Looking to put one foot in the playoffs, West Bromwich Albion will welcome mid-table dwellers Sunderland to The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.
The Baggies were comfortable winners over already-relegated Rotherham United on Wednesday night, whilst the Black Cats held Leeds United to a goalless draw last time out.
Match preview
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Following three straight draws versus Watford, Stoke City and Millwall since Easter Monday, West Brom were presented the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways as they faced already-relegated Rotherham at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night, and the Baggies managed to take full advantage.
Without an away win this season, it was no surprise to see the Millers fall behind in the contest due to Brandon Thomas-Asante's 23rd-minute strike, and soon before half time Albion had doubled their advantage after John Swift held his nerve from 12 yards, even if the decision to award a penalty was simply incorrect.
Regardless, Carlos Corberan's men were good value for the three points without being at their best, with Saturday's hosts now in the midst of a 10-game unbeaten run in the Championship, last tasting defeat at home to Russell Martin's promotion-chasing Southampton on February 16.
Ever since the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns with Stoke City on December 17, West Brom have been positioned in fifth place in the Championship standings, and the Baggies are showing no signs of relinquishing their playoff berth during the final four matches of the regular campaign.
An unbeaten March has reaped individual honours for members of the Albion group, with Celtic loanee Mikey Johnston being nominated for Player of the Month, whilst head coach Corberan is up for the division's Manager of the Month alongside Daniel Farke, Kieran McKenna and David Wagner.
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After a 5-1 pummeling at the hands of John Eustace's Blackburn Rovers on Easter Monday, a defence-first approach from Sunderland has seen them play out back-to-back goalless draws versus Bristol City and most recently Leeds United on Tuesday night, when the visitors at Elland Road halted the Premier League-bound Whites.
Despite Anthony Patterson keeping four clean sheets during the last five Championship matches, the Black Cats have only collected six points from that spell and are showing no signs of significant improvement with interim manager Mike Dodds in charge for the remainder of the campaign.
Since the sacking of ex-boss Michael Beale following the 2-1 defeat at Tony Mowbray's Birmingham City, Sunderland have tasted success in just one of the last nine second-tier contests, leaving them with no chance of sealing back-to-back playoff finishes after returning to this level from League One in 2022.
Sunderland are part of a contingent in the middle of the Championship table who do not have anything tangible to fight for during the final quartet of matches this season, with Saturday's visitors sitting in 13th place, 15 points behind sixth-placed Norwich City and 10 ahead of Sheffield Wednesday in 22nd.
As was the case with the departures of Ross Stewart and Amad Diallo last summer, the Black Cats are at serious risk of losing a key player ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, with winger Jack Clarke attracting Premier League interest after netting 15 league goals for the North-East outfit this term.
Team News
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Despite denying to admit the fact, West Brom boss Corberan rested a number of his key players during the visit of League One-bound Rotherham on Wednesday, with Connor Townsend and Alex Mowatt set to regain their spots in the XI this weekend.
Adam Reach and midfielder Yann M'Vila will therefore drop back down to the bench, although the likes of Tom Fellows and goalscorer Swift could keep their places in the side.
Josh Maja managed a seven-minute cameo versus the Millers on his return from a serious ankle injury sustained at the Stadium of Light in December, however the former Fulham man is not fit enough to be involved from the start just yet.
Sunderland could be boosted by the return of Corry Evans to the matchday squad following a cruciate ligament injury, however the Black Cats are keen not to rush the midfielder back into action.
The visitors are still unable to call upon the services of left-back Dennis Cirkin, though, with the 22-year-old now in the final stages of his recovery from a hamstring strain suffered in January.
Nazariy Rusyn is a doubt to feature again this season due to a calf injury - the 25-year-old has netted just two goals in 25 Championship appearances so far.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Kipre, Townsend; Mowatt, Yokuslu, Wallace, Diagana, Johnston; Thomas-Asante
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O'Nien; Pembele, Ekwah, Neil, Styles; Rigg, Clarke, Bellingham
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Sunderland
West Brom are cruising towards the playoffs, and we are expecting another solid home performance to all but secure a top-six standing for the Baggies.
Sunderland had to work extremely hard to earn a point at Elland Road last time out, however we feel that they will be unable to repeat the trick at The Hawthorns.
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Carter White
