West Brom v Newcastle United

Last updated : 10 May 2003 By Martyn Elliott

Sir Bobby takes an injury-hit squad to the West Midlands for our first league game at the Hawthorns for 12 years, with both sides having little to play for other than pride.

Alan Shearer, Gary Speed, Jonathan Woodgate, Laurent Robert, Olivier Bernard, Carl Cort, Robbie Elliott and Clarence Acuna are all out through injury while Craig Bellamy is suspended and Andy O’Brien is a serious doubt.

So the team looks likely to be: Given: Griffin, Hughes, S Caldwell, O’Brien or Bramble, Solano, Jenas, Dyer, Robert, Ameobi, LuaLua. Subs: Harper, Kerr, Chopra, Ambrose, Bramble or McGlen.

For West Brom Sean Gregan and Lars Sigurdsson are expected to play despite groin injuries, but Adam Chambers, Jordao, Phil Gilchrist, Darren Moore and Michael Appleton all miss out.

West Brom team from: Hoult, Sigurdsson, Wallwork, Gregan, Balis, Koumas, Johnson, McInnes, Clement, Dichio, Roberts, Murphy, Hughes, Udeze, J Chambers, Lyttle, Dobie, Mkandawire, Jensen.

The referee is Graham Barber who has officiated for us just once this season in the 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough, distinguishing himself by failing to give the Smoggies a penalty for a blatant foul by Aaron Hughes on Massimo Maccarone and later sending off Franck Queudrue.