English Premier League – Match Preview: West Bromwich Albion versus Birmingham City
Birmingham City look to build on their draw against Liverpool F.C as they travel to West Bromwich to play the new promoted English club side that is being managed by Robert Di Matteo. Albion have had an okay start to their season but the fact still remains
that they have primarily been a yoyo club up till now. A yoyo club that excels in earning promotion from the Championship i.e. English football’s second division and after gaining the promotion to the English Premier League, the shift proves too much for them
and they get relegated to the Championship all over again.
This vicious cycle has been previously followed several clubs such as West Bromwich Albion and Derby County but this time around, West Brom have showed nerves of steel that suggests that they might as well retain their place amongst the big boys. West Brom
began their English Premier League season with a deserved thrashing that was dishing out to them by the English Premier League Champions Chelsea F.C. A 6-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea brought West Brom to their senses and since then, Di Matteo’s team has
been performing comparatively well.
In their last six matches, West Bromwich have lost three games, won one and drawn two. In their last match against Tottenham, West Brom were disciplined in defence and strong in attack. In doing so, they achieved a goalless draw against the Spurs and a similar
performance against Birmingham City which will do them quite nicely.
Alternatively, Birmingham City have been in a world of their own. Admittedly, in the past Birmingham were also seen as a yoyo club but since then, they have come a long way and have perhaps been the most improved English Premier League side in the past two
years. After competing consistently on a regular basis in the 2009-2010 English Premier League season and achieving a remarkable draw at their home stadium against Manchester United in the last year’s Premier League, Birmingham retained their place in England’s
top division. This season, Alex McLeish’s team is on their way to a top half finish.
In their last match against Liverpool, Birmingham were dominant against the former English champions as their defence dealt comfortably with the threat that was generated by the Torres-Gerrard partnership. Not only that, their attack was quite forceful within
its own right and if Pepe Reina had not made two absolutely world class saves, Birmingham would have ended the match as deserved winners. In all honesty, this game will be a litmus test of how far Birmingham have come as a team. If they indeed wish to finish
in the top half of the table, then they must consume bottom table fodder such as West Bromwich Albion.
The last time these two teams faced each other at the Hawthorns stadium, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham played out an eventful 1-1 draw. At this moment in time, Birmingham are in a superior run of form as they have had an unbeaten start to the English
Premier League season. Alex McLeish has added cleverly to his squad in the summer but the Scottish manager is set to face West Bromwich who will be without James Morrison who is serving his three match ban. Albion are also set to decide on the fitness levels
of Ishmael Miller and Joe Mattock with late injury tests.
Birmingham will most probably have the services of Jean Beausejour, who was signed by Birmingham in the summer transfer window. The Chilean international midfielder was solving a visa related problem back home and is expected to be back with Birmingham before
the start of their weekend’s match. Birmingham City are an attacking position to take the win at West Brom but given that even Tottenham were reduced to a goalless draw, Albion look to be strong enough to get a draw out of this game.
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