Boss aims to snuff out SEB threat

Albion manager Tony Mowbray is hoping to snuff out Sylvan Ebanks-Blake tonight – after admitting he once considered signing Wolves’ new goal hero.

Ebanks-Blake gets his first taste of Black Country derby action this evening when Albion visit Molineux.

But Mowbray has revealed the young striker’s career could have taken a different path had the Baggies boss followed up on a plan to take him to Hibernian.

“I was aware of him a long time ago,” said Mowbray. “I initially enquired about him when I was at Hibs and he was a young boy at Manchester United.”

Mowbray did not follow up his interest in Ebanks-Blake, who eventually left Old Trafford for Plymouth before moving to Wolves in January.

And the Baggies boss was alerted to the forward’s potential availability before his switch to Molineux but decided against making an offer.

“It was in the last transfer window that it became evident what his contractual situation was at Plymouth,” he said.

“I didn’t feel we need to add that kind of footballer at the time but the bottom line is he’s done exceptionally well, he’s a talented young boy and he’s done well for them.

“He’s made a difference to Wolves’ season, I would suggest. Wolves play nice football, they’re a good football team but they weren’t scoring a lot of goals. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has added that ingredient to their team.

“He’s done very well. Everyone in the league knew he was available due to the release clause in his contract at Plymouth. Wolves made the decision to take him and it’s paid dividends.”

While Ebanks-Blake is guaranteed a starting place for Wolves tonight the only man ahead of him in the Championship goalscoring charts, Albion’s Kevin Phillips, is less sure of his place.

Mowbray is keeping his cards close to his chest over his team selection, especially where Phillips is confirmed.

Phillips boasts an impressive scoring record in derby matches, especially against Wolves, but Mowbray has favoured a 4-5-1 system in recent away fixtures with Ishmael Miller or Roman Bednar as their lone forward. Mowbray said: “We’re in the run-in and I will pick them team that I think is ready, wants to play, is fit and in my mind is going to do the damage against the opposition.

“I look at the opposition, assess their weaknesses and strengths and pick the team I think is going to get the result that the club needs.

“We’ve got another game three days later so we’ve got to think about that and I do try to pick teams at times two or three games in advance.

“But we’re at the point of the season where you have to win games and I would suggest you come to a point where you have two games and you have to try to win them both. After that we’ve got a nine-day break so we will rest, recover and get ready for the final two games.

“None of the players will play every 90 minutes. That’s how this game is and I am trying to pick the best team to win the football matches and make the substitutions that I think are right with half an eye on the next game if a game is won.

“Invariably that’s not the case because it’s a tight league.

“People want to know if Kevin is playing on Tuesday but I’m not going to tell anyone.”

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