West Bromich Albion

West Brom 0-1 Norwich
Robert Earnshaw scored his 11th league goal of the season to give Norwich the win against his old club West Brom. An impressive display from Earnshaw was rewarded in the 57th minute when he nodded the ball home from close range after Jurgen Colin had crossed. Norwich had to ride their luck to secure the three points, notably when Curtis Davies headed the ball against the bar after a Darrne Carter corner. Norwich had another lucky escape when Jason Koumas' free-kick hit the post. West Brom: Hoult, McShane (Hodgkiss 83), Perry, Curtis Davies, Albrechtsen, Watson (Ellington 63), Koumas, Carter, Greening, Phillips, Kamara. Subs Not Used: Steele, Nicholson, Wallwork. Booked: Greening. Norwich: Gallacher, Colin, Shackell, Dublin, Drury, Robinson, Etuhu, Safri, Hughes (McVeigh 86), Earnshaw (Thorne 90), Huckerby. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Eagle, Spillane. Booked: Colin, Safri. Goals: Earnshaw 57. Att: 18,718. Ref: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).

Mowbray vows to keep star players
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray says he will fight to hold on to his top stars in the January transfer window. Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace recently alerted Premiership clubs by saying Mowbray may have to sell to finance Albion's promotion push. Defender Curtis Davies heads Albion's prize assets with Arsenal reported to be interested in the 21-year-old. But Mowbray insisted: \"The players we see as taking the club into the future won't be going anywhere.\" The Albion boss also conceded his hand may be forced if he wants to sign the calibre of player that could bounce the Baggies back into the Premiership. Mowbray said: \"In January we may need to spend some money, but as the chairman said we will need to create funds to make that happen. \"You want to keep your best players as it gives you the best chance. \"People might come in for players we don't want to let go but it might enable us to do something else, so we need to weigh all things up come January.\"

Baggies pair available for loan
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray has made Pascal Zuberbuhler and Ronnie Wallwork available for loan. Midfielder Wallwork and goalkeeper Zuberbuhler have slipped down the Hawthorns' pecking order since Mowbray's arrival. Mowbray told Baggies' website: \"Zubi did fine for a few games but I felt his confidence got hit. \"It's a benefit to both players and to the club if they can go and get first-team football elsewhere.\"

Agent hopeful of Wallwork return
Ronnie Wallwork's agent is confident that the West Brom midfielder will recover from his stab wound injuries and make a return to playing football. Wallwork, 29, on loan at Barnsley, is in hospital recovering from wounds to his hand, stomach and back. Agent Neil Sillett : \"Knowing the character that Ronnie is I would say that yes he will play football again. \"The surgeons have done a great job and given him every chance of playing.\" Wallwork is now in a stable condition and his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, but Sillett is still concerned for Wallwork's health. He added: \"He's still in a lot of pain and not in a great condition at the moment so it's still a bit worrying.\" Wallwork joined Barnsley on loan on 23 November and has started two games since his switch from the Hawthorns.

Arrest over footballer stabbing
Detectives have arrested a 20-year-old man over the stabbing of footballer Ronnie Wallwork in a Manchester city centre bar. Officers had named a man they wanted to question following the attack on Wallwork at the Sugar Lounge on Whitworth Street last month. Greater Manchester Police said a man handed himself in at a police station. Wallwork, 29, a West Bromwich Albion player currently on loan to Barnsley, suffered knife wounds in the attack. A police spokeswoman said: \"The 20-year-old handed himself into a Manchester police station. \"He remains in police custody for questioning.\" Wallwork was on a night out with his girlfriend when he was attacked at around 2330 GMT on 30 November. Bar staff gave the former Manchester United player first aid before he was taken to the Manchester Royal Infirmary for treatment to injuries to his hand, stomach and back. Wallwork worked his way up though the youth teams at Manchester United before being sent to Carlisle, Stockport and Royal Antwerp on loan. He was banned from football for life after allegedly attacking a referee but this was reduced on appeal. Three years later, Wallwork joined West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer after making 28 appearances for United.

Man remanded over Wallwork attack
A man was remanded in custody by magistrates after being charged with the attempted murder of a footballer who was stabbed in the city. West Bromwich Albion's Ronnie Wallwork, currently on loan to Barnsley, was stabbed in a bar on 30 November. The 29-year-old former Manchester United player suffered cuts to his stomach, back and hand in the attack. Robert Rimmer, 20, of Abbey Hey Lane, Gorton, will appear before Manchester Crown Court on 26 February.

Rovers extend Nicholson loan deal
Bristol Rovers have extended West Brom striker Stuart Nicholson's loan stay at the Memorial Stadium. The 19-year-old joined Rovers on 16 November and was due to return to The Hawthorns after Saturday's League Two game against Swindon Town. But following talks between the two clubs and Nicholson, the loan will be extended to the maximum three months. The new deal will carry a recall clause allowing the Baggies to bring Nicholson back with 24 hours notice. Nicholson has scored two goals in five games for Rovers.

West Brom v Coventry
Diomansy Kamara and Chris Perry are in contention for West Brom after serving one-match suspensions. Paul McShane limped off at Barnsley with a groin strain but has made a full recovery and is expected to start. Defender Marcus Hall returns after serving a one-match ban, but Coventry lose Leon McKenzie to a suspension. Whether Kevin Kyle or Chris Burchill deputises for McKenzie will depend on which formation boss Micky Adams decides to adopt.

Baggies defender Gaardsoe retires
West Brom's Thomas Gaardsoe has announced his retirement. The 27-year-old former Ipswich defender, who won two caps for Denmark, has been unable to regain his fitness following groin surgery in the summer. He said: \"Now it is just a matter of finalising negotiations with the club regarding the rest of my contract. \"Of course it's sad but I've had some good years as a footballer. The doctors can't find a solution as the injury is strange and has become chronic.\" Gaardsoe made 89 appearances for the Baggies and scored four goals. Ipswich paid Danish club Aalborg £1.3m for Gaardsoe in 2001 and he joined the Baggies two years later.

Mowbray ready to ring the changes
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray will juggle his squad at Plymouth on Saturday to try to end a run of five away games without a win. The Baggies thumped Coventry 5-0 at The Hawthorns last week but Mowbray says that does not guarantee anyone a place. He told his club's website: \"In the past we've won comfortably at home then produced an abject performance away. \"It shows that it is not necessarily about keeping the same team. We need to find a team that can win the match.\" Mowbray hopes his players understand why they may be dropped. He added: \"Whatever side we pick I am sure the players will be professional enough to understand. \"The problem is that when you change a winning team and get beaten it is easy to ask questions. \"But any changes we do make will be made for the right reasons to benefit the team and club - not the individual.\"

Plymouth 2-2 West Brom
A stunning double in first-half injury time from Kevin Phillips gave 10-man West Brom an unlikely point. The Pilgrims went ahead when Barry Hayles slotted home from an acute angle after 23 minutes and Lilian Nalis made it 2-0 with a towering header. But that 40th-minute goal seemed to wake up Phillips and his team-mates. The former Aston Villa striker pulled one back from John Hartson's cut-back to bury before equalising seconds later with an unstoppable 30-yard drive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: Larrieu, Seip, Doumbe, Aljofree, Capaldi, Norris, Buzsaky, Nalis, Djordjic (Samba 22), Ebanks-Blake, Hayles. Subs Not Used: McCormick, Sawyer, Summerfield, Gosling. Booked: Ebanks-Blake, Samba. Goals: Hayles 23, Nalis 40. West Brom: Hoult, Albrechtsen (Clement 46), Davies, McShane, Robinson, Kamara, Carter, Greening, Koumas (Gera 74), Phillips, Hartson (Ellington 74). Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Chaplow. Sent Off: Clement (90). Booked: Robinson, Carter, Clement, Davies. Goals: Phillips 45, 45. Att: 15,172 Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).

West Brom 4-2 Preston
Substitute Nathan Ellington scored twice as West Brom beat 10-man Preston. Jason Koumas curled home from the edge of the area and Diomansy Kamara gave Albion a 2-0 lead from inside the box. Graham Alexander pulled one back from the spot - after Jonathan Greening fouled Sean St Ledger - but Daniele Dichio was sent off for an elbow. Preston equalised through a David Nugent strike but Carlo Nash could not keep out Ellington's free-kick and the striker headed in a fourth late on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Brom manager on two-goal hero Nathan Ellington: \"I am delighted for Nathan as he stays on the training ground to work on his finishing. \"I know the first goal had a helping hand from the goalkeeper but he has got his rewards for the work that he has been putting in. \"He has got a big part to play here. He will get better and he is the kind of player who believes that he will score every time that he plays.\" Preston manager Paul Simpson: \"They were disappointing goals to concede. I know that Carlo Nash will take some stick for his mistake but these things happen and he has been a different class for us this season. \"It was a freaky goal and we have to accept it. \"We had done really well to get back to 2-2 and we deserved something from the game at that stage. \"It is no shame losing to Albion as I believe they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Brom: Hoult, Albrechtsen, McShane, Davies, Robinson, Kamara, Greening, Carter (Ellington 71), Koumas, Phillips (Chaplow 86), Hartson (Quashie 60). Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Perry. Booked: Phillips, Quashie. Goals: Koumas 6, Kamara 25, Ellington 75, 87. Preston: Nash, Alexander, St. Ledger, Chilvers, Hill, Whaley (Miller 38), McKenna (Wilson 68), Sedgwick, Pugh (Ormerod 83), Nugent, Dichio. Subs Not Used: Lonergan, Lewis Neal. Sent Off: Dichio (41). Booked: Nugent, Alexander. Goals: Alexander 35 pen, Nugent 67. Att: 22,905. Ref: S Mathieson (Cheshire).

Southend v West Brom
Southend's Freddy Eastwood is set to return to the starting XI having appeared as a substitute at Coventry after feeling the effects of a virus. Matt Harrold and Lee Bradbury will vie for a starting spot alongside the 11-goal frontman. West Brom welcome back influential defender Paul Robinson from suspension for the trip to Roots Hall. Baggies boss Tony Mowbray is looking to freshen up his side and so Steve Watson could be handed a start.

Slovenian Koren joins West Brom
West Brom have made their first swoop of the January transfer window by signing Slovenia international Robert Koren on a Bosman transfer. The 26-year-old midfielder has signed from Norwegian side Lillestrom on an initial 18-month contract, with West Brom having the option of another year. Koren scored 10 times in 26 starts during his last season in Norway, which ended during the last week in October. If he is gets international clearance he could face Leeds in the FA Cup. In July, Koren scored the opening goal in Lillestrom's Intertoto Cup draw against Newcastle at St James' Park in July. West Brom boss Tony Mowbray said: "Robert is a technical footballer but also a hungry footballer who wants to test himself in the English league. "He can play anywhere along the middle. He will add to the competition for places - and there is already some tough competition in that area. "I believe the place needs some fresh faces and Robert will bring a freshness to the squad."

Davies hints at Baggies departure
Curtis Davies has hinted that he could be prepared to leave West Brom should the club accept an offer for him. Manager Tony Mowbray has reportedly rejected a £5m bid for his captain from Tottenham this month. The 21-year-old is contracted to the Baggies until 2010 after he signed a new four-year deal last summer. But he said: "I'm not going to sulk and scream and shout about it if I don't get a move. If the club accepts a bid, I'll worry about it then."

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