West Brom v Blackpool

Last updated : 14 January 2011 By BBC Sport

Jonas Olsson serves a one-match suspension, but Gabriel Tamas is available after his three-game ban.

Blackpool midfielder Elliot Grandin, who made his return from a hamstring injury against Liverpool, faces a late fitness test.

West Brom

Suspended: Olsson (one match)

Doubtful: Ibanez & Miller (both hamstring), Odemwingie (ankle)

Injured: Reid (knee)

Blackpool

Doubtful: Grandin & Harewood (both hamstring)

Injured/unavailable: Basham (leg), Carney (international duty), Clarke, Gilks & Martin (all knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

When these two sides won promotion to the top flight in May, it was West Brom who were expected to adapt more quickly to the demands of the Premier League and Blackpool who the bookies were tipping for an immediate return to the Championship.

We are going through a difficult stage of our season but there is no magic stick... It's a challenge for all involved - for myself, staff, players and the supporters too

West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo

Six months into the new season and a very different picture has emerged. While Blackpool have lived the tangerine dream, thrilling the Premier League with their uncompromising commitment to attacking football, it is West Brom looking nervously over their shoulder towards the relegation trapdoor.

The Baggies' slide began with a 2-1 defeat at Bloomfield Road in November's reverse fixture and they have been in freefall ever since, picking up just seven points from 11 games and plummeting from fourth in the table to 16th. Roberto Di Matteo will be hoping that a victory here could spark an equally dramatic turnaround in fortunes.

Blackpool, meanwhile, continued their fairytale debut season in the Premier League by completing the double over Liverpool courtesy of a 2-1 victory at Bloomfield Road on Wednesday, and another double over West Brom could see them finish the day in the dizzying heights of seventh.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Brom have won four of their last five league matches against Blackpool, but suffered a 2-1 defeat in November's reverse fixture.

• Blackpool are without a win in their last 10 visits to the Hawthorns, losing the last three, since a 3-1 league victory in November 1964.

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West Brom

• West Brom have lost their last five league matches. It is the longest losing streak in the Premier League.

• They have managed just one clean sheet in the league all season, a 1-0 home win against Sunderland on 21 August, and have the worst defensive record in the top flight with 39 goals conceded.

• The Baggies have missed four of their last five penalties in the Premier League.

Blackpool

• Blackpool have accumulated 28 points from their 20 league matches. No club in Premier League history has ever been relegated after picking up this many points at this stage of the season.

• DJ Campbell has scored five goals in his last five outings. Only one other Blackpool player has been on the scoresheet since 27 November: Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who netted against Liverpool on Wednesday.

• The Seasiders have kept five clean sheets away from home, more than any other side in the league.

• Ian Holloway's side are unbeaten when scoring the opening goal this season (W7, D2).

LEADING GOALSCORERS

West Brom

Odemwingie: 6 goals (6 league); Tchoyi: 4 goals (3 league)

Blackpool

Campbell: 7 goals (7 league); Harewood & Varney: 5 goals (5 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Assistant referees: Ron Ganfield & Mike Mullarkey

Fourth official: Mark Halsey

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

West Brom (L0-3 v Fulham, a): Carson, Hurst, Zuiverloon, Jara, Cech (Shorey 33), Dorrans, Mulumbu (Fortune 62), Brunt, Morrison (Cox 69), Thomas, Odemwingie. Subs not used: Myhill, Tchoyi, Miller, Meite.

Blackpool (W2-1 v Liverpool, h): Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Grandin (Phillips 64), Adam, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher (Baptiste 84), Campbell, Varney (Southern 83). Subs not used: Rachubka, Ormerod, Euell, Sylvestre.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport