Goals are to be expected as two sides with legitimate promotion aspirations face off at The Hawthorns as West Brom host Bristol City. The Robins come into this midweek clash on the back of four straight wins having netted nine times in that period. They travel to the West Midlands to face a Baggies side that are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league but have failed to find the net just once this season.
Expect Goals as West Brom Host Bristol City
Own Worst Enemies
West Brom boss Darren Moore admitted that Albion were their own worst enemies after their Friday night game against Birmingham City. The Baggies did manage to leave St Andrews with an undeserved point and have only lost once in their last eight in all competitions, but they are no means defensively solid.
Despite Sam Johnstone keeping the highest number of clean sheets in the Championship last season, the young goalkeeper is yet to keep out the opposition since his arrival at The Hawthorns in the summer. Playing behind a struggling back three can’t help as Craig Dawson’s return to the fold failed to have the desired impact. Dawson, alongside Ahmed Hegazi and Kyle Bartley at the back, looked disjointed last time out as they repeatedly offered up chances to Birmingham City.
High Five
Bristol City are flying high and looking for a fifth straight league win, something they haven’t achieved since 2004. Lee Johnson’s side have started well as they look to build on last season, where they also started strong but fell away after Christmas, eventually finishing 11th.
Their fourth successive league victory came at the expense of in-form Sheffield United at the weekend, who themselves had won four on the bounce. This pushed Bristol City into third in the table, just one point behind early leaders Leeds United.
The Robins have tasted defeat just once in the league so far but were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Plymouth Argyle. As a result, there will be no repeat of last season where their heroic run in the competition took them to the semi-finals before being beaten by Manchester City.
Key Players
Matt Phillips
Matt Phillips has been in fine form for the Baggies in the early stages of the season. The Scottish winger has four goals and one assist in seven games, already doubling his goal tally for last season which was two goals in 30.
Andreas Weimann
Whilst West Brom’s goals are spread throughout their attacking players, Andreas Weimann has been Bristol City’s top scorer by some margin. In fantastic form with five goals and one assist from seven games, Albion’s nervous defence will struggle to contain the Austrian frontman.
Predicted Lineups
West Brom: Johnstone, Dawson, Adarabioyo, Bartley, Gibbs, Phillips, Barry, Livermore, Barnes, Gayle, Rodriguez.
Bristol City: Maenpaa, Webster, Kalas, Kelly, Hunt, Dasilva, Pack, Brownhill, Eliasson, Diedhiou, Weimann.
Prediction
West Brom have won four home games on the bounce, scoring 12 goals in that period but they have real problems defensively. They can’t afford to be wasteful in possession like they were at St Andrew’s. If they are, they will be beaten.
West Brom 1-2 Bristol City
Main Photo
