West Brom and Southampton lock horns at the Hawthorns this afternoon for the second time in two weeks, with a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals up for grabs.
The Baggies have endured a turbulent week, during which the club sacked chairman John Williams and chief executive Martin Goodman, which put Alan Pardew’s own position in doubt. Then, on Friday it was revealed that four West Brom players stole a taxi during the club’s warm-weather training camp in Spain.
It therefore comes a huge shock that Pardew has handed two of those involved players, Jonny Evans and Gareth Barry, starts for West Brom today, with Boaz Myhill on the bench, while Jake Livermore misses out all together.
Ali Gabr is available on the bench for West Brom after finally receiving his work permit, but striker Daniel Sturridge is out for at least a couple of weeks after injuring himself just a few minutes into Monday’s match at Stamford Bridge, while James Morrison and Nacer Chadli also miss out.
Over on the away teamsheet under-fire Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has made only the one change to the team that lost to Liverpool, bringing in Nathan Redmond for Oriol Romeu. But keeper Fraser Forster and forward Manolo Gabbiadini must once again settle for a place on the bench.
Earlier in the month the Saints came out on top in an entertaining five goal clash at the Hawthorns, but this afternoon the teams will put their survival hopes to one side, as they each bid to take a step closer to Wembley.
