Baggies 'there for taking' Pool boss says Premier new boys could be vulnerable.

Byline: Mark Douglas 

DANNY Wilson believes that West Bromwich Albion's Premier League teething troubles can work to Hartlepool's advantage.

Tony Mowbray's side arrive at Victoria Park tonight after suffering successive defeats, a disappointing start to a season that looks destined to be a long struggle against relegation for the top-flight new boys.

Albion secured an impressive promotion from the Championship last season on the back of some classy football, and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup - but have found life much tougher since joining the elite. The attacking style of last season has failed to reap rewards, and Mowbray is wary of the pitfalls facing them against Pool.

For his part, Wilson is hoping that his team, who he believes have had scant reward for some good performances in the opening fixtures of the season, can exploit any mental frailty in the minds of their Premier League opponents.

"I'm not sure how highly Tony Mowbray will put the Carling Cup on his list of priorities but I know that in football you want to win games, and I'm sure they will be looking for their first win," he said.

"I know that it can start to play on your minds if you don't win in the first few weeks of the season and it's up to us to try and make the most of that, if it's the case for West Brom.

"We might have one of the best pitches anywhere outside the Premier League but it's a nice compact ground and I'm sure most of their players will never have experienced anything like Hartlepool and probably never will again. It's up to us to make sure that they remember their night for all the wrong reasons."

Hartlepool will make one change from the team that lost to a late goal against Stockport County - the enforced omission of Willie Boland, who will miss three weeks after injuring ligaments in his knee.

That gives summer signing Alan Power a chance to make his mark, and Wilson is urging the former Nottingham Forest man to make the most of his chance.

"We're disappointed to be losing Willie, he's a good player and him going off on Saturday certainly didn't help us. He has that bit of experience and I think him going off on Saturday unsettled us a bit.

"But in football one man's misfortune can often work to another man's advantage and Alan, or whoever comes in now, has a chance to make their mark and keep the shirt for themselves."

The Pool manager was disappointed with the defeat against Stockport, but insists he won't be forced into sacrificing his footballing principles to achieve more success in League One.

"We've got to strike a happy medium but I don't think we can really be expected to change the way we play because our players can only really play the way we do," Wilson said.

"On Saturday, I thought their goalkeeper was outstanding, but it's up to us now to make the most of the chances we're getting. I'm sure if the performances stay as good as that, then the results will follow - it's only a matter of time."

Albion manager Mowbray has already said that he will make changes - although his team will be familiar to the side that lost 2-1 to Everton on Saturday.

CAPTION(S):

RULED OUT Hartlepool midfielder Willie Boland misses tonight's Carling Cup clash with West Brom due to a knee ligament injury.