West Bromwich Albion

Premier League referee Neil Swarbrick wrongly sent off Gareth McAuley in West Bromwich Albion’s clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. According to BBC Sport on Monday, West Brom won't appeal against McCauley's red card.

BBC Sport added:

Referee Neil Swarbrick admitted he sent off the wrong man at the Etihad Stadium after Craig Dawson had fouled City striker Wilfried Bony.

The Football Association will now switch the card from McAuley to Dawson.

The defender will serve an automatic one-match suspension and miss the Premier League visit of QPR on 4 April.

As noted by the Baggies' Twitter account, the official dismissed the wrong defender, with Craig Dawson the man who committed the offence on Wilfried Bony in the second minute of the match:

2' RED CARD: Gareth McAuley is wrongly sent off for Albion after Craig Dawson commits a foul on Wilfried Bony #MCIWBA

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) March 21, 2015

Here’s a closer look at the incident, per Footy Accumulators:

Premier League referees... pic.twitter.com/WR7zbbSmir

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) March 21, 2015

After the match, Swarbrick apologized for the mix-up, per Sky Sports News HQ:

BREAKING NEWS: Referee Neil Swarbrick apologises for wrongly sending off West Brom's Gareth McAuley during #MCFC's 3-0 win vs #WBAFC. #SSNHQ

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 21, 2015

It’s the second time this season in which there has been a similar case of mistaken identity. Roger East sent off Wes Brown for Sunderland against Manchester United last month when John O’Shea looked to be the man who had felled Radamel Falcao in the penalty area; the defender’s suspension was eventually overturned by the FA, per the Guardian.

Toward the end of the 2013/14 campaign, Andre Marriner also made a comparable error, sending off Kieran Gibbs during Arsenal’s 6-0 loss at Chelsea for a handball on the line. However, it was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who committed the offence and Gibbs’ ban was also scrapped, per BBC Sport.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher thinks that incidents like these show that the referees need help from technology:

Technology is needed for moments like this sending off at Man City, game is stopped anyway so 4th official looks at the tv monitor job done.

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) March 21, 2015

West Brom will naturally appeal the decision, but this latest faux pas will further stir the whirlwind of discussion regarding the introduction of further technology for in-game incidents. The standard of refereeing is often called into question by miffed supporters, but the flurry of incidents like those aforementioned will be a major worry for the Premier League.

Darren Fletcher has completed a free transfer to West Bromwich Albion, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club that brings an end to his 20-year stay at Manchester United.    

The club confirmed on Monday they have won the race to sign the Scottish international, whose availability at Old Trafford had raised interest from numerous European parties:

Albion are delighted to welcome Darren Fletcher on free transfer. Our new No.24 has signed a 2.5 year deal with a 12-month option #wba

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) February 3, 2015

Fletcher first joined the Red Devils' academy in 1995 at the age of 11 and for some time seemed poised to play his entire career at Old Trafford like fellow graduate Paul Scholes.

However, the 31-year-old's progress was derailed, and in 2011 he began the first of his breaks from football in order to battle ulcerative colitis. The crippling bowel condition kept him sidelined for much of the last three-and-a-half years.

As Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News points out, United's willingness to see Fletcher through his treatment shows the sport isn't always cutthroat in terms of business:

Darren Fletcher defies the 'there's no room for sentiment' mantra in football.

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 26, 2014

Fletcher has since made a full return to the pitch, attempting to show United boss Louis van Gaal he could still be of use to the club. With his contract ending this summer, though, the club opted against extending Fletcher's deal.

Evidently, there are those who feel the midfielder can still be of great use, however, with Sky Sports and ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan reporting of interest from West Ham and Valencia, respectively, earlier in January.

Since debuting for United's senior team in 2003, Fletcher has clocked up 342 appearances for the Premier League titans, per his official club profile.

Now, he'll look to begin a new chapter of his career with West Brom and show that any illness concerns are well and truly behind, with eyes firmly fixed on the better days to come.

Tony Pulis is used to keeping teams afloat in the Premier League, but at the end of the season, he'll have to worry about himself.

That is because he is taking on the mammoth challenge of rowing all the way from London to Paris to raise money for Stoke-on-Trent-based charity the Donna Louise Children’s Hospice Trust. 

Pulis explained the challenge, as per ITV News: 

I have got an enormous association with Stoke-on-Trent and with that hospice and I couldn’t say no.

This year it’s rowing from Tower Bridge to the Eiffel Tower. With all the stuff I have just jumped into, it’s going to be pretty tough.

You have to go out of the Thames, go down the coast because the smallest part of the channel they won’t let small boats or gigs across because it’s so busy.

I have never done anything like this. I have done two marathons, Kilimanjaro, John O'Groats to Lands End cycle but I have never done anything on the sea. It’s a challenge.

Do I get seasick? I’ll let you know.

Pulis had two spells in charge of Stoke, spending nearly 10 years there in total.

Earlier this month, he replaced Alan Irvine as head coach at West Bromwich Albion.

[ITV News]

Tony Pulis will be the new manager of West Bromwich Albion, replacing Alan Irvine after the latter was sacked on the 29th of December. The club announced the news via Twitter:

Albion are delighted to confirm appointment of Premier League Manager of the Year Tony Pulis as new Head Coach #wba pic.twitter.com/KoV4MNLbsv

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 1, 2015

The Baggies later released a statement on their official website:

West Bromwich Albion are today delighted to confirm the appointment of Premier League Manager of the Year Tony Pulis as the club’s new Head Coach.

Pulis has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Baggies and will take charge after today’s Barclays Premier League fixture at West Ham.

His appointment takes his management career into a 23rd year, a career highlighted by landmark roles establishing Stoke City as a Premier League force before last season’s remarkable rescue of Crystal Palace from the threat of relegation.

Irvine was sacked after a disappointing series of results, losing seven of his last nine matches in charge and guiding the club to 16th place in the Premier League standings, just one point above the relegation zone.

The club immediately held talks with a number of managers, in search of a quick resolution. Pulis and Tim Sherwood emerged as the favourites to take over the vacant position, with the Baggies eventually opting for the former Crystal Palace boss.

Pulis left the Eagles just before the start of the 2014-15 season after falling out with the club board, mainly due to Palace's transfer strategy. The 56-year-old demanded more control over player decisions, per the Guardian's Peter Lansley, and was upset over a lack of quality arrivals in the summer window.

He took over as manager of Crystal Palace when the club suffered similar struggles as West Brom do now, guiding them away from the relegation zone and to an impressive 11th-placed finish, winning the Premier League Manager of the Season award. He had been without a job ever since.

Sky Sports' Adam Bate thinks the veteran manager should be successful in guiding West Brom away from the relegation zone:

Pulis might all but guarantee survival but every job is different. Interesting to see what he does. Thoughts here: http://t.co/M9PJNxLfRI

— Adam Bate (@ghostgoal) January 1, 2015

Several clubs found themselves in need of a new manager, with Crystal Palace reportedly asking Newcastle United for permission to speak to Alan Pardew after the sacking of Neil Warnock, according to the MailOnline's Neil Ashton.

And as shared by former England international and current TV analyst Michael Owen, the market for managers is currently quite bare:

Not too many top names lying in waiting at the moment. Tony Pulis, Tim Sherwood and Steve Bruce would all be possi... http://t.co/AZo2AHSvHB

— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) December 30, 2014

West Brom were in dire need of a new manager to turn their fate around, however, and had to settle for whoever was available. The Baggies and their fans must now hope Pulis can improve on the work Irvine did and guide the club away from the relegation zone.

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Saido Berahino's recent England call-up was far from a surprise, given the 21-year-old's red-hot form for West Bromwich Albion so far this season, but the striker should shelve his Champions League ambitions for the time being.

Berahino's comments, courtesy of The Guardian, outline an overriding ambition within the youngster to succeed on both club level and for his country: "My aim would be to play in the Champions League, to be involved in the England seniors and play in World Cups and Euros."

Asked whether to achieve this he would need to leave the Midlands club, Berahino opined "if that's what it comes to it has to be that."

While there remains a level of pragmatism as the striker claims "I take each game as it comes, work hard and I have a big vision and hopefully I can reach my goals," further comments suggest that Berahino has his sights set much higher than the reach of Alan Irvine's Baggies.

Although initially committing his allegiance to West Brom, Berahino proffers that "I appreciate what West Brom have done for me and I am working hard to bring the club up."

There is more than a measure of the temporal in his words.

The same piece suggests that the striker has "Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham all linked with him."

Having demanded the attention of the Premier League this season with a remarkable goal-scoring run, it would be unwise for Berahino to set his sights too high, too soon.

Saido Berahino

Berahino's England call-up, announced on Thursday by manager Roy Hodgson, is a reward for the sheer rise in form of the striker.

With Hodgson now. "The reasons (Berahino) are obvious, he has been in such good form."

— Daniel Taylor (@DTathletic) November 6, 2014

So far this season, Berahino has scored seven goals in 10 Premier League games, according to WhoScored.com—a remarkable upturn considering 2013/14 heralded just five goals from 32 appearances.

Compared to England team-mates Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Rickie Lambert, whose most recent transfer fees amount to a combined £45 million, Berahino is so far the most devastating goal-scorer in Hodgson's ranks.

After his call-up to the England squad, here's how Berahino's record compares to other English strikers. #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/v4vIPQUEPl

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 6, 2014

Saido Berahino has scored more goals in the Premier League this season (7) than the England squad's other three strikers combined (5).

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 6, 2014

Links with clubs such as United, Liverpool and Spurs are of no surprise given this form, and Berahino's international recognition can only go to further lengths to heighten the interest in the striker.

To put this early success into wider context, Berahino runs even the Premier League’s finest talents close in the goal-scoring charts for 2014/15.

Saido Berahino: Only Sergio Agüero (10) and Diego Costa (9) have scored more Premier League goals this season than @SBerahino (7)

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) November 6, 2014

Furthermore, amongst Europe's young elite, Berahino more than holds his own in terms of current form; this includes talents such as Divock Origi, Michy Batshuayi, Timo Werner and Mauro Icardi.

Saido Berahino is the top scoring U-21 player across Europe's top 5 leagues this season (7). pic.twitter.com/5l6UCDy9o7

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 7, 2014

But a string of goals in the Premier League does not a world-beater make, and Berahino should focus on his career with West Brom for now.

Too Much, Too Young

Plenty of young, promising footballers have made this mistake before and would surely advise Berahino against setting his ambitions too high too soon.

Take Scott Sinclair, who played his football last season alongside the 21-year-old at West Brom.

At the age of 16, Sinclair joined Premier League high-flyers Chelsea and, understandably given the low propensity towards blooding youth at the west London club, spent his four seasons with the club on loan to various Football League and low-level Premier League outfits.

Moderate spells at Plymouth Argyle, Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic were punctuated with fleeting opportunities at Stamford Bridge.

After petering out in the capital, Sinclair made a reported £500,000 move, per BBC Sport, to Brendan Rodgers' Swansea City in 2010 and rebuilt his reputation.

Eight goals and four assists in his only season with the Swans in the Premier League belie the player's influence in South Wales.

Interestingly, on his move to Swansea, the forward told reporters that "I'd much rather be at a club like Swansea where I'm playing every week than at Chelsea where I was only playing five or ten minutes here and there," as per Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail.

When big-money Manchester City called in the summer of 2012, however, Sinclair jumped ship and joined the Citizens in an initial £6.2 million transfer.

Sinclair told reporters at the time, per BBC Sport, that "playing alongside some of the best players in the world is exciting for me." Only 11 Premier League appearances (h/t WhoScored) later, Sinclair continues to warm the City bench—even that on a temporary basis.

Elsewhere, Sinclair’s former City team-mate Jack Rodwell warned young English players against such a move after signing for Sunderland this summer, with the Daily Mirror’s Simon Bird quoting the midfielder:

I would ­probably say don’t sign [for City] now, I’d say get as much football as you can. The first thing I’d ask is, ‘how good are you?’ You just never know – you could go there, do really well and be winning league titles and everything. I would just say weigh up your options and ask yourself if you want to be playing regularly.

With the once-highly-rated Thomas Ince last month making the loan move from Hull City to Nottingham Forest, per The Guardian, Berahino is not short of examples of young English stars with lofty ambitions falling to the wayside after making the move too early.

Ambition and Realism

There is the background to underline this ambition.

In interview with Henry Winter of The Telegraph, Berahino explains how, with his mother first fleeing war-torn Burundi for England, she "managed to get into contact and bring me over, so things worked well."

The striker continues to outline his hardened resolve: "The experience I've been through in life has made me a stronger person and character. I don't think anything now will break me down so I'm ready for it."

Berahino is far from a flash in the pan and has endeavoured meticulously to reach his current level, as evidenced by his rise through the England ranks to reach the senior squad.

Saido Berahino has represented England at U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21 level previous to his senior call up today. pic.twitter.com/lgVGBWexUt

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 6, 2014

There is every reason to believe that Berahino is here to stay and would grace the squad of most top Premier League sides at this juncture.

To an extent, too, the striker's ambition is endearing—but Berahino would be unwise to cast aside his roots in the Midlands too soon into the future.

The 21-year-old may prove to be exactly what Liverpool need, for example, in the absence of Daniel Sturridge and amidst the enduring struggles of Mario Balotelli.

But the elevated pressure and demands for consistency could damage the player at such a young age.

At West Bromwich Albion, Saido Berahino has the perfect platform to develop, and it could prove a mistake to set his ambitions too high at this early stage. Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs can wait.

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The lone Sunday Premier League match is between a couple of squads that have gotten off to slow starts this season.

Burnley is in the bottom of the EPL table and one of only three squads that have yet to win a match. West Bromwich is near the relegation zone but coming off its first win of the young season in its last match.

The one thing Burnley has going for it is the fact that it has three straight draws.

At sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark, West Brom is the big home Premier League betting favorite posted at 1-1, with Burnley at 16-5 and a draw line of 5-2.

It is pretty obvious that you need to score to win, which has been Burnley’s major problem so far on the season, as it has only one goal in five league matches.

While the Burnley offense has been sputtering, the defense has been great. After giving up four goals in its first two matches, it has not conceded any goals in its last three. However, in its last four matches, it has failed to score.

Burnley keeper Tom Heaton and the defense have three straight clean sheets, but can the offense do anything on the road this Sunday? Scott Arfield scored the lone goal this season in the first match, and he is a midfielder.

West Brom also has issues on offense, with only three goals—two of which came in the first match. However, the squad has to have confidence after beating Tottenham on the road 1-0 in its last EPL match and beating Hull City 3-2 in the Capital One Cup.

West Brom has conceded seven goals this season but is coming off a clean sheet.

Saido Berahino has two of the three goals for West Brom this season, and he scored in the recent win in the Capital One Cup.

Prediction: Burnley has three points in its last three matches, but it needs to get some wins to climb out of the relegation zone. However, the first win of the season will not come in this match, as a confident West Brom squad will win on its pitch 2-0.

Stats and odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

West Brom announced that they have hired Alan Irvine as their next manager. Their statement read in part:

Albion are delighted to announce that Alan Irvine will be appointed as their new Head Coach.

The 55-year-old has agreed a 12-month rolling contract and will complete his move to The Hawthorns once he has officially signed off from his current role as Everton’s academy manager.

He will take over the reins from Pepe Mel, with whom the club parted company by mutual consent just over a month ago.

Rob Kelly will also be joining the staff, taking over the role of co-assistant manager with Keith Downing.

West Brom technical director Terry Burton said:

I'm delighted we have been able to secure the services of Alan and Rob. From the outset, we decided to pursue candidates who are renowned for their coaching ability and Alan was very much at the forefront of our thoughts because of his achievements in the Premier League and the high regard he is held within the game. 

Irvine has had managerial stints at Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday, but his greatest successes have come in his role as Everton's head of the youth academy. Under his leadership, the Toffees have built a stable of young stars led by Ross Barkley.

Darren Griffiths, Everton's media and public relations manager, wished Irvine the best of luck with his new endeavor:

Having experience with younger players and developing promising stars will come in handy at a club like West Brom. The Baggies can't match those above them financially, but if they can create a pipeline from the youth team to the first team, they could set themselves up well for the future.

Some will be surprised that Tim Sherwood wasn't the choice to succeed Pepe Mel.

The Independent's Sam Wallace reported that the former Tottenham Hotspur manager couldn't come to terms with the club:

However, Steve Madeley of the Express & Star reported that the Baggies' first choice was Irvine after the second round of interviews:

West Brom are certainly taking a leap of faith with their decision. Plenty of managers with Premier League experience are either without clubs or would leave their current club in order to move to The Hawthorns.

Of course, the other point to consider is that Irvine is a somewhat fresh face in terms of the coaching scene. The Baggies are sacrificing a certain amount of security for the chance that he is somebody who can help the club punch above its weight rather than merely stave off relegation.

West Bromwich Albion have announced that they've parted company with manager Pepe Mel with immediate effect.

The decision brings an end to the 51-year-old's four-month spell with the club. Mel had been appointed as Steve Clarke's successor on January 13.

West Brom's announcement, which was made via the club's official website, came with a statement from the sporting and technical director Richard Garlick:

We would like to thank Pepe for his efforts over the past four months in helping to keep the Club in the Premier League and wish him well for the future.

Both Pepe and the Club set out with the best intentions of making the appointment work. However, having reflected on events both on and off the field during our talks today, it became apparent that it was in the best interests of both parties for there to be an amicable parting.

We are grateful for the manner in which the existing coaching staff and players have rallied behind Pepe to get the Club over the line in what has proved an extremely competitive division.

Mel's time with the Baggies was turbulent to say the least, leading the Hawthorns club to just three victories during his 17-game spell with the club. His stint with the club ended with Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Stoke City.

According to BBC Sport, Mel was fighting for his future after just six games in charge, and those questions regarding his future continued throughout the campaign.

However, the Spaniard was able to successfully guide the Midlands club to Premier League survival as the Baggies finished in 17th position. Nevertheless, Mel's time in England was certainly problematic and this announcement will come with little surprise.

West Brom have yet to make any announcement on Mel's replacement.

Who should West Brom appoint as their new boss? Post your thoughts below.

West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka has been hit with a five-game ban for his controversial "quenelle" gesture after being found guilty by a Football Association hearing.

In addition to the the ban, which will see him miss almost half of West Brom's remaining games in the Premier League, Anelka has been fined £80,000 and will have to complete a compulsory education course.

A statement on the FA's official website details the ins and outs of the decision:

An Independent Regulatory Commission has found an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3 against Nicolas Anelka proven and has issued a five-match suspension and a fine of £80,000, pending appeal.

The West Bromwich Albion player has also been ordered to complete a compulsory education course.

The Independent Regulatory Commission will provide written reasons for its decision in due course.

Anelka made the gesture shortly after scoring for West Brom in their draw against West Ham United back in December. His hearing lasted two days, during which he denied that his use of the gesture was anti-Semitic.

The Frenchman has the right to appeal the decision but has only seven days to do so. It is unclear whether Anelka will yet contest the decision.

The 34-year-old will provide a key miss for West Bromwich Albion in their battle to avoid the drop. Since joining the club in the summer, he has endured mixed form, scoring twice in just 11 starts. Coincidentally, those two goals came in the 3-3 draw with West Ham back in December—the game in which he made the 'quenelle' gesture.

However, despite that patchy form, he is a valued member of an Albion squad that is hovering perilously above the relegation zone in the Premier League. At present, they are just one point above the drop zone, and they must now compete for the next five games without one of their senior players.

For Anelka—a man who has played for the likes of Arsenal and Real Madrid in his illustrious career—it means he will now have to decide whether to appeal or face a serious blot on what has been an incredibly successful football career.

West Bromwich Albion 1 - 1 Chelsea 

West Brom and Chelsea drew 1-1 at The Hawthorn after a stirring second-half fight-back from the Baggies.

Chelsea took the lead through Branislav Ivanovic at the end of the first term, and looked to have the game well under control until West Brom showed plenty of determination to wrestle the momentum away from the league leaders in the second half.

The home team eventually equalised with three minutes of regular time remaining thanks to a Victor Anichebe header. 

Despite the draw, Jose Mourinho's side remain top of the Premier League for now, while West Brom will take the result as a boost to their hopes of escaping relegation.

WBA Player Ratings

Player	Half time	Full time
Foster	6	6
Reid	6	6
McAuley	7	7
Dawson	6	8
Ridgewell	6	6
Yacob	7	6
Amalfitano	5	4
Morrison	6	7
Brunt	7	7
Bifouma	7	7
Berahino	7	7

Chelsea Player Ratings

Player	Half time	Full time
Cech	6	6
Ivanovic	8	8
Cahill	7	7
Luiz	7	7
Azpilicueta	6	6
Ramires	6	6
Matic	5	7
Willian	7	8
Oscar	6	6
Hazard	6	6
Eto'o	6	5

Full time analysis:  

West Brom

Foster: Not at fault for the goal and made a couple of good saves.

Reid: Steady, if unspectacular performance.

McAuley: Made his presence felt at both ends.

Dawson: As with McAuley, he was active at both ends of the pitch. Energetic and hard-working.

Ridgewell: Had a quiet game but was sound defensively.

Yacob: A typical display from the Argentine. Kept the ball moving out of midfield with his steady passing game.

Amalfitano: Was booked for dissent. Tried to do too much when he needed to do the simple things well. Bit of a liability today.

Morrison: Did a good job defensively, but had little impact otherwise, aside from one shot over the bar in the 72nd minute.

Brunt: Switched between the flanks, and his influence grew as the match wore on. Was presented with a couple of half chances but could do little with them. Sent in some useful free kicks. 

Bifouma: A real prospect, he performed well on his home debut. Will learn a great deal from the experience.

Berahino: Looked lively and keen, but was ultimately marshaled by the experienced Chelsea defence. 

Chelsea

Cech: Typically confident display from the Chelsea keeper, he can't be held responsible for West Brom's equaliser.

Ivanovic: Not only is he reliable at right-back, he is becoming a reliable goal scorer as well.

Cahill: Used his experience to get the job done, despite being exposed for pace a couple of times.

Luiz: Strong showing from the big Brazilian.

Azpilicueta: Had little influence on the game.

Ramires: Did what was required of him in midfield, without really taking control. 

Matic: Improved as the match wore on. Was a defensive terrier in the second term.

Willian: One of Chelsea's best. Looked like the most likely to make something happen in the attacking third all game.

Oscar: Some nice touches, but did not have his usual impact on the game.

Hazard: The in-form Belgian could not get involved enough to prove truly decisive, though he showed glimpses of what he is capable of.

Eto’o: After a few bright flashes early, he faded throughout the game. Not his best showing.