Albion fans to dish it out by the bucketload

Tomorrow's game may be a chance for Tony Pulis to climb above his former team, but it will no doubt be remembered for the outpouring of love for Chris Brunt.

There are more important things than football, and fans are desperate to prove to the Northern Irishman that regardless of results he is still a favourite around these parts.

Bucket collections outside the ground will be followed by the unfurling of a new banner inside, plus a raucous sing-song for the left-back in the 11th minute to match his shirt number.

The reaction Pulis gets will not be as warm, and unlike Brunt, it hinges on what happens during the 90 minutes of the match.

Crystal Palace come to The Hawthorns woefully out of form in the league, having picked up just one point in their last seven games.

The reverse fixture at Selhurst Park back at the start of October finished 2-0 to the Eagles and was one of Albion's worst performances of the season.

Lose to Alan Pardew's men tomorrow and the clamouring for Pulis's head to roll – either now or in the summer – will grow to deafening proportions.

The Baggies are out of form too, with just two wins in the last 11 games, and the match will no doubt be a tense affair short on quality.

Captain Darren Fletcher wants the home crowd to be the difference, especially in light of last weekend's horrific coin-throwing incident.

"It is disappointing but it was only one fan, really," said the skipper. "The majority of fans were fantastic, as they always are, getting behind the players.

"You need your fans behind you. You need everyone in the club pushing in the one direction.

"It is an incident that has happened now. Let's move on from it, get them behind us at The Hawthorns against Crystal Palace."

Both teams start the day on 32 points, eight points above the drop zone, but Palace were fifth at Christmas. Now their fans are worrying about an unstoppable descent into danger.

Albion supporters are less concerned with relegation since the 1-0 victory away at Everton and it's a widely-held belief that it simply won't happen under Pulis.

The fans are far more angry about the type of football they're watching. A win would be good, but an attacking, forthright performance would be the best tonic for the club's current maladies.

Albion's defence should be bolstered by the return of both Craig Dawson and Gareth McAuley, although Jonny Evans is out with a hamstring injury.

Both Callum McManaman and James Morrison remain sidelined.

Brunt will probably keep his place at left-back, so it is James Chester who is set to miss out.

The Welsh defender has recently enjoyed his first run of games in the team since joining the club for £8 million in the summer, but he was back to his jittery self against Reading last weekend, and gave away both free-kicks that led to goals.

Brunt was torn apart by Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park earlier this season, and the former Manchester United winger is the only Palace player who has covered himself in any glory in recent weeks.

Hopefully, the Baggies left-back will step onto the pitch emboldened by the supporters' response to the unacceptable treatment he received at Reading.

There's no question that he will be working just as hard as he has done for his previous nine years at the club.

"I am a professional and trying to do my job to the best of my ability," he said. "If some people don't think that is good that is their opinion but the manager and coaches pick the team and if I am there, I am there.

"If I am selected I will do my best. I will work towards Crystal Palace and try to make amends for a disappointing performance."

His battle with Zaha could be a pivotal one on the day but even if he loses it, it won't be for want of trying, and the Baggies fans will sing his name just as loudly.