By Martyn Todd
March 26 2004

Baggies World.co.uk takes a look forward to West Brom's forthcoming crunch match against Ian Dowie's Crystal Palace at The Hawthorns. *MATCH*

Nationwide League Division One

West Bromwich Albion vs Crystal Palace

*LOCATION*

The Hawthorns (West Bromwich)

*KICK-OFF*

27th March 2004,
15:00

*TEAM NEWS*

West Brom – Albion have only one fresh injury worry with Geoff Horsfield, who will take a late fitness test on Saturday. If Horsfield is unavailable, leading scorer Rob Hulse will partner Lee Hughes up front.

Crystal Palace – Palace have no new injury worries after Aki Riihilahti returns after an achillies injury and Ben Watson returns after a groin strain. Birmingham City goalkeeper, Nico Vaesen will continue in goal for the trip to the Hawthorns

*ONES TO WATCH*

West Brom –

Jason Koumas - Koumas will be looking to get back to his best against Ian Dowie’s men

Lee Hughes – Hughes is a man in-form, having notched up his 10th goal of the season against Wigan last week, the ‘Ginger-Ninja’ will be on the prowl to grab his 11th.


Crystal Palace –

Andrew Johnson – The 25-goal former Blues striker will be hoping to continue his flurry of goals against the Baggies.

Julian Gray – The former Arsenal trainee has become a fans favourite at Palace with his skill and pace down the wings. He was instrumental in Palace’s FA Cup run last season.

*DIRECTIONS TO THE GROUND*

BY CAR: From North, East and West: Exit M6 at junction 8 (s/p M5 The South West, Birmingham W & S) onto the M5. After 0.7 miles exit M5 at junction 1 (s/p A41 West Bromwich, Sandwell, Birmingham (NW)). For the ground, turn left at roundabout (s/p Birmingham A41) into Birmingham Road.
From South (M40): At junction 3a, the M40 ends and becomes the M42. Follow signs to `M5 The South West, Birmingham S & W', remaining on the M42. After 11.7 miles, the M42 ends at junction 4a of the M5. Follow signs to `M5, The North West, Birmingham W, N and Cent' onto the M5 northbound. After 13.9 miles, exit M5 at junction 1 (s/p A41 West Bromwich, Birmingham N and W). (*)At the roundabout, take the 4th exit (s/p Birmingham A41) into Birmingham Road to the ground.
From South West (M5): Exit M5 at junction 1 (s/p A41 West Bromwich, Birmingham N and W). Then as From South(*).

FROM RAILWAY STATIONS: a) Birmingham New Street: Either take a taxi (up to £7), or catch a local train to Smethwick Rolfe Street (see below). There are two other alternatives: walk across the Bull Ring to Moor Street station, from where trains run to The Hawthorns station; or head to Snow Hill station, from where the new Metro runs to The Hawthorns station.
b) The Hawthorns: just a few hundred yards from the ground (see map).
c) Smethwick Rolfe Street: 1.0 mile, mostly uphill. By bus: Bus no 450 runs every half hour to the ground. By foot: Turn right out of station and left into North Western Road. Straight on at traffic lights into Halfords Lane.
Last Midweek Trains: Call (0345) 484 950.

BY BUS: Nos. 74, 78 and 79 run from Bull Street (off Corporation Street) in Birmingham city centre to the ground. Note that the buses don't give change.
a)For those who arrive in plenty of time, the best bet is the club car park in Halfords Lane (£3). To get there is a little complicated because of matchday one-way systems: at the motorway roundabout, follow signs to `A4182, Matchday Parking' into Kenrick Way. At next roundabout turn left into Dartmouth Road. After about half a mile turn left again into Halfords Lane. There's also a car park (£3.00) at The Hawthorns station, and in nearby side streets. b) At the motorway roundabout follow signs to `West Bromwich Town Centre' onto Birmingham Road, which becomes the High Street. There's street parking here, or continue along the High Street to where all traffic turns left. Keep in the right hand lanes, passing Safeways on the RHS, and park in one of the signposted town centre car parks. These car parks cost 50p. From here it's a good 1.5 miles to the ground. Catch bus no 74, or the Metro from the park opposite Safeway. c) The Moat House, which has matchday car parking for £2, is also signposted off the M5 roundabout (see pub guide)

*FORM*
West Brom – Albion are starting to get back to form after back-to-back wins against Coventry City, Crewe Alexandra and Wigan Athletic but should and will also be boosted by the return to form of striker Lee Hughes.
Crystal Palace – Palace will be on a high after their brilliant win over league-leaders Norwich City on the weekend. Ian Dowie will have his players sichked up to face Gary Megson’s battling Baggies.

*PREDICTED OUTCOME*
To be honest, this has a draw written all over it with both managers like to play a similar style of football. Albion will have to rely on Jason Koumas to provide much needed creativity in the center of the park whilst Palace will want to use Julian Gray’s pace on the flanks to create an opening.