Exeter vs West Brom: Paul Tisdale will call on all of his experience

The 44-year-old has been in charge of Exeter City for the past quarter of his life.

He took the Grecians from the Conference to League One in his first three years at the club, but they have been in League Two ever since their relegation in 2012.

His 11 years and counting may be a decade shy of Wenger’s 21 years at the Gunners, but it is a reign nearly five years longer than any other manager in the Football League.

In an era of trigger-happy chairman hiring and firing managers, Exeter and Tisdale buck the trend, and his longevity has earned him respect from his peers.

“Their manager has done a terrific job and he’s a character but I like him,” said Baggies boss Alan Pardew.

“I’m a little bit surprised that he hasn’t moved on but fair play to Exeter.

“I’m sure he would be very happy to exchange roles with me and be very happy to be manager of West Brom in the Premier League. The surprise for me is that he’s still there because he definitely has the talent to move up the leagues if he so wished.”

Tisdale nearly took the Grecians back up to League One last season,but they lost the play-off final to Blackpool.

They’re mounting another charge this season though, and currently sit in seventh.

However, form has tailed off a bit since a blistering start saw them win seven and draw one of their first eight games.

Former Albion player Reuben Reid scored seven goals in the first seven games, but hasn’t found the net since.

Pardew plans to play a strong team, but Exeter will fancy their chances at home to a side so low on confidence. And they can draw on a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at St James Park in 2016 for inspiration.

“I think if you show any fear they will they will hurt you,” said midfielder Ryan Harley. “We have seen that with Man City recently.

“Any teams that show a bit of fear, they wipe the floor with them. It will be similar to that.

“So we have got to go into it buzzing and confident and see what happens really.

“Hopefully they won’t be quite as good as Liverpool but they are obviously going to be a very, very good side.

“They have been in the Premier League for more or less the whole time it has been going.

“They have got a good manager and a good set of players. It is obviously going to be a difficult task, but we have got nothing to lose so we will hit it and see where it takes us.

“It is a big game for all the players, the club and the supporters but it is one with have got to enjoy really. These moments don’t come around that often against Premier League teams.”

Likely line-ups:

Albion (4-4-2): Foster, Nyom, McAuley, Evans, Gibbs, McClean, Barry, Krychowiak, Brunt, Rodriguez, Rondon.

Subs: Myhill, Hegazi, Field, Livermore, Burke, Leko, Robson-Kanu.

Exeter: Pym, Sweeney, Seaborne, Archibald-Henville, Woodman, Taylor, Tillson, James, Moxey, Stockley, Harley.

Subs: Holmes, Brown, Hamon, McAlinden, Reid, Boateng, Simpson.