West Brom v Aston Villa preview: Tony Pulis struggling with 'threadbare' squad
Saturday 23 January 2016 14:01, UK
Tony Pulis admits his squad is looking "threadbare" ahead of West Brom's Premier League match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
The Baggies boss said a number of his players looked tired after defeat by Southampton last weekend, and Pulis has several injury concerns off the back of a gruelling three-game away trip at Chelsea, Southampton and Bristol City.
Villa's four-game unbeaten run is their best of the season, and they will look to continue their upward trajectory on the road after home wins over Crystal Palace and Wycombe.
The positive news is they have no fresh injury worries ahead of the match, but Remi Garde's side have taken just two points from a possible 30 in their last 10 Premier League away games.
Team news
Pulis will need to rotate his squad as Chris Brunt (calf), Jonas Olsson (hamstring) and Darren Fletcher (knee) are all doubts for the derby clash.
Long-term absentee James Morrison faces around two months out with a hamstring injury, but Saido Berahino will be involved after recovering from a bug.
Sebastien Pocognoli, who replaced Brunt in midweek when he went off injured, and Victor Anichebe could keep their places as Albion attempt to complete a league double over Villa for the first time in 42 years.
Garde is expected to name the same starting line-up for the third league game in a row, meaning he will make nine changes from the Villa side he sent out for the FA Cup third-round replay with Wycombe in midweek.
Midfielder Carlos Sanchez will undergo a fitness test but Alan Hutton (hamstring) remains out while striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has played only one minute of football since Garde took over at the beginning of November, is also likely to be missing again after reporting a new injury problem.
Opta stats
West Brom won just two of the first 16 league meetings with Villa (W2 D8 L6), but have since won two of the last three (W2 L1).
The Baggies are unbeaten in their last five Premier League home games against the Villans (W2 D3).
All seven of Villa's wins against West Brom have been by a one-goal margin, six of them by a 2-1 scoreline, while all four of West Brom's wins have been by a one-goal margin (two 1-0 victories and two 2-1 successes).
Eight of the last 10 Premier League matches played at the Hawthorns have been won by a single-goal margin (West Brom have W4 L4), with the other two matches ending as draws.
There have been 12 occasions of a team failing to attempt a single shot on target in a Premier League game this season - three of these have been by West Brom (more often than any other side).
Merson's predictions
This is a massive game. Villa are rolling, four games unbeaten, still in the FA Cup and that is exactly what they needed. Villa need to win, draws are no good for them at this stage. West Brom aren't the sort of team that will blow Villa away but Tony Pulis simply doesn't lose these sort of games.
If West Brom win this it probably puts Villa down and all-but secures Albion's safety. I fancy Villa to get a point here but that is my heart talking, if I hadn't have played for Villa then I would be going for the Baggies for sure.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)
Betting
West Brom are 21/20 with Sky Bet, with the draw trading at the same price and Villa 3/1.
The Baggies won this fixture 1-0 at Villa Park and a repeat of that outcome is available at 9/2, while a West Brom win by exactly one goal is 5/2.
Villa head into the match unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions and are available at 8/11 in the Double Chance win/draw market.
Salomon Rondon and Rudy Gestede to score is available at 11/1, with both teams to net in the match and either side to win is 9/4.
Check out tips from our Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier here.
