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Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Sport Mole previews Tottenham's Premier League trip to The Hawthorns as they look to become the first team to beat Tony Pulis's West Bromwich Albion side.

Capital One Cup finalists Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to become the first team to beat Tony Pulis's West Bromwich Albion when they clash on Saturday.

On Wednesday, Spurs booked themselves a Wembley date with Chelsea, although they needed a late Christian Eriksen strike to see off League One Sheffield United.

It was the sixth time this year that the Dane had scored Tottenham's winning goal, and the fourth occasion on which it had come after the 88th minute.

Eriksen was also the saviour for Spurs in their last Premier League game, scoring in the final moments to earn his side a 2-1 victory over Sunderland.

That result kept the Lilywhites within three points of the Champions League places, while the Baggies are the same distance above the relegation zone.

Three matches without defeat and only one goal conceded since the appointment of Pulis bodes well for Albion's survival chances, and they are also progressing well in the FA Cup, having beaten local rivals Birmingham City last weekend to reach the last 16.

Victor Anichebe scored twice at St Andrew's and appears to be back in favour after receiving limited opportunities under former manager Alan Irvine. He and Saido Berahino are likely to be Albion's strike partnership this weekend.

Berahino, who has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, could yet be a target for Spurs before the window closes, with Tottenham reportedly in the market for a new striker should they allow one to leave.

The enigmatic Emmanuel Adebayor is believed to be wanted on loan by Paris Saint-Germain, so Mauricio Pochettino could yet revisit his interest in Berahino, who is valued in the region of £15m, before Monday's deadline.

In the meantime, the Spurs boss will name a similar side to the one which saw them through to their first cup final since 2009, although goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Federico Fazio and Danny Rose could be recalled to the back five.

Having returned from compassionate leave, eight-goal winger Nacer Chadli is likely to rejoin to the side, having sat out the 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane and the late FA Cup fourth-round exit to Leicester City.

With Nabil Bentaleb still on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Algeria, Pochettino has selection dilemmas in midfield, where Benjamin Stambouli, Mousa Dembele, Erik Lamela and Andros Townsend are all in contention.

New Baggies signing Callum McManaman is expected to be on the home bench after completing his £4.75m move from Wigan Athletic, with Pulis poised to name the same side which drew 0-0 at Everton a fortnight ago.

That means that Stephane Sessegnon, Craig Dawson and Boaz Myhill, who is suffering from a finger injury, are likely to be dropped from the cup team to make room for Ben Foster, Joleon Lescott and James Morrison.

Defender Jonas Olsson, who has made over 200 appearances for the Baggies, returned to training this week and could be given a fresh start by Pulis, having found opportunities limited under the previous regime.

Youssouf Mulumbu and Jason Davidson are still away on international duty as West Brom look to complete a first league double over Spurs since the 1981-82 season, having won 1-0 at White Hart Lane in September.

West Brom:

Form in Premier League: LLLDWD
Form in all competitions: LDWWDW

Possible starting lineup: Foster; Wisdom, McAuley, Lescott, Baird; Morrison, Gardner, Yacob, Brunt; Berahino, Anichebe

Spurs:

Form in Premier League: WWDWLW
Form in all competitions: LWWWLD

Possible starting lineup: Lloris; Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose; Mason, Dembele; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Andros Townsend of Spurs scores the opening goal past Mark Howard of Sheffield United from the penalty spot during the Capital One Cup Semi-Final first leg match on January 21, 2015
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