MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 15:22:02| >> :120:4342:4342:
[monks data]
Attendance: 24,942
West Brom logo
Championship | Gameweek 36
Feb 29, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Wigan logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Morsy (73')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic, including team news and predicted lineups.

West Bromwich Albion will be looking to continue their charge towards the Premier League when they welcome Wigan Athletic to the Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon.

The Baggies are currently four points clear of second-placed Leeds United at the top of the Championship table, while Wigan sit 22nd as they battle against the drop.


Match preview

West Bromwich Albion's Jake Livermore celebrates scoring their second goal with Hal Robson-Kanu and teammates on February 25, 2020© Reuters

West Brom's record this season speaks for itself, winning 19 of their 35 matches and suffering just four defeats to lead the division, four points clear of second-placed Leeds on the same number of games.

The Baggies are nine points clear of third-placed Fulham, meanwhile, and it is difficult to imagine them dropping out of promotion contention having showed their class throughout the campaign.

West Brom's recent form has been particularly impressive, winning five of their last six in the Championship, including successive victories over Bristol City and Preston North End in their last two.

Slaven Bilic's side are also still in the FA Cup and will face Premier League opposition in the shape of Newcastle United on March 3 in the fifth round of the competition.

There is no question that the league is most important to the the club this term, though, and it does appear that the Baggies are destined for a return to England's top flight.

Wigan boss Paul Cook on February 1, 2020© Reuters

Wigan, on the other hand, are fighting for their lives at the other end of the table. Indeed, a total of 37 points from 35 matches has left the Latics in 22nd position with 11 games left.

Paul Cook's side are level on points with 21st-placed Middlesbrough, though, and just two points behind Charlton Athletic in 18th, which is an indication of how things stand towards the bottom of the division.

Wigan have been excellent in recent weeks, though, following draws with Boro and Cardiff City by beating Millwall and Reading in their last two fixtures.

The Latics ran out 3-0 winners at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday evening, and it would be some story if they could put a third straight victory on the board against the league leaders.

West Brom are unbeaten in their last three games with Wigan, although the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in December.

West Brom Championship form: WWWDWW

Wigan Championship form: WLDDWW


Team News

West Bromwich Albion's Romaine Sawyers in action with Queens Park Rangers' Ilias Chair on September 28, 2019© Reuters

West Brom will again be without the services of key midfielder Romaine Sawyers through suspension, meaning that there could be another start for teenager Rekeem Harper.

Matt Phillips, Kamil Grosicki and Charlie Austin all came off the bench against Preston, but it seems unlikely that any of the three will start this weekend due to the form of Callum Robinson, Hal Robson-Kanu and Matheus Pereira in the final third of the field.

Grady Diangana is closing in on a return from injury, but this match will come too soon for the on-loan West Ham United attacker.

As for Wigan, Antonee Robinson, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and, Joe Gelhardt and Daniel Fox are still on the sidelines.

The Latics did not pick up any fresh concerns against Reading, though, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI sent onto the field due to the impressiveness of the performance.

Jamal Lowe and Kieffer Moore both scored against the Royals and should keep their spots, while Joe Williams should retain his spot in the middle of the park.

West Brom possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; O'Shea, Ajayi, Hegazi, Townsend; Krovinovic, Livermore, Harper; Robinson, Robson-Kanu, Pereira

Wigan possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Byrne, Kipre, Balogun, Pearce; Morsy, Williams; Lowe, Roberts, Massey; Moore


Sports Mole Logo

We say: West Brom 2-0 Wigan Athletic

Wigan's recent form deserves a lot of respect, but it is difficult to look past West Brom, who are threatening to race clear at the summit. The Baggies should have too much for their opponents on Saturday afternoon.



ID:391101: cacheID:391101:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9254:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a win with a probability of 65.06%. A draw had a probability of 20.3% and a win for had a probability of 14.65%.

The most likely scoreline for a win was 2-0 with a probability of 11.61%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (11.41%) and 2-1 (9.82%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (9.65%), while for a win it was 0-1 (4.74%).


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Wigan's Chey Dunkley is injured on February 26, 2020
Read Next:
Paul Cook: 'Wigan win overshadowed by serious Chey Dunkley injury'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland139222391429
2Leeds UnitedLeeds137512281426
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd138321661025
4Burnley136521761123
5Watford137152221122
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom13562148621
7Millwall135441612419
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn135441614219
9Bristol City134721717019
10Norwich CityNorwich134632318518
11Middlesbrough135351415-118
12Swansea CitySwansea13445109116
13Coventry CityCoventry134361717015
14Derby CountyDerby134361617-115
15Hull City133641517-215
16Stoke CityStoke134361518-315
17Cardiff CityCardiff134361319-615
18Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds134361524-915
19Oxford UnitedOxford Utd133551617-114
20Preston North EndPreston133551420-614
21Luton TownLuton133371521-612
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth133371325-1212
23Queens Park RangersQPR131751119-810
24Portsmouth131661326-139


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!