Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
West Brom pair Salomon Rondon and James McClean continue to serve three-match suspensions.
West Brom head coach Tony Pulis said he will rotate his squad and he could bring in striker Saido Berahino for his first start since October.
Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles is back in training but is unlikely to be involved against the Baggies.
Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is expected to continue up front in the absence of Papiss Cisse, who has a groin injury.
Editor’s Note: West Brom are just on the cusp of getting dragged into that mini league of teams battling to avoid the drop. The Baggies haven’t won in 5 matches and defeat here could see them matched on points by visitors Newcastle.
On Saturday West Brom were bested by Swansea but Tony Pulis will point to two contentious penalty decisions that would have possibly seen a different result, that’s by the by now as he looks to pick up a side low on confidence and momentum.
Again they will be without Salomon Rondon and James McClean due to the Red Cards against Bournemouth so you wonder where the goals and wing threat are going to come from this afternoon, that said you could say the same about Newcastle. They have a pretty much full strength squad but a pretty blunt attack line as Alexsandar Mitrovic’s finishing would have shown on Saturday.
Newcastle threw away a point right at the death against Everton. A battling point would have been credit to Steve McClaren’s men but they undid all their hard work and allowed Tom Cleverly to head home and snatch a winner. This brings to and end their 3 game unbeaten run and Steve McClaren has to hope it isn’t back to square one for his Newcastle side.
West Brom are in a dogged run of form at the moment and January could make or break their season especially in the transfer window as they will have to sell to buy. Before that window opens they need to worry about getting points on the board. Today I think it will be a draw as West Brom’s run without a win continues
