We take a quick look at West Bromwich Albion
IN BRIEF – WEST BROMWICH ALBION
FIXTURE:West Bromwich Albion v Port Vale
DATE: AugustthTuesday 5
KICK OFF:7.45pm
Vale ParkVENUE:
WEBSITE:http://www.wba.co.uk/
With just four days remaining before the start of a brand new season, Vale face Premiership opposition as the Baggies make the relatively short trip to Vale Park for the first time since August 1999 when Albion went away with the points after a 2-1 victory.
Vale last beat the Albion on Boxing Day 1995 and have only come out on top twice since losing the play-off final at Wembley Stadium back in 1993.
All that is water under the bridge of course and nobody will take too much from the result in this game – both managers will tell you it is all about performances throughout the team – and of course avoiding injuries, especially from a Vale point of view with their season starting a week earlier than that of the Premier League.
Vale will be monitoring individual fitness and performances, but also that of ‘pairings’ throughout the team and how the whole team gels. Just a friendly? Well, yes, but it is also much more than that.
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