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WEST BROMWICH ALBION v ASTON VILLA
Date: Sunday, 22 August
Kick-off: 1300 BST
Venue: The Hawthorns
Referee: Mark Halsey
By: Johnny
Albion face oldest rivals Aston Villa at The Hawthorns in their first home game of the Premier League campaign. Surprisingly there are still tickets available for the clash, though any tickets unsold will be covered by Albion through the six-hundred grand that the club will recieve from Sky for televising the fixture. After the disappointing end to the promotion campaign there is a renewed sense of optimisim following a good performance at Blackburn last week, and encouraging signs in the transfer market. Supporters will be hoping to see a more attack minded approach following comments from both Kanu and Megson that overly defensive tactics could prove costly.
West Bromwich Albion Team News
Wales midfielder Jason Koumas will serve the second game of a four-match ban. Striker Rob Hulse is out with a stomach injury, and central defender Larus Sigurdsson is recovering following knee surgery.
West Bromwich Albion (from): Hoult, Scimeca, Purse, Gaardsoe, Moore, Albrechtsen, Robinson, Gera, Johnson, Greening, Kanu, Horsfield, Dobie, Clement, Sakiri, O'Connor, Gregan, A Chambers, Kuszczak.
Aston Villa Team News
Aston Villa midfielder Nolberto Solano returns from suspension to replace Lee Hendrie, who has a shoulder injury. Last season's top scorer Juan Pablo Angel has been sidelined for three weeks with a knee injury. However, the Colombian played in the reserve match against Leeds United earlier this week and is set for a place on the bench.
Gary Megson about Villa:
"They are a really good side and they have great pace in attack with Vassell and Cole. Our centre-halves are going to have to be on their toes to deal with them. But it will not be just about them. There is quality throughout Villa. It's a great game for the Midlands."
David O'Leary on Albion's prospects:
"One thing they will have is experience. The experience from the last time up will do them the world of good from last time they were up. I really don't know if they're better equipped this time. Only Gary Megson could tell you that. I could maybe give an opinion a bit more into the season, but not after one game."
On Albion's most high-profile summer signings: Kanu and Jon Greening:
"They're good players. Middlesbrough bought Greening for a lot of money and Kanu - you don't play at Arsenal all those years without being a good player."
About Sunday's match:
"West Brom are up. It's going to be a battle and a physical game. We've got to see all that out and hopefully we can do the business. That would make it a great start to the season."
Albion v Villa - Head To Head
In Total
Football League: Albion 43 wins, Villa 59 win, 24 draws
Premier League: Albion 0 wins, Villa 1 win, 1 Draw
At Albion
Football League: Albion 28 wins, Villa 19 wins, 16 draws
Premier League: Albion 0 wins, Villa 0, 1 draw
Last Time Around
West Bromwich Albion keeper Russell Hoult denied Aston Villa an undeserved victory by saving Dion Dublin's late penalty in a pulsating West Midlands derby at The Hawthorns.
Baggies fans chanted 'England's number one' after Hoult managed to block Dublin's 73rd-minute spot-kick with his feet.
It would have been an injustice had Graham Taylor's side made the short trip back to Villa Park with three points in their locker even if they felt they should have had an earlier spot-kick awarded for a challenge on Mark Delaney by Phil Gilchrist for Albion were the better side for lengthy periods.
Teams
West Bromwich Albion: Hoult, Moore, Gilchrist (Adam Chambers 77), Sigurdsson, Balis, McInnes, Johnson, Gregan (Dichio 71), Clement, Roberts, Dobie (Hughes 67).
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Wallwork.
Booked: Gregan, Dichio.
Aston Villa: Enckelman, Delaney, Mellberg, Johnsen (Staunton 39), Samuel (Hendrie 60), Leonhardsen, Taylor, Hitzlsperger, Barry, Dublin, Allback (Vassell 60).
Subs Not Used: Angel, Postma.
Booked: Johnsen, Taylor, Barry.
Att: 27,091
Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
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