Albion game on

9:17am Saturday 19th January 2013 in Sport By Andy Naylor

Albion's match at Birmingham is on and Leonardo Ulloa (left) could make his debut, depending on international clearance. Albion's match at Birmingham is on and Leonardo Ulloa (left) could make his debut, depending on international clearance.

Albion's match at Birmingham today has been given the go-ahead after an early morning inspection.

The St Andrews pitch benefits from undersoil heating and referee Phil Dowd soon gave the all-clear.

A bigger concern was the safety of supporters after heavy snow yesterday but local council safety officers were satisfied with the club's clear-up operation.

Albion's new signing Leonardo Ulloa could make his debut, subject to international clearance.

The Seagulls also expect to have top scorer Craig Mackail-Smith back from hamstring trouble.

Comments(19)

WisdomSpeaks says...
9:20am Sat 19 Jan 13

Fantastic. Now for 3 more points!!! C'mon you Seagulls!!!!

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Jonathan Mouette says...
9:26am Sat 19 Jan 13

Let's hope they leave the undersoil heating on for our Spanish contingent...! They'll feel more at home.

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LAWgull says...
9:27am Sat 19 Jan 13

Well done Brum what a difference from blackburn NOw for three points.If he gets on im sure the cyclone will relish these conditions if he is on the bench im taking bets he will have more cloths on than Vicente

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jyan says...
9:28am Sat 19 Jan 13

Great news for the Albion - let's hope The Cyclone gets to play! UTA

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BobGear says...
9:51am Sat 19 Jan 13

Dear Mr Journalist

The big question is:

Have we got international clearance for Leo Ulloa to play today?

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fanxtony says...
9:59am Sat 19 Jan 13

Bet Gus keeping quiet about Ulloa ....... will he won't he? ...... no point in telling the opposition ......

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mikeygit says...
10:18am Sat 19 Jan 13

We need all the 3 points we can get. Even if we win our game in hand we will have 43 points Palace and M'boro have 47---plus todays games. Lets hope today is the start of a big push up the league---so many teams playing well, we have to compete to the highest level. I would imagine Ulloa's permit is touch and go---but quite rightly Gus is keeping 'stum'

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SMF20 says...
10:30am Sat 19 Jan 13

mikeygit wrote:
We need all the 3 points we can get. Even if we win our game in hand we will have 43 points Palace and M'boro have 47---plus todays games. Lets hope today is the start of a big push up the league---so many teams playing well, we have to compete to the highest level. I would imagine Ulloa's permit is touch and go---but quite rightly Gus is keeping 'stum'
I couldn't agree more.

With only 20 more games left to play we really do need to be picking up 3 points against a team near the bottom of the table.

The management clearly see an opportunity for us to get promoted this year and so GP must have the courage to pick a team that will go out and win the game. We certainly have the players to achieve this goal.

Uta

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Alan G Skinner says...
10:49am Sat 19 Jan 13

Ole Ole Ole Ole, Vicente, Vicente.

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Alfie T says...
10:50am Sat 19 Jan 13

BobGear wrote:
Dear Mr Journalist

The big question is:

Have we got international clearance for Leo Ulloa to play today?
Exactly Bob, as yesterday at twelve was the cut off point,was it not?

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lmspike says...
11:04am Sat 19 Jan 13

We missed out on the Dutch chap but in todays National paper it says we might have beaten Spurs, Arsenal and AC Milan to get French wonderkid Jeremy Balmy.
3 points today please.. UTA

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mikeygit says...
11:10am Sat 19 Jan 13

It is so important for the club to push for promotion THIS season--the reason---as I see it?? For all those of you who post the occassional 'knock' about the club not buying this or that player, PLEASE have a look at BBC Sport, BHA and read Mr Barber's piece about the Clubs finances and the Financial Fair Play rules that will soon come into effect. Brings one down to earth a bit and shows how important it is for all those REAL fans to support the club, be at the match if possible. Important, therefore, to push for promotion now for the financial rewards that go with the Premiership, TV etc. As many know I live in Spain and can only financially support The Albion when I visit the UK. Although football is a Sport it is a BIG business and rightly the authorities have seen fit to act ---too many clubs mis-manage their finances and end up in Adminstration or go bust---not saying that will happen with BHA but very tight reins have to be kept on our finances---both supporters and players have to take this on board and understand why, sometimes, the Club does not spend as some would wish, but I think The Amex IS testimant (Sorry!!) to how far we have come, it must be appreciated by all--but there is not a bottomless pit of money. Rant over--but made with good intent---please read the article and digest!!

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ballantrrae says...
12:35pm Sat 19 Jan 13

lmspike wrote:
We missed out on the Dutch chap but in todays National paper it says we might have beaten Spurs, Arsenal and AC Milan to get French wonderkid Jeremy Balmy.
3 points today please.. UTA
Balmy is the young attacking midfielder we had on trial in preseason. He scored a goal in one of our preseason friendlies.
It looks as if Poyet is trying to beef up the DS before the new Fair Play rules come inton force.
Firstly we sign the young Latvian defender, then there was the report aboutv the young Plymouth GK Walton coming on Trial (any updates ?) and now there is the report in one of today's Nationals (the Sun I think) about Balmy.
In addition there has been the bid for the Dutch under 20 CB van Dijk which while rejected demonstrates that the club mean business. I am not sure that the van Dijk situation is totally dead I hope we are still pursuing him although it is clearly not a straightforward position. I trust we have other irons in the fire both for a CB and a powerhouse type of Midfielder.
Fingers crossed for today's game at birmingham. Perhaps we might get a more positive result than we did against them at the Amex.

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Hovite says...
12:35pm Sat 19 Jan 13

The good thing is we are probably one of only a few clubs who don't have to change our approach.

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Hovite says...
12:36pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Hovite wrote:
The good thing is we are probably one of only a few clubs who don't have to change our approach.
Ref: mikeygit

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russellsnr2 says...
12:44pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Alan G Skinner wrote:
Ole Ole Ole Ole, Vicente, Vicente.
Asked the same question yesterday at around one O clock but the Argus does not seem to no?????

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VegasSeagull says...
12:51pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Having signed Ulloa I am sure that his arrival, and the fact that we have three wins in three matches, will give the dressing room a little extra buzz today, even if Ulloa doesn't play. Vicente should be able to get on the park too and I am sure that will add something extra to the mood of the players.

The only cautionary comment I would make is, without Ulloa today the squad is no different than it was when we played Birmingham at home.

Bagging all three points today, IMHO, is a must, if we are to get promoted we have to beat teams as far down the table as they are.
We lost at home and that will give Birmingham hope, we need to kill off that hope with an early goal and another by half time. It's time to turn our superior football skills into goals.

I hope Gus puts out a team with the fire power to take this game by the scruff of the neck and dominate. I would not be at all surprised to see Vicente start today and if the paper work has been done, Ulloa too.

.

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the taffster says...
1:29pm Sat 19 Jan 13

how can ulloa possibly be ready and match fit if hes been warming the bench all season.?

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VegasSeagull says...
1:57pm Sat 19 Jan 13

the taffster wrote:
how can ulloa possibly be ready and match fit if hes been warming the bench all season.?
I guess we can ask the same question about Vicente. Some players ar eof a quality that means even if they are only at 80% match fitness they can still make a difference, even if only for 45 or 60 minutes.

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