Derby County vs. West Bromwich Albion (Saturday 27th July 2013 3:00pm kick-off)
Derby County take on Premier League side West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park Stadium this weekend, in the side’s final pre-season friendly encounter ahead of the new 2013/14 campaign.
The Rams are going into the game with a 100% win rate through pre-season, with victories over Bohemians, Port Vale, Bristol Rovers and Burton Albion, netting an impressive 15 goals in the process.
The Baggies will arrive at Pride Park four games into their pre-season schedule, which has included a first-team defeat to Hannover 96, a 2-1 win against the Puskas FC Academy, whilst an Albion XI have recorded victories over Tamworth and Hereford United.
Background On West Bromwich Albion
West Brom were founder members of the Football League in 1888 and won their first FA Cup in the same year, beating Preston North End 2-1 in the final.
Another FA Cup followed four years later, but they then suffered relegation from the top flight in 1901 and then again in 1904.
The Baggies won their only top flight title in the first season after the war but they did not challenge again until 1925 when they were runners-up to Huddersfield.
They bounced between the top two divisions for the next 20 years but became the only side in English football to win promotion and the FA Cup in the same year in 1931.
A post-war promotion in 1949 led to Albion’s longest top-flight spell of 24 years in which they won two FA Cups, in 1954 and 1968, and their first League Cup in 1966.
Their first taste of Premier League football arrived in 2002. Although it was only an initial one season in the top-flight, it kick started a yo-yo period in which the Baggies experienced seven promotions or relegations in nine seasons.
We Said:
Manager Nigel Clough: "We’re at the back end of pre-season now and training has been tapered down a little bit because the players have worked very, very hard during the last month.
“They’ll feel the benefits of what they’ve done in the weeks and months ahead but on Saturday we’ll face our sternest test of pre-season.
“West Bromwich Albion are a well-established Premier League side now and they’ve got some excellent quality in their side, so it’ll be just the sort of test we need ahead of the Blackburn game."
Player To Watch: Nicolas Anelka
French international striker Anelka opened his West Brom goal account with a first-half double in a 3-0 friendly win over Hungarian side Puskas FC Academy.
The 34-year-old, who was a free agent having spent the second half of last season at Juventus following his brief spell in China with Shanghai Shenhua, signed an initial one-year contract at The Hawthorns.
Anelka boasts league and FA Cup doubles to his name with Arsenal and Chelsea, and has also played in England for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and on loan at Liverpool.
He won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2000 and in the same year he lifted the European Championship trophy with France.
Ticket Information
Season Ticket Holders:
Adults: £10
Senior Citizens: £7
Under-18s: £5
Under-12s: Free
Non-Season Ticket Holders/Matchday Prices:
Adults: £12
Senior Citizens: £8
Under-18s: £6
Under-12s: Free
Please note that the West Stand Upper at Pride Park will be closed for the game and the season ticket holder discount is available 5pm TODAY (Friday 26th July).
Supporters can also purchase tickets in advance of the matchday in person from the Digonex Ticket Office during normal opening hours, by calling 0871 472 1884 (option 1) or by logging on to: WeAreDerby.com.
Read more at http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/preview-west-bromwich-albion-h-916363.aspx#lEhuItog3hdzQ5Lb.99