Birmingham City's Peter Grant on West Bromwich Albion - now and then

Sep 16 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

IT’S A question Peter Grant ponders for a moment before answering: is Roberto Di Matteo’s Albion side harder to beat than Tony Mowbray’s?

Grant assisted Mowbray’s free-wheelin’ Albion with Mark Venus in their last Premier League season, which ended in relegation.

“They’re probably not as expansive, and there’s probably more of a resilience there, from the centre-back and full-back area,” said Grant, who will be plotting against them on Saturday as Blues’ joint first-team coach.

“Jara can play anywhere in the back four, there’s Olsson, who is experienced, Tamas is there now, Scharner.

“If you look at that central area, it was where we needed a strong, determined character to let the other boys go and play.

“Yes, be expansive, but still have that safety net.