Albion v Charlton preview

West Bromwich Albion V Charlton Athletic

The Hawthorns

Kick off 7.45pm

Captain Jonathan Greening today challenged Albion to banish memories of their no-show at The Valley by dumping Charlton from the FA Cup.

The Baggies scraped a draw from their third-round clash with the Addicks 10 days ago, but Greening admitted their performance was well below-par.

And he has called on his team-mates to put things right tonight with an improved display in the replay.

"We didn't turn up at all that day," admitted Greening.

"We had a lot of illness running through the camp, we rested two or three players and we had a few players playing who hadn't played for six or seven weeks like Martin Albrechtsen.

"It was a sloppy performance but we know we can do better and we've got a good chance to put it right in the replay.

"Hopefully we can put a good performance in and get into the next round of the cup."

Greening dismissed the view that the FA Cup could be a distraction from the Baggies' main objective of promotion to the Premier League.

And he played down the prospect of squad rotation playing a part in tonight's match.

"I think the FA Cup is a really good competition and I really enjoy it," he said.

"You grow up as a kid wanting to play in the FA Cup final and I think every player still wants to play in it.

"This is another important game and it's one that we want to try to win because winning breeds confidence.

"If we can get on a good cup run and keep our performances good then we have a good chance of getting promoted and doing well in the cup.

"The gaffer does it his way and everyone appreciates the decisions he makes.

"It's a tough job and I think if he decides a few players will benefit from a rest he will rest them.

"If he doesn't we will all go out and do our best and try to get Albion into the next round.

"We've got a chance of getting Peterborough in the next round which would give us a good chance of getting into the round after that."

Greening's comments have been echoed by Mowbray, who has insisted his side will go all-out for victory tonight.

But he has admitted it is a match both clubs could do without.

"Both of us are challenging for promotion and fighting away at the top end of this table," said Mowbray.

"As with a lot of other teams it's pretty obvious to suggest that we could do without the game coming off a period over Christmas and the New Year when all we seemed to do was play every two days.

"But it's another game and we are looking forward to it and we'll see if we can get into the next round. Peterborough away gives us an opportunity."

Last season Albion reached the fifth round of the FA Cup and a gruelling replay against Middlesbrough blamed by many fans for the subsequent slide from the automatic promotion places and into the play-offs. But Mowbray does not expect that experience to taint his players' thinking this evening.

"That was a bit later in the season in the fifth round and we were at a pretty crucial stage," he said. "We were top of the table with 10 games to go and we had to play Sunderland three days after playing extra-time and penalties in a pretty draining affair.

"Ultimately Sunderland went on a great consistent run and good luck to them.

"You take each game as it comes so it's not an inconvenience. We're looking forward to it and hopefully we can get a positive performance."