the road (five games).

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

WEST BROMWICH ALBION


a.. If he plays, Thomas GAARDSOE will be making his 100th appearance in the
English League.
a.. If involved, Bernt HAAS will be making his 50th appearance for the
Baggies.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC


a.. If he plays, Shaun BARTLETT will be making his 100th appearance for
Charlton.
a.. If he turns out, Mark FISH will be making his 100th Premiership
appearance for Athletic.
a.. If involved, Hermann HREIDARSSON will be making his 50th Premiership
appearance for the Addicks.
a.. If he keeps goal as usual, Dean KIELY will be making his 200th League
appearance for the south east London club.

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: WBA 15 wins, Charlton 15, Draws 12
Prem: WBA 0 wins, Charlton 2, Draws 0


HEAD TO HEAD at WBA
League: WBA 10 wins, Charlton 5, Draws 6
Prem: WBA 0 wins, Charlton 1, Draws 0

 

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http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10366~599895,00.html

Boss calling for Charlton catalyst
By Oliver Bhurrut


BRYAN Robson is hoping Saturday's game against Charlton will provide his
troops with the confidence boost they need to climb the Barclays Premiership
table.


The Addicks sit in tenth spot, 11 points ahead of Albion who will be looking
for their first victory in nine matches.


But the Baggies boss has warned his troops against feeling sorry for
themselves after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at Portsmouth.


"Confidence is a big thing in football," said Robson.

"That's why Saturday is a really big one for us because if we get the three
points it will give the lads the confidence to go forward.


"We can't be feeling sorry for ourselves - you've got to make your own luck.


"You keep your confidence in yourself by not dwelling on the last game and
focusing on the next one.

"But some players do think about the game that has gone before and still
have doubts when they play again.


"However, the only things we can affect now are playing better, not making
mistakes and trying to win the Charlton game.


"They're all big games but the sooner we get the first win since I've been
here, the better for the confidence in the camp. The players will have more
belief in themselves.


"It's more or less a must-win game."


Despite suffering last-gasp heartbreak at Fratton Park, the Hawthorns chief
has been pleased by his squad's positive response in training this week.


And he will be looking for them to convert their efforts into three points
against a Charlton outfit who have lost five of their eight league games on
the road - conceding 19 times in the process.


"It's a matter of talking to players as individuals, getting what their
thoughts are and trying to help them in whatever way you can," Robson added.


"The one thing you get from these lads is work rate on the training ground
and they try to take on board what you put across to them.


"Each individual has got to have the belief and desire to win every match.


"If we can instil that in them they'll get the breaks, because I feel they
haven't had too many since I've been here.


"But you've got to make your own luck in this game and we can't keep making
excuses.


"We made poor mistakes against Portsmouth which cost us.

"And the thing that annoyed me most was the worst scenario should have been
a draw, yet we felt sorry for ourselves late in the game and conceded again.


"But the lads have been positive again this week.

"They're all looking forward to the challenge and know how important it is
that we get three points."


Robson has also warned Albion, who share the joint-worst defensive record in
the top flight with Newcastle having leaked 31 goals in 16 games, they must
tighten up at the back if they are to secure Barclays Premiership survival.


And with the Addicks having only notched six times on the road in the
league - and strikers Kevin Lisbie and Jonatan Johansson both unlikely to be
fit with hamstring strains - the hosts will be hoping to keep only their
second clean sheet of the season.


Robson insisted: "We've conceded more goals than any other team in the
Premiership and we've got to try and address that otherwise we are going to
keep losing games."