FA Cup: West Brom v Crystal Palace match preview

A look ahead to the weekend's FA Cup third round fixture at the Hawthorns

Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis has called for fans to lift the team when they take on West Ham on Wednesday (GETTY IMAGES)

Managerless West Brom will go head to head against Crystal Palace in this Saturday’s FA Cup match.

It looks like the Baggies’ New Year’s resolutions may come true. The 1-0 win against Newcastle in the first match of the year was their only victory in ten games, and showed progress for caretaker boss Keith Downing, who has gone from ties to wins in just a couple of weeks.  

After breaking their winless streak, the Baggies will pull out all the stops to make sure they win Saturday’s game against Palace. Although they ended November with a triumphant 2-0 win against the Eagles, new manager Tony Pulis has brought a new challenge to their game.

West Brom will face a difficult struggle from a defiant Palace that emerged from a wet and miserable 1-1 tie against Norwich earlier in the week. After the disappointing draw, Pulis said that he would recruit some fresh blood this month to join the ranks, something which may change the outcome of future matches.

This weekend, West Brom may see Victor Anichibe return to the field after a groin injury. Palace will put midfielder Jason Puncheon to good use, and will be boosted by the likely return of midfielders Stuart O’Keefe and Kagisho Dikgacoi. It’s unlikely that striker Glenn Murray, who hasn’t played this season, will be back in time for the FA Cup match.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3 pm

West Brom 2 (Berahino, McAuley) Crystal Palace 0, Premier League, November 2013

Crystal Palace 1 (Reid) West Brom 1 (Tamas), Championship, April 2010

West Brom 0 Crystal Palace 1 (N’Diaye), Championship, September 2009

STATS:

Out of the last five matches that Crystal Palace has played against West Brom, three were 1-1 ties.

West Brom has won one of their last ten matches, and nine in the past 41.

ODDS:

West Brom to win: 1.65

Crystal Palace to win: 4.75

Draw: 3.4

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm.