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Boss ready for 'physical' battle

Last updated : 12 May 2007 By Danny Deeming
West Brom gaffer Tony Mowbray is urging restraint ahead of Sunday's mouthwatering promotion play-off clash with Wolves at Molineux.Albion have been pitted against their Black Country neighbours after finishing fourth in the Championship table, ahead of fifth-placed Wanderers by virtue of goal difference only. And after counterpart Mick McCarthy, a no-nonsense defender during his playing career, declared he expected Baggies left-back and captain Paul Robinson to "kick" Michael Kightly, and that he would resort to the same tactics were he lining up for Wolves against Albion's Jason Koumas, Mowbray called for players to avoid recklessness. "I remember Mick when he played the game," said the former Hibs boss. "And I am sure his side will be competitive - which will make it a competitive game. We knew that, even before the ball starts rolling we know it will be like that. I will expect a competitive approach from Mick's team and he can expect the same from mine, but I hope the game does not become over-physical. We have got to be ready for that scenario, but it is supposed to be a football match so it is important people keep their cool in both legs. It is going to be a hostile environment at Molineux, but we have been there before this season and done well, so I am not expecting anyone to panic. The higher the stakes, the more noise there will be in the stadium but I am confident the players will be able to express themselves and play the expansive game we want because our strength is to play attacking football."
Albion have been boosted by the return to contention of 22-goal top scorer Diomansy Kamara after the Senegalese international completed a one-game suspension. And midfielder Darren Carter is back from a three-match ban, meaning Mowbray could be tempted to make changes, despite West Brom beating Barnsley 7-0 at The Hawthorns last time out.
He said: "If I change a winning team and we lose at Wolves then I will take flak for it, just as I will take the flak if I do not bring back our top goalscorer and we lose, But if I make the changes and we win then no-one will say a thing. That is part and parcel of things and I have never been afraid to break up winning teams if I wanted to bring back so and so or leave out another player."
Central defenders Curtis Davies and Neil Clement are still out, though, the former while recovering from a broken metatarsal and the latter while serving the final game of a four-match suspension. "Curtis is making a good recovery but I would say he has no chance of playing on Sunday, but I do not want to say he will definitely miss the final, if we get there - I want to leave that open. Everyone else is fit and we have been flying in training." said Mowbray.