Looking to further cement their place in the top six of the league standings, West Bromwich Albion will welcome Bristol City to The Hawthorns for a Championship clash on Saturday afternoon.
The new-look Albion attack are firing the team towards a place in the playoffs, whilst the Robins' campaign is at serious risk of petering out this month.
Match preview
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West Brom extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to five matches last Sunday, defeating a relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town side at the John Smith's Stadium in Yorkshire, however it looked as if the Baggies were heading for a defeat after Delano Burgzorg strike had the Terriers in front at half time.
Flexing their new-found powers of recovery on the road, Carlos Corberan's side produced a thrilling 45 minutes of football to sweep the hosts aside, with a Mikey Johnston brace - alongside goals from Kyle Bartley and midfield general Okay Yokuslu - securing a comfortable 4-1 victory in the end.
Focusing on the talents of the Baggies' January arrival from Scottish giants Celtic, Irishman Johnston has been an absolute revelation for the West Midlands outfit so far, netting six goals in nine Championship appearances whilst setting up his own Goal of the Season competition with an array of long-range strikes.
As the likes of Norwich City, Hull City and Coventry City battle for sixth place in the second-tier table, West Brom have marked their territory on fifth position for the large majority of the campaign and currently possess a five-point buffer between themselves and Liam Rosenior's Tigers in seventh.
The backbone of Albion's success so far in the 2023-24 term has been their exceptional form at The Hawthorns, with Corberan's men winning 12 and collecting 39 points from 18 second-tier home matches to date - a tally only Leeds United (46), Ipswich Town (43), Norwich (41) and league leaders Leicester City (40) can better.
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Bristol City managed to avoid a terrible fate of five-straight defeats in the Championship last Sunday, defeating Luke Williams's Swansea City side by one goal at Ashton Gate, although the hosts had to be very patient for their winner amid the Swans' domination of possession in the West Country.
In typical Swansea fashion, the visitors enjoyed 72% of the ball last time out but were unable to earn any points from the second-tier contest, with a 73rd-minute Rob Dickie goal enough to hand the Robins their first league victory since the visit of Premier League-chasing Southampton on February 13.
Despite success last weekend, the collection of just three points over the past five matches has seemingly sentenced Liam Manning's men to mid-table mediocrity for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign, with Bristol City currently in 13th, 11 points behind David Wagner's Norwich in sixth.
There was always an air of transition around Ashton Gate this season as the Robins decided to part ways with Nigel Pearson and appoint former Oxford United boss Manning, and the 38-year-old has come under criticism after winning just eight of his first 28 matches in charge of the club.
Bristol City's most recent visit to The Hawthorns was in October 2022, when the Baggies were under interim stewardship following the sacking of Steve Bruce, and the Robins took full advantage, with goals from Joe Williams and Bermuda international Nahki Wells securing a 2-0 win.
Team News
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After being a stalwart in the side for over four years, West Brom are currently fighting on without the services of Conor Townsend, who is suffering with a hamstring injury.
With the left-back not scheduled to return until after the international break, Corberan could continue to field Adam Reach on the left side of the backline.
The Baggies welcomed Brandon Thomas-Asante back from injury during the win at Huddersfield last weekend, with the striker's presence especially important due to the long-term absences of Josh Maja and Daryl Dike.
Bristol City could make a few alterations from the XI which started the win over Swansea, with the likes of Mark Sykes and Haydon Roberts being influential off the bench last time out.
Former Leicester man Matty James has missed the last four Championship matches and is still a doubt due to a knock, meaning that Taylor Gardner-Hickman is likely to line up against his former employers.
One of the Robins' academy graduates is currently on the sidelines, with Sam Bell expected back following the March international break.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Kipre, Reach; Yokuslu, Mowatt, Wallace, Diangana, Johnston; Thomas-Asante
Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; McCrorie, Vyner, Dickie, Pring; Sykes, Gardner-Hickman, Williams, Mehmeti, Knight; Conway
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Bristol City
West Brom have added attacking flair to their defensive stability since the turn of the calendar year and should be very confident of another home victory on Saturday.
Bristol City are in the doldrums following a poor run of form and at risk of being swept aside at The Hawthorns as the Baggies chase down the Premier League.
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Carter White
