Back at the The Hawthorns for the first time this season, West Bromwich Albion will test their promotion-winning credentials against Leeds United in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
A much-changed Baggies side exited the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, with the Whites suffering a shock home defeat to Middlesbrough as they were also dumped out of the competition.
Match preview
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Following four straight pre-season defeats at the conclusion of their summer schedule, West Brom turned on the style when it really mattered last weekend at Loftus Road, where the Baggies came from behind to secure a statement 3-1 success over Marti Cifuentes's Queens Park Rangers.
Since then, Albion's rocky relationship with cup competitions continued on Tuesday night, when the Championship side were knocked out of the EFL Cup at the first-round stage by League Two outfit Fleetwood Town, who took full advantage of the visitors' decision to field an XI consisting mostly of Under-21s players.
As a result of the 2-1 loss in midweek, Carlos Corberan's troops have only second-tier matters to focus on for the remainder of the calendar year, with West Brom looking to achieve a return to the Premier League following a fifth-placed finish and playoff semi-final heartbreak last time around.
A strong record at The Hawthorns was the backbone of the Baggies' impressive 46-game regular campaign in 2023-24, with Saturday's hosts winning 15 and losing just four of their 23 Championship contests at their Black Country base - only Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Leeds collected more points at their respective homes last term.
Albion were one of few sides in last season's second tier that avoided defeat against Daniel Farke's Whites, with West Brom even managing a win over Leeds at home on December 29, when a first-half Grady Diangana strike was enough for all three points at The Hawthorns.
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Having witnessed nine goals scored in two matches at Elland Road over the past week, Leeds United supporters have been treated to plenty of attacking action, although the Yorkshire faithful are yet to see their side record a maiden victory of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Whites needed a 95th-minute equaliser from Brenden Aaronson to rescue a share of the spoils versus newly-promoted Portsmouth last Saturday, before Daniel Farke's men were unceremoniously knocked out of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night after a damning defeat to Middlesbrough.
Despite having the lion's share of possession, Leeds were unable to take advantage and breach the net of Solomon Brynn, whose Boro side made a mark on the scoresheet three times courtesy of Anfernee Dijksteel, Delano Burgzorg and Josh Coburn during a pulsating second half.
Looking to secure a first win of the campaign at the third time of asking, the Whites travel to The Hawthorns on the weekend hoping to continue their impressive away form from last term, when Leeds collected 37 points from 23 Championship outings, with only the promoted trio of Leicester City (45), Ipswich Town (42) and Southampton (39) managing a better tally.
Although their most recent trip to B71 ended in defeat, Leeds do possess good recent memories of travelling to the Black Country thanks to their 5-0 smashing of Sam Allardyce's Baggies in December 2020, when the difference between two sides promoted to the Premier League together earlier in the calendar year was frightening.
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Team News
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West Brom club captain Jed Wallace continues to support from home as he recovers from a calf issue, with the winger set to be available next month.
Fellow attacker Diangana has a similar timeline for return, with the DR Congo international last featuring for the Baggies in the playoff semi-final second-leg defeat to Southampton in May.
After his hat-trick last weekend, Josh Maja will continue to lead the Albion line, whilst the injured Daryl Dike will continue to dream about getting onto the end of Tom Fellows's crosses at some stage in the New Year.
Having shuffled his pack for the EFL Cup clash against Boro, Farke will welcome a host of his first-team stars back into the XI on Saturday, including Pascal Struijk, Willy Gnonto and Ilia Gruev.
With Brighton & Hove Albion reportedly releasing his £40m release clause, Georginio Rutter is likely to have already played his final game for the Whites.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Ajayi, Heggem; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Swift, Grant; Maja
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Ampadu, Gruev; James, Piroe, Gnonto; Joseph
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Leeds United
After producing a dominant display at QPR last weekend, West Brom should be full of confidence as they aim to conquer one of their promotion rivals at The Hawthorns.
Leeds could be rocked after the heavy loss to Middlesbrough on Wednesday, and without the quality of Rutter in attack, we can see Farke's side just about battling to a point in the Black Country.
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Carter White
