WBA would be foolish to assume an easy game at AFCB

I am a bit worried that WBA don't know when they are beaten these days. Alan Irvine has a team that are playing some of the best football in the Midlands at the moment, and they have a goal scorer that is a particular hot shot. A draw against Man Utd and a come back against Crystal palace shows that they are made of hardy stuff these days. Irvine will be expected to not play all of his front line team against AFCB, but he might have to think twice about playing a completely different 11 from his Premier League line up, because AFCB are in the mood to take on any one.

Whoever is on the other side of the pitch to face
AFCB these days they don't get an easy game. What kind of WBA
side will show up though?

WBA could rest Saido Berahino for this match. Their star Burundi striker is their best weapon for staying in the Premier League and they have plenty of other strikers who will fancy their chances for this game. In the previous round Irvine selected Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe, while Samaras came off the bench. They have some other great players like Chris Brunt in midfield and James Morrisson, while at the back they have Joleon Lescott and Chris Baird on their books, but don't expect the big names to play. Boaz Myhill has also been playing in goal in the Capital One rather than Ben Foster. They also have some injuries - Yacob, Varela and Olsson are out. If the second 11 do get the okay to play the match though we can expect to see a group of players that are eager to make a name for themselves and to get nearer to Albion's first team.

It may be that Irvine does a bit of both, keeping some of his top players on the bench just in case they don't go according to plan. Eddie Howe says that he knows that Albion have been at many of the Cherries' recent games and are taking this game seriously. The 8-0 thrashing of Birmingham will give WBA reason to prove that not all the teams in the second city are so easy to pick off.

A place in the last eight awaits the winner and a more lucrative draw is possible. So AFCB have every reason to try and punish Irvine if he does tread too lightly on the south coast.

Last time in the Capital One Cup, WBA's team against Hull City was as follows:
Mayhill, McAuley, Davidson, Olsson, Gamba, O'Neil, Mulumbu, Yacob, Blanco, Ideye, Anichebe

WBA subs: Foster, Wisdom, Berhino, Dawson, Varela, Samaras, Nabi

All Departments' marathon podcast is now available to listen to. Listen to reviews of both the Reading and Birmingham wins on All Departments' website, or listen by scrolling down the side panel on Cherry Chimes to the All Departments' sound bar.