Coventry City v West Bromwich Albion
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Fifth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 16 February 2008
The Ricoh Arena, Coventry City FC
Winning clubs will receive £120,000 from The FA
Click here to see the fixtures



West Bromwich Albion legend Brendon Batson believes an advanced FA Cup run can only help their bid to win promotion back to the Premiership.

The Baggies make the relatively short trip to face Coventry City in the Fifth Round this weekend and manager Tony Mowbray (below) has already gone on record as saying that their League campaign remains foremost in their thoughts.

However, given the Hawthorns club’s form in the Championship so far, Batson thinks that they have enough to maintain their Premiership push and enjoy a run in The FA Cup to boot.

“West Brom are going well this season and I think it’s a really good opportunity to progress,” revealed Batson, who works as an FA Consultant on Race Equality.

“I know the manager has come out and said that they know they aren’t going to win The Cup, so the priority is getting promoted, but I’m sure quietly he will be pleased to be in the draw and in with a chance to progress.”

Whilst Albion are on the road for the tie against a team who also ply their trade in the Championship, Batson believes that the Baggies should have enough to overcome the Sky Blues.

“The players are really playing well and I think they will break the 100 goals mark this year,” he added.

“The goal difference at the moment is nearly 30 and only a few other teams have just broken into double figures.

“We’ve got an opportunity in The Cup as well as the League and I think it’s great to always have a winning team, going into games expecting to score goals and that’s what is happening at West Brom.

“On the whole, they’re playing a very nice brand of football though and very entertaining.”

Batson, who made over 170 appearances for Albion as well as representing Arsenal and Cambridge United in his career, also feels that his former club are well equipped enough to enjoy a sustained spell in the top flight should they achieve their goal of promotion this season.

“I think their style of play is more suited to doing well in the Premiership, just because they are getting the players who are good enough to compete,” he added.

“Every team has the same problem as to how to compete financially, but I think West Brom’s style of play really lends itself to competing at that level.

“The ‘crash-bang-wallop’ style doesn’t help you in the Premiership, because if you give the ball away too cheaply, you can end up chasing the ball and playing the last 20 minutes of the game running on empty.

“The style and philosophy that they have will be tested if they go up, but I think the West Brom supporters are relatively happy with things.”

With Albion’s fierce Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers also still in the competition, should both teams progress beyond the Fifth Round, Batson believes destiny could set up a Black Country duel.

“Someone said to me recently that they’re predicting a West Brom-Wolves game in the Semi-Final, so I’d take that now,” he laughed.