Facts and figures for Saturday's trip to South Wales (ko 3pm)
ALBION make the trip to South Wales for the first time this season, travelling to the Cardiff City Stadium to face one of the Barclays Premier League's newest members in a game of great importance to both sides.
Here, WhoScored.com look at the vital statistics ahead of tomorrow’s clash (ko 3pm).
With both the Bluebirds and Baggies without a win in five games, and only a point separating the sides in the table, there is a great deal at stake in the Welsh capital.
There is a significant difference in the two teams' winless streaks though.
In Albion's, there has been a theme of unlucky events of which the Baggies have been on the wrong end.
They were unfortunate not to pick up wins having been ahead against both Chelsea and Villa, while they matched Newcastle for the much part at St James' Park before losing to a wonder strike.
Bouncing back from last week's harsh loss to Norwich is a wholly realistic aim.
Over recent weeks Steve Clarke’s men have still been creating - and scoring - plenty of chances.
A total of 187 shots this season have fallen Albion's way, while their 17 goals scored ranks them in the top half of the Barclays Premier League.
In fact, the failure to score against the Canaries was Albion's first blank in seven matches, in which time Albion have netted ten times.
This weekend's opponents, Cardiff, have defensive worries that could be there to take advantage of.
Only three teams have conceded more top-flight goals (22) this season, and only Fulham (288) have allowed their opponents more attempts (268).
Teams have found them all too easy to slice open, and this could be something the likes of Stéphane Sessegnon, Morgan Amalfitano and Chris Brunt will look to exploit.
The trio are Albion's best creators.
The Bluebirds have had serious trouble going forwards themselves.
They are without a goal in any of their last three matches, have failed to score in eight of their 15 Premier League games this season, and rank only ahead of struggling Crystal Palace for goals scored (11).
Despite possessing some exciting attack-minded players in their squad, goals have proven hard to come by, with life in the Barclays Premier League possibly proving tougher than they might have imagined.
*WhoScored.com is a unique website and one of the fastest growing in the sports industry, specialising in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data. Provided with unique stats, they compile and create comprehensive analysis on the major European divisions, including live match stats and player ratings. Follow @WhoScored and their editor-in-chief @alitweedale on Twitter.
| PLD | W | D | L | F | A | GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | 27 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 56 | 36 | +20 |
| AWAY | 25 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 38 | 38 | 0 |
| NEUTRAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 52 | 22 | 14 | 16 | 94 | 74 | +20 |
Albion have not lost at Cardiff since December 1960 – having won two and drawn five of their last seven visits.
David Marshall has made more saves than any other Barclays Premier League keeper so far this season (61).
Both sides go into this game having not won any of their last five fixtures.
The Baggies have netted seven goals in those five games while City have managed two.
Peter Odemwingie scored 30 goals in 87 Premier League appearances for the Baggies from August 2010 until departing for South Wales in September.
HOME: FA Cup, Saturday, January, 2012, Albion 4 (Odemwingie 7, Cox 33, 61 & 90) Cardiff 2 (Earnshaw 36, Mason 50)
AWAY: Sky Bet Championship, Tuesday, February 16, 2010, Cardiff 1 (Whittingham pen 8) Albion 1 (Zuiverloon 45)
Form guide (last six league matches)
CARDIFF: WLDLDL
ALBION: WDDLLL
Last league match line-ups
ALBION (v Norwich – home L 0-2): Myhill; Jones, McAuley, Lugano, Ridgewell (Long HT); Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano (Berahino HT), Sessegnon, Brunt (c); Anichebe (Vydra 80). Subs not used: L Daniels (gk), Dawson, Popov, Morrison.
CARDIFF (v Crystal Palace - away L 2-0): Marshall; Caulker, Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Campbell (Cornelius 68), Kim (Odemwingie 60), Mutch, Cowie (Noone HT), Theophile-Catherine, John. Subs not used: Lewis (gk); Connolly, Hudson, Gunnarsson.
Cardiff team news
Left-back Andrew Taylor has declared himself fit for the game after missing the last two matches.
Ref watch
Howard Webb will referee Saturday's game. The South Yorkshire official oversaw October’s 0-0 draw at Stoke. He has dished out one red and 58 yellow cards in 19 games this term.
Betting
Tickets
Listen to live match commentary on Albion Player
Can't get to The Hawthorns? Tune in to Albion Player's live, full-match commentary from 2pm. To sign up and listen, click here.
Follow our live matchday blog
Keep up to speed with all the matchday action and interact with fellow fans on our FREE blog on the Albion Wall from 2pm.
So, if you can't make it to the game, click here to join in the fun, and post your comments?
Betting
Selected odds from Sky Bet:
Cardiff to win: 7/5
Albion to win: 19/10
Draw: 23/10
Peter Odemwingie to score first: 15/2
Shane Long to score first: 13/2
If you fancy a flutter with the club's official online betting partner, click here.
Tickets
Tickets for this game remain on general sale. For full details, click here.
Listen to live match commentary on Albion Player
Can't get to The Hawthorns? Tune in to Albion Player's live, full-match commentary from 2pm. To sign up and listen, click here.
Follow our live matchday blog
Keep up to speed with all the matchday action and interact with fellow fans on our FREE blog on the Albion Wall from 2pm.
So, if you can't make it to the game, click here to join in the fun, and post your comments?