Leicester v West Brom Preview: Chris Brunt Sounds the Baggies Charge

Posted Tuesday, October 26, 2010 by sportinglife.aol.co.uk

CARLING CUP, THE WALKERS' STADIUM TUESDAY OCTOBER 26TH, KICK-OFF 1945 BST.

Roberto Di Matteo has made such an impressive start at the Hawthorns that West Brom currently find themselves in the unchartered territory of the top six, briefly occupying a Champions League spot before Sunday's results.

A quarter-final place is also up for grabs as Di Matteo prepares for an intriguing head-to-head with the former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Di Matteo had left Lazio by the time Eriksson arrived in 1997 but the pair will go into tonight's game acutely aware that the rewards for a victory could be massive.

It is testimony to the progress made by West Brom that Di Matteo can afford to field a virtual second XI nowadays that still had the ability to defeat Manchester City in the previous round.

Leicester are still adapting to life since the surprise appointment of Eriksson but have a squad containing too much ability to be hovering around the Championship relegation places. The club also has a good pedigree in this competition, lifting the cup under former manager Martin O'Neill in 1997 and 2000.

Key Match-Up: Jack Hobbs v Simon Cox. Hobbs is establishing a burgeoning reputation at Leicester, after taking the pain-staking decision to quit Liverpool two years ago in search of regular football. Cox has found Premier League opportunities hard to come by so far but will use this game to stake a claim for more regular first team involvement.

Form Guide: West Brom have not been beaten for seven games and managed that notable feat despite games against Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City. Leicester fell to their first defeat under Eriksson at Swansea at the weekend and have only won three home games out of seven.

Odds: Leicester 21/10, Draw 23/10, West Brom 5/4