Preview: Leicester vs West Brom

Leicester look to pit their wits against Premier League opposition in the Carling Cup on Tuesday evening when West Brom visit the Walkers Stadium.

The Foxes reached the last 16 of the competition with a hard-fought win at Portsmouth last month, while the Baggies overcame a depleted Manchester City at Eastlands.

Visitors West Brom have enjoyed a superb beginning to the Premier League season after gaining promotion from the Championship last year, occupying 6th place after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Fulham.

Leicester on the other hand have endured a torrid season in the league, winning just three of their opening 13 fixtures.

But fortunes in the Carling Cup have so far been better for City, who have overcome two Championship opposition to reach this stage.

West Brom joined the competition in round two where they comfortably dispatched League One side Leyton Orient at the Hawthorns.

Roberto Di Matteo is expected to name a weakened lineup with his sights set firmly on the league, the same of which may be said for Sven-Goran Eriksson and his struggling side.

Both sides will see the match as a potential opportunity to extend their runs in the competition however, hoping to scoop a big draw in the quarter-finals in the competition City last won in 2000.

Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson: 'I haven't spoken to Roberto Di Matteo (West Brom boss) about Ishmael but we will see in the coming week.

'If we go on losing, we can forget play-offs or promotion. We have to work hard and improve game after game.

'We played very well at Leeds but this was a step backwards. Hopefully we will be better on Tuesday and especially on Saturday at home against Preston. We have to go higher in the table. I think after Christmas we will know about how far away we are and January is also a very important month with the ambitions we have.'

Leicester will be without duo Curtis Davies and Matt Oakley, who both picked up injuries in Saturday's defeat at Swansea.

Kyle Naughton, Greg Cunningham and Martyn Waghorn are all cup-tied and will not feature for the Foxes.

The striker has struggled for consistency and form all season and will see the game as an ideal opportunity to catch the eye.

Fryatt hit a double in the first round match against Macclesfield at the Walkers, and will be keen to find the net on his own stomping ground once again.

Centre back Jonas Olsson and striker Marc-Antoine Fortune, who were both injured in Saturday's clash with Fulham.

Nigerian forward Peter Odemwingie is unlikely to be rushed back from injury, with Roberto Di Matteo likely to give his fringe players some valuable match time.

The Czech striker has started both of West Brom's previous Carling Cup ties this season, and will be aiming to catch the eye of his manager from the start once again.

Tall, powerful and deadly in the air on his day, Bednar has the capabilities to cause problems for the Leicester defence.

- West Brom have conceded 11 goals in the league away from home this season, the third highest total in the league.

- The Baggies are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions, their last defeat coming against Liverpool back in August.

- Leicester have not kept a clean sheet in their last 13 matches in all competitions, and just one all season.

A Taylor

The home draw will be an obvious advantage, and we may just be able to pull off a result against a second string West Brom side. But I'm not hopeful. Leicester 0-2 West Brom.

Saturday 30th October:

Preston (H)

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