West Brom v Manchester City: Why City may be the perfect Pep for Pulis

Nobody is expecting Albion to get anything against a team who slammed five goals past Liverpool, six past Watford, and seven past Stoke. It’s a free hit for a head coach who is under increasing pressure from the fanbase, if not yet the board.

As long as the scoreline stays respectable, Pulis is unlikely to lose much more face. That may smack of the same lack of ambition that is infuriating supporters, but it is also the depressing reality.

City are still unbeaten this season, and sweeping teams aside in the Premier League, while Albion are short on confidence and on an eight-game winless streak that is odds-on to be extended.

The only glimmer of hope they have lies in two Carabao Cup ties. The first one was last month, when the Baggies gave City a run for their money at The Hawthorns before Leroy Sane’s clinical finishing ultimately prevailed.

The second was this week at the Etihad Stadium, where Albion’s Black Country rivals Wolves had the decency to take City to 120 minutes while proving that they are capable of being stopped.

However, even though City had some big-hitters on the pitch on Tuesday, they were not at full strength for either match and have proven to be a completely different prospect in the Premier League, an untouchable, other-worldly one.

Pulis and the players insist it is not so cut and dry.

In fact, skipper Jonny Evans reckons the challenge will actually suit them.

“We’re not a possession team,” he admitted. “Those type of teams always dominate possession and we enjoy that defensive responsibility of trying to shut them out.”

It seems a fair argument, considering the Baggies are unable control games against weaker opposition, but unfortunately, it’s not backed up by stats.

In the past two seasons Albion have only won three out their 24 games against the so-called big six.

That doesn’t mean this game should just be written off, City will have to lose at some point.

And Pulis does have a conundrum on his hands. Does he sit deep and try and frustrate his visitors with the defensively solid but toothless midfield trio of Gareth Barry, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Jake Livermore? It is arguably one of the few games when that ploy will be acceptable.

Or does he try and expose City’s only weakness, their defence?

It may not have to be one or the other. Albion improved in a 5-3-2 last weekend, albeit for 15 minutes, and sticking Jay Rodriguez or Hal Robson-Kanu up front with Salomon Rondon may just give City something to think about.

Craig Dawson has been ruled out, meaning Allan Nyom will play and he’s more suited to the wing-back role than Dawson.

The only flaw to this plan is Jonny Evans’s groin twinge, which has left him a doubt.

Robson-Kanu and Oliver Burke will be available, but James Morrison is still out.