Mowbs intends to read up on Rams

Last updated : 17 May 2007 By Danny Deeming
Baggies boss Tony Mowbray intends doing detailed homework on Championship play-off final opponents Derby after seeing off Wolves. The Baggies beat Mick McCarthy's troops 1-0 in the semi-final at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night to set up their Wembley clash with the Rams. Albion striker Kevin Phillips scored the only goal of the tie's second leg in the 65th minute to register the 22nd strike of his season and West Brom's 100th in all competitions during 2006-07. Phillips' header meant a 4-2 aggregate victory for the Baggies, who had won the first leg at Molineux on Sunday. They now face a Derby side that beat them 2-1 in November but they overcame 1-0 at The Hawthorns four weeks later.
Mowbray said: "By and large, we think we know the strengths and the weaknesses of our opponents, but we will spend a lot more time studying them before we go to Wembley. Let us not kid ourselves - Derby have spent a few quid and have some very good footballers in their squad, they play to their strengths and we will be very aware of that. We have to go to Wembley and make sure we win because otherwise getting to the final has meant nothing, and we do still have plenty of work to do. I have spent all season talking about the balance of the team and I still do not feel we have achieved that yet, which means there are issues which need to be addressed during the summer no matter which division we are playing in, but people should also be aware that in players like Kevin Phillips, Diomansy Kamara and Jason Koumas we have quality who will be able to hold their own at whichever level we play at."