West Brom’s cup floweth over

TONY MOWBRAY may be one of the game’s purists, but it is that time of year when principles begin to be subsumed by pragmatism.

The West Bromwich manager, anxious to maintain precious momentum in his survival bid, is likely to protect his players’ aching bodies in tomorrow’s FA Cup replay with Burnley, even if it costs Albion an embarrassing exit to the Championship side.

Mowbray has a lengthy injury list which includes key players such as Jonathan Greening, Jonas Olsson, Neil Clement, Luke Moore, Ishmael Miller and Craig Beattie.