http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4028095.stm
West Brom v Man Utd
Hawthorns
Saturday, 27 November
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
West Bromwich Albion have a doubt over midfielder Andy Johnson, who has a
hamstring problem.
Robert Earnshaw could return to the side after being dropped to the bench
for the game against Arsenal.
Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs have all
been passed fit.
But Gary and Phil Neville, and Cameroon midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba remain
doubtful after a virus swept through United's Carrington training complex.
West Brom (from): Hoult, Scimeca, Moore, Purse, Clement, Contra, Johnson,
Greening, Gera, Earnshaw, Kanu, Hulse, Horsfield, Koumas, Gaardsoe,
Albrechtsen, Robinson, Dyer, Sakiri, Kuszczak.
Man Utd (from): Carroll, Howard, G Neville, P Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre,
Brown, O'Shea, Heinze, Fortune, Ronaldo, Bellion, Keane, Scholes,
Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Fletcher, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy, Rooney, Smith.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
a.. WEST BROMWICH ALBION are without a win in six, as they prepare to face
Manchester United, who have not lost in six. For Sir Alex Ferguson, it's his
1,001st match in charge of United. For his protégé, Bryan Robson, it's a
third match in the hot seat of the Black Country club.
a.. The Baggies take on the former champions, having held the current
champions in their last match. The 1-1 draw against Arsenal at Highbury,
when the home side had to rely on a howler from Albion keeper Russell Hoult
for their goal, will be a great boost to a club who've only recorded one
maximum in 14 League outings since returning to the Premiership. Albion need
to score just once, to bring their total in home League meetings with United
to exactly 100 goals.
a.. Albion knocked Manchester United 'Reserves' out of the Carling Cup with
a 2-0 Fourth Round victory at the Hawthorns last December. But their only
points in seven League meetings was 20 years ago, a 2-0 top flight home
victory on 31 March 1984.
a.. MANCHESTER UNITED head for the Midlanders after a night of great
celebration on Tuesday. Ruud van Nistelrooy ensured it was party time for
Sir Alex on becoming the 13th manager to pass the 1,000 milestone and the
third to do it with one club following Sir Matt Busby (Manchester United),
and Dario Gradi (Crewe).
a.. United have won their last four in all competitions, and the last two in
the Premiership. The defeat at Portsmouth is their only loss in 13 League
outings. They go into the match five places and nine points off the pace and
seven points behind second placed Arsenal.
a.. United had to come from behind to win this corresponding fixture 1-3 two
seasons ago. They were only in deficit to a Jason Koumas goal for 60
seconds. Ruud van Nistelrooy put them on terms and additional goals from
Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave the Red Devils a comfortable
victory. United hold a 100% Premiership record over the Baggies after two
meetings. They have 'doubled' the Midlanders in the last three seasons they
have met, but overall United lead the League head-to-head standings by only
41 wins with 37 with 24 draws.
Referee:
Steve Bennett (Orpington)
a.. Steve Bennett will be in the middle for his first Premiership game
involving Manchester United this season. He was in control of West Brom's
2-2 draw at Southampton, and did not issue any cards to Baggies players.
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
19th 10 points
Highest realistically achievable after Saturday's games: 16th
Lowest could fall: BOTTOM
a.. Drawn three and lost three of the last six Premiership matches.
a.. The only win this season in 15 League and Cup games was 2-1, home to
Bolton in the Premiership on 2 October.
a.. One of three clubs to have picked up only one victory in the highest
League - Norwich and Blackburn are the others.
a.. Recorded only one win in 17 League games (Premiership and old Division
One).
a.. Drawn half of their League games this season (seven of 14).
a.. Only Norwich have recorded more stalemates in the top tier (eight).
a.. Looking for an eighth win in 53 Premiership games.
a.. Picked up 36 points from 52 Premiership matches.
a.. Managed just one clean sheet in 14 League outings this term. Blackburn
are the only other club to have notched just one top tier shut-out this
term.
a.. Recorded one block-out in 17 League games, and just one in 29
Premiership contests.
a.. Failed to score in three top division matches this season.
a.. Scored 13 goals in the highest League. Only Birmingham (11) and
Tottenham (12) have scored fewer.
a.. Two points inferior to this identical stage in their first and only
previous Premiership campaign, the season before last. Then they picked up
12 points after the first 14 games, and 12 after 15 also, but went down.
a.. Scored first in just three top League games. Only Norwich have managed
it less often (twice).
a.. Fallen behind from the opening whistle 10 times in the top tier this
term. Only one club has allowed the opposition to score first more often in
Premiership games - Blackburn (11).
a.. The weakest club in the second half of Premiership games.
a.. Their 13 Premiership goals have been scored by six different players.
Only Southampton have a similarly short scorers list.
a.. Second bottom in the Premiership's Current Form table with three points
from a possible 18, leading only Tottenham (no points).
a.. Seeking a fifth home victory in their Premiership history.
a.. Won only one home Premiership match this season (v Bolton).
a.. Scored only seven goals in seven League engagements at the Hawthorns.
a.. Kept just one clean sheet in home Premiership matches this season.
Blackburn are the only other club who can identify with that low number.
a.. Failed to score just once in a home League game. Only Arsenal and Bolton
have scored in all their home games in the top division.
MANCHESTER UNITED
6th 24 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 4th
Lowest could fall: 7th
a.. Won the last three League and Cup games against Newcastle (1-3 a PL),
Charlton (2-0 h PL) and Lyon (2-1 h CL).
a.. Undefeated in six in all competitions.
a.. Won seven of the last nine competitive encounters.
a.. Lost one of the last 21 outings in the Premiership, Champions League and
Carling Cup.
a.. Lost only two Premiership matches this season. Only Chelsea and Arsenal
have been beaten once.
a.. Conceded 10 Premiership goals in 14 outings. Only Chelsea (six) have a
stronger defence.
a.. Recorded the joint longest unbeaten sequence in the Premiership this
season of nine games. Only Arsenal can match that.
a.. Managed six clean sheets in the top division. Only Chelsea (nine) and
Everton (seven) have kept more.
a.. Conceded the opening goal in four top tier matches. Only Chelsea (two)
and Arsenal and Aston Villa (three each) have allowed the opposition to
score first in fewer games.
a.. Completed three goalless draws in the top tier. Only Norwich and
Southampton equal that.
a.. Lost one of the last nine away League and Cup games.
a.. Lost one of the last six on their Premiership travels, and returned with
no points from just two League trips this season.
a.. Conceded seven League goals away from the Theatre of Dreams. Only
Chelsea (three), Everton (four) and Tottenham (five) have shipped fewer
goals on their top flight excursions.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
a.. If he plays, Ronnie WALLWORK will be facing his former club.
a.. If involved, Bernt HAAS will be making his 50th appearance for the
Baggies.
MANCHESTER UNITED
a.. Ruud VAN NISTELROOY is the second highest scorer amongst Premiership
players this season with 11 goals, three behind Arsenal's Thierry HENRY.
Only three of the Dutchman's goals have been in the League and all three
from the penalty spot.
a.. If he lines-up for the kick off, VAN NISTELRROY will be making his 150th
start for the Old Trafford club.
a.. Roy KEANE needs one goal to total 50 for Manchester United.
a.. If he runs out, Phil NEVILLE will be making his 250th Premiership
appearance for the Red Devils.
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: WBA 37 wins, Man United 41, Draws 24
Prem: WBA 0 wins, Man United 2, Draws 0
HEAD TO HEAD at WBA
League: WBA 26 wins, Man United 14, Draws 11
Prem: WBA 0 wins, Man United 1, Draws 0