1:00PM BST 05 Oct 2012
Saturday, October 6
The Hawthorns
Kick-off: 15.00 BST.
TV: Highlights BBC1 Match of the Day.
WBA (Possible, 4-4-2): Foster; Ridgewell, McAuley, Olsson, Popov; Gera,
Mulumbu, Yacob, Morrison; Odemwingie, Long
Out: Brunt, Reid (both hamstring), Jones (knee), Myhill (hand), Thomas
(illness).
QPR (Probable, 4-4-2): Julio Cesar; Hill, Nelsen, Mbia, Onuoha;
Wright-Phillips, Granero, Faurlin, Park; Cissé, Zamora.
Out: Diaketé (suspended), Fabio (hamstring), Johnson
(knee).
Tests: Bosingwa, Ferdinand (both hamtrings), Traoré (leg).
Referee: Mick Jones. Matches: 3. R0 Y11.
Team News
West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie has completed a three game ban for his
sending-off at Fulham and is included in the squad against QPR.
But right-back Billy Jones and skipper and midfielder Chris Brunt have joined the injury list and are ruled out with knee and hamstring setbacks suffered during the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.
Defender Steven Reid (hamstring) and number two goalkeeper Boaz Myhill (hand) are also sidelined while winger Jerome Thomas's return from a series of injury niggles has been delayed by illness.
QPR manager Mark Hughes looks set to travel to West Brom with several of his defenders still struggling for fitness.
Jose Bosingwa and Anton Ferdinand are both doubts as they look to recover from hamstring problems and Armand Traore has not taken part in full training this week.
Full-back Fabio is definitely out as is Samba Diakite, who serves a one-match ban for his sending off at West Ham on Monday, with striker Andy Johnson a long-term absentee.
Match Notes
Mark Hughes became one of the first managers to earn the dreaded vote of
confidence on Twitter this week and needs a victory to ensure Tony
Fernandes' account is not clogged with further bile after Saturday.
At the end of last season Hughes promised QPR would never be in a relegation battle under his watch but they are bottom and there have already been whispers of factions in the dressing room.
Steve Clarke, his former Chelsea team-mate, has won three Premier League games in a row at the Hawthorns and perhaps his claim that Albion can better last season's tenth placed finish was not mere hyperbole after all.
Betting: Home 19-20, Away 14-5, Draw 5-2.
Stat of the game: QPR have picked up 10 Premier League red cards since the start of 2011-12, three more than any other side.
John Percy’s prediction: West Bromwich Albion 3 Queens Park Rangers 1.
