FA CUP THIRD ROUND REPLAY ....

PETERBOROUGH UNITED - WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Posh have big ambitions and are desperate to at least make a big push at the Championship, despite equalising late at the Hawthorns to earn this replay, I still think that they would not have been too upset to be out of the competition, especially now that they have had so many matches postponed. Boss Darren Ferguson is lamenting his congested schedule and his side have five league games to play before the end of the month, including a real six pointer with big rivals MK Dons next Tuesday. He has a smallish, albeit stylish, squad at his disposal and this is bound to catch up with his troops at some stage.

Although these two could easily face each other in the Championship next season, there is a clear gulf in class and Albion are playing well at present, they were very unlucky to lose at Villa over the wekend and allowed the high flying Villans few attempts on goal. I feel that WBA have come to terms with the Premier League now and should make a decent fist of at least trying to stay up. That will be a priority of course, but I still expect them to field a strong side tonight, despite being without James Morrison and up front Roman Bednar ( attracting interest) and Jay Simpson (on loan from Arsenal) should be leading the line and out to impress. I have read in many places that Bednar is likely to sit this one out, that is not my understanding at all. He is suspended for the weekend league game, so it would surely be foolhardy to rest him, at the expense of players who might be needed in the Premier League match.They will have positive mental memories of playing at London Road, as they won here 3-0 in the 4th round last season, when again, both sides, who were going for promotion, had other priorities. I expect the same outcome, although maybe not as emphatic.

6 points WBA level ball 2.05 asian line

PETERBOROUGH: (from) Lewis, Martin, Zakuani, Lee, Whelpdale, Batt, Morgan, Keates, Coutts, Boyd, McLean, Mackail-Smith, McKeown, Westwood, Green, Andrew, Blanchett, Torres.

ALBION: (from) Carson, Kiely, Hoefkens, Cech, Robinson, Olsson, Barnett, Pele, Donk, Greening, Koren, Kim, Borja, Brunt, Dorrans, Simpson, Moore, Beattie, Bednar.

Good Luck.