West Bromwich Albion will be looking to record a third consecutive win when they host Stoke City at The Hawthorns on Saturday in the Championship.
Both sides are heading into this game off the back of impressive victories in their last fixtures and will want to enter the World Cup break on a good note.
Match preview
© Reuters
With six points from the last three Championship matches, West Brom's new era under Carlos Corberan has started successfully after a torrid run of form at the beginning of this season which led to the exit of Steve Bruce from the managerial hot seat.
The ex-Huddersfield Town boss would have been fearing the worst after watching defensive frailties and toothlessness in attack from his new set of players during his first game in charge against Sheffield United, but back-to-back 1-0 wins against Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers have lifted the mood in the West Midlands.
Kyle Bartley's second-half header earned the Baggies maximum points against OPR last weekend, which represented a brilliant result on the road but also a key moment for the 31-year-old central defender who has faced more criticism than most during the opening half of this campaign.
The Black Country outfit have kept back-to-back clean sheets in the last two games for only the second time this season, with their tendency to concede first and early severely hindering their ability to collect maximum points from games they go on to dominate possession-wise.
With the World Cup break after this weekend's home assignment versus Stoke, Corberan will have nearly a month to work with his new squad as they aim to distance themselves from what would be an embarrassing relegation scrap for a club with West Brom's history and ambition.
© Reuters
Two wins in their last three second-tier matches have Stoke City supporters looking upwards rather than at the relegation zone their side was hurtling towards following a run of three consecutive defeats at the end of October.
Potters boss Alex Neil wanted his side to eradicate the individual mistakes that cost them dearly in the defeat to Birmingham City when they faced Luton Town in midweek and his team did just that, with two goals inside the opening 15 minutes enough to beat Nathan Jones during his final game as Hatters boss.
Stoke sit 15th in the Championship after that important victory, five points ahead of Saturday's opponents who are currently positioned in the highest of the relegation places.
Former West Brom forward Dwight Gayle will lead the line alongside Manchester City loanee Liam Delap for Stoke in the Black Country on Saturday, with the pair possessing the potential and ability to form a formidable partnership at this level.
Both Gayle and Delap were linked to Albion in the summer transfer window, especially the latter whose decision to join his father Rory at Stoke meant West Brom brought in Brandon Thomas-Asante from Salford City instead.
Team News
© Reuters
West Brom forward Daryl Dike continued his recovery from a thigh injury this week after playing 45 minutes for the Under-21s on Monday night, but the American is unlikely to play a part against Stoke this weekend.
Semi Ajayi is another key first-team player coming back from time out with a knock and is said to be ahead of Dike in terms of his recovery so could feature in the Baggies' final match before the World Cup break.
Stoke will remain without Gavin Kilkenny (groin) and Josh Laurent (leg) when they travel to face Albion on the weekend, with both players targeting returns after the month-long break.
Nick Powell scored in the win against Luton and should maintain his place in behind a forward duo of Gayle and Delap at The Hawthorns.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, O'Shea, Pieters; Yokuslu, Molumby, Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Phillips
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bonham; Wilmot, Souttar, Fox; Clarke, Baker, Smallbone, Fosu, Powell; Gayle, Delap
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Stoke City
West Brom endured a terrible start to the season with the only way being upwards for Corberan after inheriting a squad that is way too good for a relegation fight in the Championship.
Stoke recorded a solid win in midweek against Luton but their inconsistency could strike again as they face a Baggies side who are growing in confidence.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
