MX23RW : Monday, July 13 06:22:45| >> :120:42723:42723:
Jul 14, 2020 at 5pm UK at The Hawthorns
West BromWest Bromwich Albion
vs.
FulhamFulham

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

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Championship clash between West Bromwich Albion and Fulham, including team news and predicted lineups.

Second will welcome fourth in the Championship on Tuesday night as Fulham head to West Bromwich Albion for what is a huge clash in the second tier of English football.

West Brom are currently three points behind leaders Leeds United with three games left, while Fulham occupy fourth in the table, five points behind the Baggies in the race for automatic promotion.


Match preview

West Bromwich Albion's Filip Krovinovic scores against Blackburn on July 11, 2020© Reuters

West Brom are in a brilliant position to earn promotion back to the Premier League, currently sitting three points clear of third-placed Brentford, meaning that their destiny is very much in their own hands.

The Baggies were held to a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon, though, and then fell three points off the summit when Leeds United struck late to beat Swansea City on Sunday.

Leeds are now in charge of the title race, but Slaven Bilic's side would certainly welcome second position as they bid to return to the Premier League for the 2020-21 campaign.

West Brom lost at Brentford towards the end of last month but have won three of their last four in the Championship, including a 2-0 success over Derby County in their last game at the Hawthorns.

Bilic's team have only lost three of their 21 Championship games on home soil this season, but Fulham's away record is strong, losing just five of their 21 matches, picking up 32 points in the process.

Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring against Cardiff City in the Championship on July 10, 2020© Reuters

In all honesty, it is difficult to imagine Fulham claiming a top-two position at this stage as they sit five points behind second-placed West Brom, meaning that a lot would need to go their way in order to finish in the automatic promotion spots.

Scott Parker's side are comfortably inside the top six, though, and will, at the very least, have the chance to earn a return to the Premier League through the playoffs.

The Cottagers lost to Brentford and Leeds in their first two matches after the lockdown period but their form since the end of June has been terrific.

Indeed, the capital side have beaten Queens Park Rangers, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City in their last four games to put four huge victories on the board.

Fulham and West Brom played out a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage earlier this season, while 1-1 was also the scoreline when they last met at the Hawthorns during the 2013-14 Premier League season.

West Brom Championship form: DLWWWD

Fulham Championship form: LLWWWW


Team News

Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic scores their first goal against Swansea on February 26, 2020© Reuters

West Brom will again be without the services of Kieran Gibbs due to a hamstring problem, while a knee injury is likely to rule Nathan Ferguson out of contention once again.

Bilic otherwise has a full squad to choose from, though, and the likes of Hal Robson-Kanu and Grady Diangana are both knocking on the door when it comes to starts.

Charlie Austin should keep his spot at the tip of the attack, however, with Matheus Pereira, who has scored eight times and provided 20 assists in 39 Championship appearances this season, featuring out wide.

As for Fulham, aside from Tom Cairney, Parker's squad is in excellent shape at the moment in terms of injuries, meaning that the Englishman has a number of decisions to make when it comes to team selection.

Ivan Cavaleiro could be in contention for a spot in the XI, but there is a chance that it could be same again from the Cardiff clash, with Josh Onomah again featuring in an advanced position.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his 24th Championship goal of the season against Cardiff on his return from suspension and will again lead the line for the visitors.

West Brom possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; O'Shea, Ajayi, Barkley, Townsend; Livermore, Saywers; Pereira, Krovinovic, Grosicki; Austin

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Christie, Hector, Ream, Bryan; Reed, Arter; Reid, Onomah, Knockaert; Mitrovic


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We say: West Brom 1-1 Fulham

West Brom will be desperate to return to winning ways as they chase down Leeds at the summit, but Fulham have won their last four in the Championship, impressing in the process. We are expecting a tight game at the Hawthorns and are struggling to separate them, therefore backing a 1-1 draw.


ID:406244:

Who will win Tuesday's Championship clash between West Bromwich Albion and Fulham?

West Bromwich Albion
Draw
Fulham
West Bromwich Albion
45.0%
Draw
15.0%
Fulham
40.0%
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Fulham manager Scott Parker pictured on July 10, 2020
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds43259969343584
2West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom432215674413381
3Brentford432391178354378
4Fulham4322101158441476
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest4318151055431269
6Cardiff CityCardiff431616116056464
7Swansea CitySwansea431615125550563
8Preston North EndPreston431711155652462
9Millwall431517114946362
10Derby CountyDerby431613145758-161
11Bristol City431710165862-461
12Blackburn RoversBlackburn431612156056460
13Reading431511175448656
14Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds431510185459-555
15Wigan AthleticWigan431412174653-754
16Queens Park RangersQPR43158206070-1053
17Stoke CityStoke43147225666-1049
18Birmingham CityBirmingham431213185269-1749
19Middlesbrough431114184356-1347
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield431211204965-1647
21Charlton AthleticCharlton431210214758-1146
22Hull City43129225775-1845
23Luton TownLuton43128234979-3044
24Barnsley431013204667-2143

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