West Bromich Albion

Wallwork signs new West Brom deal
West Brom midfielder Ronnie Wallwork has signed a new two-year contract with the Midlands club. Wallwork, 28, scored in the win against Colchester on Saturday as he bids to help the club back into the Premiership at the first attempt. \"I'm delighted,\" Wallwork told the club's website. \"It's a great club and the fans are brilliant. \"I was delighted to get the goal on Saturday. Hopefully, I can kick on and get a few more now.\"

Pair ready to battle for Phillips
Sunderland face a tug-of-war with West Brom for Kevin Phillips after Aston Villa gave both clubs permission to talk to the striker. Sunderland confirmed on their website that they have had an undisclosed bid for Phillips accepted by Villa. Boss Niall Quinn admitted his former strike partner was one of five players he has tabled bids for. Baggies' manager Bryan Robson is also keen on the 33-year-old to boost his side's goal power. With Sunderland bottom of the Championship, Quinn is keen to bring cult hero Phillips back to spark a revival at the Stadium of Light. Phillips enjoyed the most productive spell of his career at Sunderland when he partnered Black Cats' chairman and manager Quinn. In their classic little-and-large partnership, Phillips scored 130 goals in 235 appearances. He joined from Watford for £325,000 in July 1997 he helped Peter Reid's side return to the top flight and Phillips' 30 goals in his first Premiership campaign earned him selection for England. Following Sunderland's relegation Phillips joined Southampton in August 2003 for £3.25 but after Saints were relegated his desire to stay in the Premiership saw him join Villa for £1.25m.

Phillips makes move to West Brom
West Brom have beaten Sunderland to the signature of striker Kevin Phillips from Aston Villa for £700,000. The two clubs were given permission to talk to the 33-year-old after having bids for the player accepted. Phillips was in the Villa squad to play Reading on Wednesday but manager Martin O'Neill has allowed him a speedy exit. \"We have signed a vastly-experienced player who has played at the top level throughout his career,\" Baggies boss Bryan Robson told his club's website. He added: \"His anticipation to get himself a chance, and the quality he has got in converting those chances, are the reasons we have brought him here.\" Black Cats boss Niall Quinn will be disappointed at being rejected by his former strike partner. With Sunderland bottom of the Championship, Quinn was keen to bring cult hero Phillips back to spark a revival at the Stadium of Light. In their classic little-and-large partnership, Phillips scored 130 goals in 235 appearances. But he has chosen to go to The Hawthorns and signed a two-year deal after passing a medical. Phillips spent only one season at Villa Park after moving from Southampton and managed just five goals in an injury-hit campaign.

Koumas signs new Baggies contract
Jason Koumas has made peace with West Brom by signing a new three-year deal. The Wales midfielder, 26, has not played this season and boycotted West Brom's pre-season while Cardiff made an unsuccessful attempt to sign him. Koumas has been handed the number 19 shirt and will resume training with the Baggies on Thursday after being welcomed back by manager Bryan Robson. \"I've spoken to the gaffer and there is no problem... a lot of stuff has been blown out of proportion,\" Koumas said. Koumas spent last season on loan at Championship rivals Cardiff, scoring 13 times in 44 starts and three substitute appearances, but is now looking forward to a fresh start at the Hawthorns. \"I'm delighted to sign a new contract and commit my future here,\" Koumas told the West Brom website. \"I'm really looking forward to playing here again - I feel like a new signing. \"It feels like I've come home again and I'm hoping to play here for a few years to come. \"The fans here have always been great to me and hopefully I will do the business again for them. \"As soon as I knew Albion wanted to commit to me I was more than willing to commit myself to this club, because I've had good times here and I'm hoping for better times to come. Koumas was instrumental in West Brom's 2003/04 promotion campaign under former boss Gary Megson. Chances in the Premiership under Robson were limited, but Koumas is determined to help the Baggies back to the top flight once again. \"I'll be doing everything I can to help them get promotion again,\" Koumas said. \"I just need to get some solid training behind me and I'm aching to play.\" Wales manager John Toshack has left Koumas out of his initial squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers, with the midfielder short of fitness and match practice. But Toshack says he is keen for Koumas to be involved once his domestic career is back on track.

Leyton Orient v West Brom
Leyton Orient will be without skipper John Mackie, who is suspended. Forward Efe Echanomi will also be absent for the home side as he builds up his match fitness after suffering a broken leg last season. Striker Kevin Phillips could make his debut for West Brom after signing in time to play against Orient. Darren Carter, Junichi Inamoto and Richard Chaplow have all been restricted to substitute appearances so far this season but could start.

Robson eyes Baggies cutting edge
Bryan Robson wants to see his West Brom side take the ruthless streak they showed in the 3-0 win over Leyton Orient into their league campaign. The Baggies boss said: \"A lot of good things came from the lads and, while the Carling Cup's a little different, at least we killed off the Orient. \"In the league so far we've had good advantages against teams and we haven't killed them off. \"That's what I want them to do in the Championship when we've an advantage.\" One on those \"good things\" to come from the win at Brisbane Road was the performance of his debutant strikers. All eyes were on new recruit Kevin Phillips following his £700,000 move from Aston Villa. But while the former England international, 33, showed good vision and some fine touches when dropping deep, he was overshadowed by his strike partner. Stuart Nicholson is at the other end of the age and experience range. It was the 20-year-old's first senior start and he marked it with a first goal which was soon followed by a first booking for an over-exuberant celebration... with his old man. \"The rules are you don't go to the crowd after you score a goal and it's unfortunate for the lad because he did go to his Dad, but the referee doesn't know that so it's a booking,\" Robson said. \"I'd have given him a chance on the bench earlier in the season but he picked up an ankle ligament injury and that's why he hasn't been involved. \"We know what he can do, he's very quick and he's got a great goalscoring record through the levels. STRIKING GAP Stuart Nicholson Age: 20 Debut: 17 January 2006 Goals: 1 Games: 6 (83% off bench) Signing fees: £0 Kevin Phillips Age: 33 Debut: 21 February 1995 Goals: 189 Games: 410 (7% off bench) Signing fees: £5,285,000 Phillips made his debut in the same month that Nicholson celebrated his ninth birthday \"It's great for the lad and for his confidence and it's good to have him challenging. \"Hopefully he can continue that form when he gets his chance.\" With Phillips now in the squad Nicholson will learn from one of the best in the business, but at the same time the former Sunderland and Southampton striker's presence may limit his first-team opportunities. Robson has got his hands on proven quality and the last time he played in the second tier of domestic football he banged in 57 goals in 79 appearances over the course of two seasons. The seven years that have passed since have taken some zip from his legs but on the showing at Orient, which came despite a lack of any real pre-season fine-tuning, there are plenty more goals to come. \"Kevin's a class act - that's why he's played at the highest level,\" Robson said. \"He has a great record and has got a good knowledge of the game, he's intelligent with his runs and he keeps the ball simple, he doesn't complicate his game. \"That's why he's such a good player and that's why I'm delighted that I could sign him.\" Goals in the Championship are more than a guide to form as last season's table shows - the three teams that went up were the division's leading scorers. And with Phillips and Nicholson added to his attacking arsenal alongside John Hartson, Nathan Ellington and the soon-to-return Diomansy Kamara, Robson has the men to give his side the cutting edge to that ruthless streak he is after. \"The longer you go without being beaten is good for confidence and it's good for morale within the club,\" he added. \"The good thing for me as well is that it shows we've got real healthy competition for places in the team.\"

Koumas to wait for Baggies return
Midfielder Jason Koumas will have to wait a month before playing for West Brom again after he committed his future to the club, says Bryan Robson. \"He just wants to start enjoying his football again and I'm pleased that it's with West Brom,\" said boss Robson. \"Before I start considering him for selection he needs a mini pre-season because he hasn't done anything for three months apart from his own work. \"We know what quality he has got, he can be outstanding on his day.\" The Wales international, 26, spent last season on loan at Cardiff after his first-team chances at The Hawthorns became limited. The Bluebirds made an approach to land Koumas in a permanent deal at the start of this season and the midfielder boycotted pre-season after it was turned down. Robson claimed Koumas had refused to speak to anyone at the club and said he was prepared to let the player linger on the sidelines. While Koumas responded by saying he had not been contacted by the Baggies boss during his successful loan spell in the Welsh capital. But Robson insists that is all water under the bridge and is delighted to have secured the services of a player who will add depth to his squad and competition for places. \"I just want Jason Koumas to help West Bromwich Albion get promoted,\" Robson added. \"He's part of the club and he's looking forward to the challenge of trying to get this club back into the Premiership. \"What's happened has happened and I'm pleased that it's in the past. As far as I'm concerned it's dead now.\"

Everton get Carling Cup Posh trip
Everton face a trip to Peterborough in the second round of the Carling Cup. The draw saw 12 Premiership clubs go into the hat and other notable matches see Aston Villa go to Scunthorpe, while Chesterfield host Manchester City. There were a number of first-round shocks and Hereford's reward for seeing off Coventry is to host Leicester, while Bury face Sheffield United. Watford take on Accrington in another enticing match which will be played in the week commencing 18 September. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carling Cup second round draw: Leeds v Barnet Watford v Accrington Stanley Crewe v Wigan Doncaster v Derby Sheff Utd v Bury Millwall v Southampton West Brom v Cheltenham Peterborough v Everton Hereford v Leicester Port Vale v QPR Fulham v Wycombe Hull v Hartlepool Walsall v Bolton Middlesbrough v Notts County Charlton v Carlisle Barnsley v M K Dons Chesterfield v Man City Scunthorpe v Aston Villa Southend v Brighton Brentford v Luton Reading v Darlington Birmingham v Wrexham Rotherham v Norwich Mansfield v Portsmouth

Sunderland v West Brom
Sunderland's new signing Tobias Hysen has received international clearance and should make his debut. Stephen Wright (ankle) is out, Nyron Nosworthy (stomach) and Rory Delap (ankle) are doubtful while Arnau Riera starts a three-game ban. New West Brom striker Kevin Phillips should have recovered from a calf injury in order to face his old club. Fellow forward Nathan Ellington is back in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Sunderland 2-0 West Brom
Sunderland climbed off the bottom of the Championship table with an impressive win over West Brom in front of prospective new manager Roy Keane. The home side's dominance was rewarded when Dean Whitehead's corner was missed by keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler and crossed the line before being cleared. Neill Collins header extended the Black Cats' lead against an insipid Baggies. John Hartson headed wide for the visitors but Sunderland easily held on for their first win of the season. Keane met the Sunderland players during training on Sunday and his words seem to have had an immediate effect. The Black Cats had lost their opening four league games of the season and they were propping up the table going into the game against promotion favourites West Brom. But the roles appeared to be reversed at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland dominated and showed a renewed hunger and confidence. Tobias Hysen missed from six yards out and Liam Lawrence headed wide before Whitehead's goal brought applause from Keane, who was sat in the directors' box. Collins only increased Sunderland's euphoria when he headed in a corner just after the break. Striker Kevin Phillips had chosen West Brom over a move back to Sunderland and was booed after coming on as a substitute. He failed to raise a lacklustre Baggies as the home side comfortably saw out at the match for their first win of the season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunderland: Alnwick, Delap, Cunningham, Neill Collins, Robbie Elliott, Lawrence, Whitehead, Leadbitter (Nosworthy 90), Hysen (Murphy 78), Brown (Stead 89), Stephen Elliott. Subs Not Used: Ward, Danny Collins. Booked: Leadbitter, Brown. Goals: Whitehead 33, Neill Collins 47. West Brom: Zuberbuhler, Watson, Curtis Davies, Perry, Robinson, Gera, Chaplow (Wallwork 58), Quashie, Greening (Carter 58), Hartson, Ellington (Phillips 45). Subs Not Used: Steele, Albrechtsen. Booked: Perry, Wallwork. Att: 24,242 Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).

Skipper Davies out for ten weeks
West Brom skipper Curtis Davies will be out of action for up to ten weeks with a broken bone in his left foot. The West Brom skipper picked up the injury in the 2-0 defeat against Sunderland on Monday but it was hoped he had only bruised his foot. But scans have revealed that Davies has broken a metatarsal and will not play again until November. Boss Bryan Robson said: \"It's obviously a big blow because Curtis is our captain and a very important player.\" Robson added: \"But this means it's a great chance for other players in the squad, like Paul McShane. \"When young players get a chance it's up to them to prove they're worth a place in the team.\"

i was with the west brom fan's at orient the other thursday, great laugh :D

Easy win for the baggies

dire 1st half, good second half.

Inamoto leaves Baggies for Turkey
West Brom midfielder Junichi Inamoto has joined Turkish side Galatasaray for an undisclosed fee. The Japan international had made just three appearances as a substitute at the Hawthorns so far this season. \"Ina's a tremendous professional. He trains really hard and has never been a problem,\" Baggies boss Bryan Robson told the club website. \"With Jason Koumas coming back, I had to look at the balance of the squad. That's why I've allowed Ina to leave.\"

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