West Brom v Derby preview

Bednar doubt for Baggies; Duo absent for Rams

By Carla Hilton   Last updated: 26th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

West Brom v Derby preview

Di Matteo: Derby challenge

Related links

Teams

Also see

West Brom striker Roman Bednar will face a late fitness test ahead of the visit of Derby.

Bednar, 26, suffered a groin strain in Wednesday's FA Cup defeat to Reading and could subsequently miss out at the weekend.

Midfielder James Morrison will be pressing for a starting berth having made his first appearance in 10 months on Wednesday following a persistent heel problem.

Marek Cech is back from a hamstring problem, whilst loan signing Ben Watson could make his debut having been cup-tied earlier in the week.

Frank Nouble is also in line for his first start for the Baggies who are without a win in four games.

Winger Jerome Thomas returns after completing a five-match ban to bring a timely boost for Di Matteo whose side are six points off leaders Newcastle.

Giles Barnes (Achilles) and Ishmael Miller (ankle) remain sidelined, while defender Gonzalo Jara (metatarsal) is a long-term absentee.

Derby news

Derby boss Nigel Clough will be without Kris Commons and Jay McEveley for the trip to West Brom.

Commons has suffered a nine centimetre tear in his hamstring and will be out of action for at least a month.

McEveley, meanwhile, serves the first of a two-match suspension for his red card in the defeat to Swansea last week.

Left-back Dean Moxey will likely figure in the starting line-up, whilst Gilles Sunu, Chris Porter and David Martin will battle to feature alongside striker Rob Hulse.

Javan Vidal and Lee Hendrie suffered knocks whilst in action for the reserves this week and neither will feature on Saturday.

Gary Teale (calf), Dean Leacock (knee) and Steven Davies (hamstring) are all absentees.

SkyBet
Click here for more betting