Palace youngster Kwesi Appiah, currently on loan at Reading, is watching...

Joel Ward and Salomon Rondon come to body-blows as they both try and head the ball.

Free-kick is awarded to Palace and although it does travel up the other end of the field, it's soon back with visiting keeper Wayne Hennessey again. 

It's end to end, but not in a good way. No attempts at goal so far. 

West Brom make some head way up the right flank before switching across to the left.

Striker Saido Berahino tries to twist and turn in the box but Palace manage to clear with ease.

Both managers are out in their technical areas, already barking instructions.

Alan Pardew's in the away dug-out in a smart black coat and loafers. 

Baggies manager Tony Pulis is dressed...well, he's dressed like the TP we know and love -  baseball cap, club coat and shiny white trainers. 

Image source, Getty Images

Palace are keeping possession in midfield nicely in the opening couple of minutes but don't really know what route to take at the moment.

And we're off. It looks a bit parky out there.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Image source, Getty Images

"West Brom were knocked out of the FA Cup by Reading but I am backing them to bounce back for a couple of reasons.

"Baggies boss Tony Pulis is great when he has his back against the wall - he will want to shut up some of his own team's fans who have been criticising him, and he is up against his old club Crystal Palace so he will have a point to prove against them too."

The players have entered on to the Hawthorns pitch. 

Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster was having quite the chin-wag with the little mascot in the tunnel, who appears to even be wearing replica keeper gloves.

I think he's made a new friend.

Jonathan Pearce
Match of the Day commentator

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"Both clubs are in awful league form. West Brom have one win in six matches, Palace are winless in a league-high nine games and have scored just four goals in the process.

"But their FA Cup win at Tottenham has buoyed them. Emmanuel Adebayor has impressed in training. They might have enough to deepen The Hawthorns gloom, unless those home fans can prove really inspirational."

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Yannick Bolasie and Yohan Cabaye were on the scoresheet as Crystal Palace won 2-0 at home to West Brom in October.

But, alarmingly for Palace, they have only won four times in the league since then, and are still looking for a three-point haul in 2016.

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West Brom fans are holding bucket collections outside The Hawthorns before today's game for a charity of Chris Brunt's choice after the defender was struck by a coin.

Brunt had gone to give his shirt to a visiting fan after Albion lost 3-1 in the FA Cup fifth round at Championship side Reading on Saturday.

"We want to show Albion fans are not all like that," said fan Debbie Green.

Fans will also unfurl a banner proclaiming 'Brunty, one of us' and will sing his name in the 11th minute to mark his shirt number

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom boss Tony Pulis makes four changes after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship Reading. 

Craig Dawson, Claudio Yacob, Craig Gardner and Gareth McAuley all make the starting XI.

West Brom: Foster, Olsson, Yacob, Gardner, Brunt, Berahino, McAuley, Fletcher, Dawson, Sessegnon, Rondon.  

Subs: Myhill; Chester, Anichebe, McClean, Lambert, Pritchard, Sandro

Image source, .

Crystal Palace are unchanged from the side that beat Tottenham in the Cup.

Palace XI: Hennessey, Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward, Zaha, Ledley, Cabaye, Mutch, Wickham, Adebayor.  

Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Jedinak, Lee, Bolasie, Chamakh, Gayle.  

Image source, .

It's a tight squeeze in the middle of that Premier League table.

Who will nudge further away from danger and a little bit closer to...erm...improved mid-table-ness?

It's 14th-place West Brom v 13th place Crystal Palace. Let's go!