MX23RW : Monday, September 12 04:58:33| >> :600:133659:133659:
[monks data]
Sep 2, 2022 at 8pm UK at The Hawthorns
West Brom
1 - 1
Burnley
Thomas-Asante (90+8')
Button (29')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Rodriguez (30' pen.)
Cork (36'), Harwood-Bellis (50'), Roberts (71'), Taylor (80')

Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Championship clash between West Bromwich Albion and Burnley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Burnley make the trip to The Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion with the opportunity to move to the top of the Championship standings.

While the Clarets currently occupy a place in the playoff spots, the Baggies remain down in mid-table after collecting five draws from seven outings.


Match preview

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce on August 14, 2022© Reuters

With Steve Bruce having never been overly welcomed to the club, there will be a section of West Brom supporters who will be calling for a change in the dugout after just one league win this campaign.

Although they will be able to justify that argument, it should be equally recognised that the Baggies have suffered just one defeat, with their five draws keeping them in contention.

No team in the division has won more than four times in seven matches, and a couple of victories on the bounce will catapult West Brom into the top six.

As well as being on a four-match unbeaten streak in the second tier, West Brom have collected four of their five draws from losing positions, a clear sign that these players are performing for Bruce.

Facing Burnley represents another tough fixture during the early weeks, but the West Midlands outfit will be in an encouraging place mentally and in terms of position if they can become just the second team to defeat Vincent Kompany's team.

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany on August 12, 2022© Reuters

Despite having accumulated 12 points from seven matches, the Belgian will feel that his Clarets squad could be in an even stronger position at this stage.

Nevertheless, despite blowing a 3-1 lead against Blackpool, Burnley have responded with successive victories over Wigan Athletic and Millwall, scoring seven goals in the process.

Kompany may have taken more satisfaction from the clean sheet recorded against Millwall than the five-goal spree at Wigan, the shutout being their first in the Championship since the opening game.

However, the goals are now beginning to flow after their struggles at the start of August, Nathan Tella proving to be a crucial addition from Southampton with three goals coming from 283 minutes of action.

With West Brom and Norwich City to come in successive outings, the fixtures get no easier for Burnley, but Kompany knows that productive results from both can help create a gap between the automatic promotion spots and the playoffs.

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • D

West Bromwich Albion form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D

Burnley Championship form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W

Burnley form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W


Team News

Nathan Tella celebrates scoring for Burnley on August 27, 2022© Reuters

Defender Semi Ajayi will be absent for West Brom, potentially in the long term with Bruce pessimistic about the knee and ankle injuries that his player sustained at Wigan.

Darnell Furlong should return at right-back to allow Dara O'Shea to move inside, while Jake Livermore is likely to earn a recall in midfield given the quick turnaround.

With Callum Robinson sidelined with a hamstring injury, Bruce could stick with the remainder of the side from Tuesday night.

Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell is expected to start for Burnley with Arijanet Muric injuring his shoulder versus Millwall.

Nathan Tella is likely to be fit despite picking up a knock in the same game, with Manuel Benson an alternative to Johann Berg Gudmundsson down the right flank.

Ian Maatsen is available again after serving a three-match ban for his sending off against Blackpool.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Button; O'Shea, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Yokuslu, Livermore; Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Grant

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Peacock-Farrell; Roberts, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor, Vitinho; Brownhill, Cork, Cullen; Gudmundsson, Rodriguez, Tella


SM words green background

We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Burnley

Despite the difference in league positions, this has the potential to be an extremely competitive game between two teams with contrasting playing styles. While we feel that the Baggies will always be in the match, we are backing Burnley to take their chances and claim maximum points.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data

ID:493402:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10956:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


How you voted: West Brom vs Burnley

West Bromwich Albion
27.4%
Draw
20.7%
Burnley
51.8%
164
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Watford manager Rob Edwards on August 20, 2022
Read Next:
Saturday's Championship predictions including Watford vs. Queens Park Rangers
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd85211651117
2Norwich CityNorwich8512126616
3Reading8503911-215
4Bristol City84221611514
5Burnley8341148613
6Watford834197213
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn8404911-212
8Sunderland8323119211
9Queens Park RangersQPR83231211111
10Preston North EndPreston825121111
11Blackpool8323910-111
12Hull City83231115-411
13Rotherham UnitedRotherham724196310
14Millwall8314911-210
15Wigan AthleticWigan724179-210
16West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom8161121029
17Middlesbrough82331112-19
18Luton TownLuton823378-19
19Swansea CitySwansea8233711-49
20Stoke CityStoke8224811-38
21Birmingham CityBirmingham822458-38
22Cardiff CityCardiff822448-48
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield7115711-44
24Coventry CityCoventry5014511-61

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!