MX23RW : Thursday, May 5 05:22:04| >> :120:23506:23506:
[monks data]
Apr 23, 2022 at 3pm UK at The Hawthorns
West Brom
0 - 0
Coventry

O'Shea (36')
FT

McFadzean (71')

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

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

West Bromwich Albion will welcome Coventry City to The Hawthorns for their Championship encounter on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides suffered heavy defeats on Easter Monday, with the Baggies conceding four goals away at Nottingham Forest, while the Sky Blues conceded three at home to Bournemouth.


Match preview

West Bromwich Albion's Darnell Furlong is shown a red card by referee David Webb on April 18, 2022© Reuters

West Brom suffered their 15th league defeat of the season and their heaviest in the Championship since March 2019 when they were beaten 4-0 away at Nottingham Forest, a result which has seemingly ended their slim hopes of a top-six finish.

The Baggies were facing an uphill task when Darnell Furling was sent off in just the 17th minute after receiving two yellow cards in the space of three minutes, and Forest went on to score three first-half goals before Sam Surridge netted in second-half stoppage time to seal a comfortable victory for the hosts.

Steve Bruce's side have dropped down to 12th in the Championship table, six points behind Sheffield United in sixth with just three league games remaining.

Their toughest remaining fixture is arguably on Saturday against a Coventry side who are sitting just one place and two points above them, though they do have a decent record against the Sky Blues, winning six of their last eight meetings against them.

Victory for the Baggies would see them remain in the top half of the table, as they bid to avoid their first bottom-half finish in the second tier since 1999-2000.

Coventry City's Callum O'Hare celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 19, 2022© Reuters

Coventry were unable to follow up impressive away victories against Fulham and Birmingham City with another three points, as they were beaten 3-0 at home against Bournemouth last time out.

Jamal Lowe's opener and a brace from Dominic Solanke condemned the Sky Blues to their 15th defeat of the campaign, and like West Brom, their hopes of finishing in the playoffs are unlikely albeit still mathematically possible.

Mark Robins will be delighted with his side's showing in the second tier this season and even if they miss out on the playoffs, they are on course for their best second-tier finish since the 2005-06 campaign when they finished in eighth place.

Coventry will head to The Hawthorns on Saturday for the first time since March 2010, and they have won only one of their last nine visits to the Baggies.

Victory for the Sky Blues this time around will see them claim three successive away wins in the Championship for the first time since August 2007.

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

Coventry City Championship form:
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L


Team News

West Bromwich Albion's Callum Robinson celebrates scoring their first goal with Matt Phillips and Karlan Grant  on January 8, 2022© Reuters

West Brom trio Sam Johnstone (leg), Daryl Dike (hamstring) and Kean Bryan (knee) all remain sidelined with injuries, while Furlong will serve a one-match suspension following his red card on Monday.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman is the most likely candidate to replace Furlong at right wing-back, while Conor Townsend is set to keep his place on the opposite flank.

Top scorer Karlan Grant, who scored in the 2-1 away win over Coventry in the reverse fixture, is expected to lead the line alongside Andy Carroll.

As for Coventry, Matt Godden, Josh Eccles (both calf), Fankaty Dabo (muscle) and Jake Clarke-Salter (groin) are all ruled out with injuries, while Jordan Shipley will be assessed ahead of kickoff after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.

Kyle McFadzean could replace Jake Bidwell and join Dominic Hyam and Michael Rose in the back three, with Todd Kane and Ian Maatsen set to continue as the wing-backs.

Martyn Waghorn will also be pushing to start but he may have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench once again, with Viktor Gyokeres expected to start up front.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Button; Ajayi, Bartley, Clarke; Gardner-Hickman, Mowatt, Livermore, Molumby, Townsend; Carroll, Grant

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Rose, McFadzean, Hyam; Kane, Allen, Sheaf, Hamer, Maatsen; O'Hare; Gyokeres


SM words green background

We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Coventry City

West Brom and Coventry have both struggled for consistency in recent weeks and so neither team head into Saturday's contest with any momentum.

The Sky Blues could move to within one point of the playoffs with victory at The Hawthorns, but with little to separate these two sides, a score draw may be on the cards.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 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.Under 2.5:data


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How you voted: West Brom vs Coventry

West Bromwich Albion
Draw
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
38.2%
Draw
38.2%
Coventry City
23.5%
34
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CFulham452799106396790
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest4523101272393379
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield4522131062471579
5Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd4520121359451472
6Luton TownLuton452012136255772
7Middlesbrough4520101558461270
8Millwall451815125344969
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn451812155749866
10West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom451713154845364
11Coventry CityCoventry451712165958163
12Queens Park RangersQPR45189185959063
13Stoke CityStoke451710185651561
14Preston North EndPreston451516144855-761
15Swansea CitySwansea451613165867-961
16Blackpool451612175453160
17Bristol City451510206275-1355
18Hull City45148234053-1350
19Cardiff CityCardiff45148234968-1950
20Birmingham CityBirmingham451114204973-2447
21Reading45138245486-3241
RDerby CountyDerby451413184552-734
RPeterborough UnitedPeterborough45810273887-4934
RBarnsley45612273369-3630

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