Whenever Paul Robinson thinks about St Andrew's, he casts his mind back to last season when West Bromwich Albion missed so many chances against Birmingham City that the heart seemed to go out of their battle to avoid relegation.

The teams drew 1-1 and, soon after, both slipped out of the Premiership. But Albion lamented what was seen as two points dropped and they were similarly wasteful in key matches towards the end of the season.

Rarely has a team contributed to their own downfall in such spectacular fashion and Robinson, the Albion left back, bristles at the memory.

"Things didn't go our way at St Andrew's last season when we missed a load of chances and drew a game we needed to win," Robinson said.

But Albion have a chance to make amends when they return to St Andrew's tomorrow.

"We have moved on now and it's a totally different game on Saturday," Robinson said. "Joe [Diomansy] Kamara missed a few chances there last season but he will have totally forgotten about it by now. It's a new game and Joe is up for it like everyone else.

"He's in a confident mood at the moment, having scored six goals in four league games."

Albion's form — the defeat to Arsenal in midweek notwithstanding — has been impressive, especially since Tony Mowbray was offered the job as the manager.

The 3-0 victory at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers last Sunday was particularly significant and now, suddenly, Albion are being touted as favourites for the Coca-Cola Championship.

"Every game is a big game for us now and if we keep playing like we are, we'll be flying up the league," Robinson said. "But we have to take each game as it comes and we know Saturday is another big derby game for us.

"The lads will be up for it, especially after doing so well in last Sunday's 3-0 derby win over Wolves. That was a great day.

"It was my first Black Country derby and it was a nice one to win — and win pretty comfortably. I was delighted for everyone involved. The fans let us know how much it meant to them and it rubbed off on the players.

"We went out with the right attitude. The way we set our stall out was to attack them straight away. They did have quite a bit of possession but they didn't cause us too many problems."

Mowbray will have to make do without Darren Carter and Kevin Phillips, who are both ruled out through injury.

But Phillips, the striker who is still struggling with the calf injury he suffered in training two days after his hat-trick against Ipswich Town, could be available for the match at home to Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday.

Carter limped out of the match against Arsenal, which Albion lost 2-0, with a hamstring injury and, while he will not make the match against QPR, he is likely to be fit to face Derby County the weekend after.

"I don't think either of the players are going to make Saturday," Mowbray said. "But there is good news on Darren because, while it is a hamstring injury, he's maybe only going to be out for seven to ten days.

"With a hamstring, you normally think six weeks — but it's only a few fibres. We don't want to risk him for this game or Tuesday but he may be all right for the following weekend.

"Kevin's touch and go really and if this had been a cup final, we might have got him out there but there is no reason to gamble on him. We'll give him an extra few days. He'll be in over the weekend training and he's got every chance of being in contention for Tuesday night.

"Kevin's calf is just full of blood that needs releasing. He's having a massage every day and it's gradually releasing the blood bit by bit. Hopefully, in the next few days, he'll be ready and back training with the squad."