Facts and figures ahead of Sunday's clash with the Clarets (ko 4pm)
After last week's memorable win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane, Albion return to The Hawthorns on Sunday for the visit of Burnley (ko 4pm). Once again, we have a preview ahead of the clash courtesy of football statistics website WhoScored.com to preview the clash.
Albion limited Spurs incredibly effectively last weekend and deserved their 1-0 win.
Organised, compact and committed, Alan Irvine's players put his game plan into effect perfectly, with Spurs' side, brimming with creative talent, stumped as to how to break through.
As WhoScored.com's statistically calculated match report from the clash states, such was the visitors’ dominance, that Tottenham 'showed no significant strengths' while Albion 'showed no significant weaknesses'.
With Burnley coming to The Hawthorns for a Super Sunday clash this week, Irvine and his players will rightly be confident of adding to their points total and continuing their ascent up the Premier League table.
Irvine had been able to call upon new signing Joleon Lescott for the first time last week and his experience was fundamental in the victory. He was a calming influence at the back, using his strength of 'passing' to begin attacks, while snuffing out Tottenham's attacks time and again before they reached anywhere near Ben Foster, who was hardly troubled all afternoon.
Lescott received a WhoScored rating of 7.69, which only central midfielders Graig Gardner (8.23) and James Morrison (8.83) could better in the clash, as Lescott forced Tottenham into their limpest attacking display of the campaign so far.
This weekend, against the Premier League's lowest scoring side - Burnley - Lescott will look to inspire another clean sheet. Sean Dyche's side (three) are one of only three sides to have managed more shut-outs in the Premier League this season than the Baggies (two), but with Burnley only having netted once all season - and that goal coming when their season was only 14 minutes old against Chelsea - there is reason to believe that Albion can gain another three points this weekend.
They have won four and drawn one of their last five home games against the Clarets, scoring 12 goals in those games, and Lescott will be hoping while he does his job, the forwards can do what is asked of them and in the process fire Albion to a third consecutive victory.
He gets forward regularly and provides an outlet on the left flank to get into positions from which he can deliver crosses into the box. With another strength in 'crossing', it makes sense that Irvine is keen to get his full-back forward as often as possible. 36% of Albion's attacking touches have come down the left side this season, and Pocognoli is key.
*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.
All-time results record (League, FA Cup and League Cup)
Interesting facts
| PLD | W | D | L | F | A | GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | 63 | 34 | 13 | 16 | 131 | 71 | +60 |
| AWAY | 62 | 19
| 14 | 29 | 78 | 111 | -33 |
| NEUTRAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 125 | 53 | 27 | 45 | 209 | 182 | +27 |
Interesting facts
In the last five matches between the two sides, both teams have scored.
The first ever meeting between Albion and Burnley was in the 1888/1889 season in the old 1st division. Albion ran out 4-3 winners.
The encounter will be the first time the two sides have locked horns in the Premier League.
Burnley have drawn their last three games 0-0.
Steven Reid could feature for Burnley. The defender joined Albion in the 2009/10 season, and made over 90 appearances for the Baggies before joining The Clarets in the summer.
Last time out
HOME: FA Cup 4th Round, Saturday, January 24, 2009, Albion 2 (Koren 31’, Do-Heon 45’) Burnley 2
AWAY: FA Cup 4th Round Replay, Tuesday, February 3, 2009, Burnley 3 Albion 1 (Zuiverloon 62’)
Form guide (last six league matches)
Albion: LLDDLW
Burnley: DLLDDD
Last league match line-ups
ALBION (v Spurs - away W 1-0): Foster, Wisdom, Dawson, Lescott, Pocognoli, Dorrans, Morrison, Gardner, Brunt, Sessegnon (Anichebe 90’), Berahino. Subs: Myhill, Baird, McAuley, Mulumbu, Gamboa, Ideye.
BURNLEY (v Sunderland - home D 0-0): Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Arfield, Marney, Jones (Wallace 85), Boyd (Reid 90), Sordell (Barnes 62), Jutkiewicz. Subs not used: Gilks, Keane, Ward, Kightly.
Burnley team news
Marvin Sordell is in line to deputise for England under-21 striker Danny Ings who could miss the game through injury. Sean Dyche could name an unchanged line-up from last weekend’s 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland. Steven Reid will be itching to feature though against his former employers.
Ref watch
Jonathan Moss will be the man in the middle on Sunday afternoon. Moss took charge of his first Premier League game in 2011 and has handed out just nine red cards in 63 matches.
Betting
Selected odds from Sky Bet:
Albion to win: Evs
Draw: 23/10
Burnley to win: 14/5
Albion to win 1-0: 5/1
Brunt first goalscorer: 12/1
If you fancy a flutter with the club's official online betting partner, click here.
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