Swain with the derby skippers

Curtis Davies and Jonathan Greening, Albion captains past and present, square up when the Hawthorns stages one of derby football’s classic fixtures.

Chief Sports Writer Martin Swain talks with the skippers about the forthcoming battle.

MS: We’ll start with a gentle one. What are your memories of each other?

JG: Curtis was very young but I think, similar to me, he was a good trainer – first in and last to go. He was very young to be captain, he was 21 at the time but Bryan Robson liked his stature.

He also liked having a centre half as captain, like he did with Nigel Pearson at Middlesbrough.

Curtis stood out from the rest of us at the time. It was bit of a surprise but he handled the pressure well and put on some really good performances for us.

I thought he was a really good addition for us at the time but in the end he decided he wanted to move on to a bigger club, which was fair enough.

Maybe if he had stayed he would have been captain for three or four years by now.

In another way, I’m quite glad he left because I got to lift the trophy last year, which was great for me.

He is a top player. I watched him against Tottenham and I thought he was absolutely terrific. To have him in our squad would have been nice.

We got on really well. He was quite quiet at first but the more I got to know him the more he came out of his shell. I think he was missed a lot when he first left but you have to move on and we have replaced him with a few players.

He is still a nice person and every time I see him I enjoy talking to him he is a good guy.

CD: My memories of Jonno? The lads giving him some tremendous stick because – and I think he would accept this – he can be a bit slow.

I’m not talking around the pitch but he does have the knack of making a silly comment which would have us all in stitches. I remember Chappy (Richard Chaplow) used to wind him up terribly.

MS: But as old team-mates, I imagine you have a healthy respect for each other’s ability?

CD: Fortunately for Jonno, he happens to be a very good footballer. I used to love playing with him, especially when he moved into the centre of midfield.

Sometimes when you are a defender trying to bring the ball out of defence, you can be looking up and players might be hiding, especially if things aren’t going well, you end up knocking it long and everybody thinks all you can do is hit and hope.

Jonno always – always – wanted the ball. He always had that confidence to take a pass, no matter what the pressure, and help you. That’s brilliant for a centre half.

I also think his game has come on even more since he has been captain and his partnership with Robert Koren has a great balance. Jonno digs in a bit more now and can put it about.

JG: Curtis can go all the way. He has bags of pace, blocks shots, is a good header of the ball and looks like he has worked on his passing a lot.

He looked really comfortable on the ball the other night. He will definitely make the England squad again if he plays like he did on Monday.

He was really unlucky when he was called up not to make the final squad. Then he snapped his achilles, which is a bad injury.

Curtis has done so well to get back for the start of the season. The reports I’ve read from the last few games say he has been really good. If he carries on playing the way he is he will get back in the squad. There’s no doubt about it.

MS: But there are plenty of Baggies fans who have been waiting to tell Curtis what they think of him. It’s going to be a tough afternoon isn’t it?

CD: I am ready for the boos. I expect it. I got booed on my last game in an Albion shirt. This time I’m going to be wearing a Villa shirt, so I can pretty much guess what it is going to be like!

Actually, I felt I played well in that last match. To be fair, I got clapped off the pitch at the end of the game.

Eery away game is going to be hostile and you just learn to shut it out and concentrate on your game.

I will take the stick as a compliment, they wouldn’t get so upset that I left if they didn’t think I had something to offer. Albion fans tend to welcome back former players with open arms normally.

I still don’t have any regrets about what happened. I was told if we didn’t go up I would be allowed to leave. If at the end of the day you are told lies, what can you do?

I never tried to hide it. I wasn’t trying to sneak out the back door. I handed in a transfer request and never said one thing while meaning another. I think I was very open about the whole episode.

I know it’s my old club but, to be honest, this is the Premier League and there are lots of big games. It’s going to be intense but all I shall be thinking about is trying to help us win the game.

Albion are not going to let us walk all over them. It will be fiercely competitive. But really, it’s just one more big game in a fixture list packed with them.

JG: I think he will get a great reception! No, listen, he was a top lad and a top player. I saw him last week at Darren Carter’s engagement party and he was the same old Curtis.

He’s been doing well since he came back from injury and I hope the fans give him a good reception, because he gave his all when he was here and put in some good performances.

He was captain for a good year-and-a-half and played his part for us. We didn’t really have any banter, although I did say that we’d give him a good game and he just laughed at that but we’re confident.

MS: And what do you think of each other’s prospects?

JG: They have got the new chairman and money is no object. They have spent a lot of money on Ashley Young and they are paying big wages.

The wage bill there will be unbelievable but the price tags for players is not scaring him and they are investing really well in good, young players.

They have a lot of young, English players and they seem to work hard as a team. Martin O’Neill’s way of playing may not be the best football ever but they are hard working, a good solid unit and good going forward with a lot of pace.

They are a difficult team to play against and are well respected in the Premier League. They are a team you would look at and definitely pick to finish in the top half.

CD: If you’re asking me do I think Albion will stay up the answer is a very definite ‘yes.’ I’m not just saying that.

I think their football will win and I think they will survive.

MS: Of course it’s not just Curtis playing against his old club. There’s Scott Carson and Luke Moore for Albion.

JG: I think Scott has a point to prove. He played most if not all games last year and they finished sixth or seventh. That doesn’t happen unless you have a good keeper. Scott was voted one of the players of the year.
He’s confident in his own ability and he needs to show them what they’re missing as well – what they are missing is what we all saw last Saturday in he’s a great keeper.

As for Luke, what a way that would be to hit the goal trail, to score against Villa. It would be fantastic for him.

He’s shown in training just how good he is but maybe he’s not started as many games in a row, a few injuries haven’t helped him either.

I know he’s trying to get his fitness back. He’s said he wants to play week in, week out and the only way to do that is play well when you get a chance and stay fit, score goals and make it your place to lose.

He’s a good lad and gets involved in a lot of banter. He’s quiet on the pitch which is what the fans see and think he is moody. It’s not. It’s hard to win over the fans when you come from one of your main rivals.

CD: I honestly don’t think players think that way. Sure, Luke and Scott will want to win the game, but they will want to win it for Albion not to prove anything.

Things happen in football, decisions are made and you move on. I would imagine Luke is champing at the bit to play because he will be desperate to get into the side – that’s why he will want to do well.

MS: So what about this little dust-up. Who’s going to win?

JG: People will look at their set-plays as a big problem for us. They’ve got some big boys and we have made mistakes from set-pieces.

The goals we conceded on Saturday were a joke and we have to be on our game on Sunday to make sure we don’t give sloppy goals away and defend corners and set-pieces properly. If we do, we’re confident. I hope to welcome Curtis and then send him home without any points.

CD: I learned a long while ago never to make predictions. It’s a silly business and you are asking for trouble. But I will predict one thing about Sunday’s game.

MS: And that is?

CD: I’ll get booed!