Albion blog: My derby XI

Only five days and counting, with the international break, the build up seems to be more intense. Well done Israel and many, many thanks, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.

So onto Sunday and today I have looked at who would be in my starting eleven if I could choose from recent heroes from this fixture.

I have gone with Deano in goal, played five derby games last season and achieved a win ratio of 4-1. His experience when going into a game like this is priceless and his vocal support is an important part of our defence.

All outfield players I have picked have either scored against Wolves or played a major part in us getting one over our nearest and dearest.

Neil Clement has been a fantastic servant to our club, and has always played well against the old gold; he also scored a trade mark free kick against them at the Hawthorns in a midweek game the season we went up and takes his position at left back.

At right back I have gone for Igor Balis, a much under estimated player in my opinion.

Let me take you back, penultimate game of the season away at Bradford, 0-0 and we have just been awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of the game.

We needed to win to ensure promotion was in our own hands going into the last game of the season against Palace. That season we had witnessed various players’ miss eight penalties, so we all held our collective breaths to see who was going to take this all important spot kick. Bob Taylor had just come on and won the penalty and many assumed he would step forward, but no, cometh the hour, cometh the man, and up stepped Igor. He buried it in the bottom corner and everyone went wild, it was a major factor in us stealing promotion from the faltering Wolves team, and a moment I will never ever forget.

My centre defensive partnership is Raven and Mardon, both having enjoyed success in this fixture and both scoring important goals.

In midfield I have gone for Greening, Jordao, Bradley, and Donovan. You could not call any of them prolific goal scorers, but all of them have scored in this fixture, and just the sheer sight of Kevin Donovan upsets the Wanderers!!!

Up front I have gone for the two supers, Kev and Bob, it is a major loss not having Kev available this week, our top scorer this season and a player who scores for fun against Wolves.

Bob Taylor is a legend at the Hawthorns, and still a regular visitor. He has scored in this fixture, he scored the second goal against Palace when we went up and Wolves stayed down, and he even made an appearance last season in the playoff second leg to stir up the crowd before the game, (I left the pub early to go and see him, an honour reserved for legends only).

So there you have it, probably not the most gifted team you could pick, but all have a place in my heart, and more importantly players who have dealt hammer blows to the Wolves.

I was tempted to include Keith Curle, due to him passing the criteria of scoring against the Wolves, but that would have just been too cruel……………………….. ok, I will keep him on the bench just in case!!!!!

Agree with Jarrod? We thought not . . . post your comments below!