Mowbray to field strong cup XI

Last updated : 23 January 2009 By Wba-mad Editor

Albion manager Tony Mowbray has declared he'll picking his strongest possible XI against Burnley at The Hawthorns tomorrow (KO 3pm).

Despite facing the Premier League and European champions Manchester United only two days after Burnley, plus the Baggies' mounting injury problems, Mowbray sees no problem sending out his strongest side against the Clarets.

"I generally try to pick my strongest team," Mowbray said.

"We've talked about targeting games in the Premier League and the next one is Manchester United on Tuesday night.

"I think at home that's a game we've got to try and target to be positive and try and get something out of, like all home games.

"I generally don't like to have a feeling that footballers can't play on a Saturday and Tuesday - they can.

"I spent most of my career doing so and generally in the Championship that's what you do all season long.

"I haven't got much of an eye on Tuesday.

"I'm just going to pick a team to try and win this game and then worry about Tuesday."

Burnley visit The Hawthorns on the back of their epic Carling Cup semi-final second leg defeat against Tottenham Hotspur - despite winning the tie 3-2. Owen Coyle's men have excelled this season in cup competitions beating Premier League Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs with Mowbray well aware of their attributes.

"They have shown quality over the last few months in beating Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham, and going so unbelievably close to beating Tottenham on Wednesday night," the Baggies boss continued.

"I'm very respectful of the way they play.

"I can see some similarities of the way we played last season in the Championship, by using the extra man in midfield, moving the ball around well and scoring goals.

"They've obviously hit a sticky patch in the league where they've gone three or four games without winning.

"Maybe there is a case for saying the cup football is catching up with them a little bit.

"They obviously went to extra-time against QPR in the last FA Cup round.

"But sometimes in the perceived adversity of having too many games teams can rally and keep going.

"They might see the FA Cup as a shot to nothing.

"It's not league points up for grabs so they can come here and play their open, attractive football and see how they get on.

"I'm looking forward to the game.

"It will be a good game and I'm assuming with their style of play it will be like the Middlesbrough game last weekend.

"A first-half where they have a bit of the ball.

"I don't think it will be a case of us dominating possession against them because when they've got the ball they don't give it you back very quickly.

"I think it will be a decent game."