With their place in the playoffs yet to be confirmed, West Bromwich Albion will require a positive result from their meeting with Preston North End at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.
The Baggies are stumbling towards the top-six finishing line as the campaign draws to a close, whilst the Lilywhites are marooned in mid-table amid a poor run of form.
Match preview
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For the first time in the largely-successful reign of Carlos Corberan at The Hawthorns, West Brom have now suffered three straight defeats in the Championship following last weekend, when the Baggies were blown away by a Sheffield Wednesday side who are fighting for their lives at the bottom.
A first-half strike from Anthony Musaba had the Owls ahead at the break and Danny Rohl's charges made sure of a much-needed maximum in the second period, with goals from Josh Windass and Cardiff City loanee Ike Ugbo rounding off a day to forget for promotion-chasing Albion at Hillsborough.
Having only enjoyed success against League One-bound Rotherham United during the last seven Championship contests, there are understandable concerns of whether West Brom are ready to take on the likes of Leeds United or Southampton in the playoffs, but the Baggies' spot in the post-season picture is not yet guaranteed.
Heading into the final match of the regular term, Corberan's charges are sitting sixth in the second-tier standings, two points ahead of Hull City in seventh and considering West Brom's vastly-superior goal difference compared to the Tigers, a draw with Preston at The Hawthorns should be enough to book a spot in the playoff semi-finals.
With 46 of their 72 Championship points being earned at The Hawthorns so far this season, Albion will be delighted that Saturday's crunch clash is set to be played out at their Black Country base - a venue where the Baggies have lost just four times in 22 league games over the course of 2023-24.
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Any faint hopes for Preston supporters of their side sneaking into the playoffs have been cruelly dashed by a four-game losing streak in the Championship since the middle of April, with the Lilywhites collecting zero points and failing to score during meetings with Norwich City, Southampton, Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City.
Deepdale played host to a Leicester promotion party on Monday night, when a brace from Foxes legend Jamie Vardy and a strike from Kasey McAteer secured the second-tier crown for Enzo Maresca's men, with Preston unable to halt the progression of a side who will be playing Premier League football in August.
Ahead of Saturday's season finale at The Hawthorns, Ryan Lowe's troops occupy 10th position in the Championship table, nine points from West Brom in sixth, meaning that a late push for the playoffs on the final day is firmly out of the reach of the Lancashire-based club.
Set to leave at the expiration of his contract at Preston in the summer, Alan Browne played his last match at Deepdale for the Lilywhites when Leicester romped to victory on Monday, with the Irishman attracting plenty of Championship interest ahead of the transfer window.
Team News
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West Brom remain without the services of Jayson Molumby, with the Republic of Ireland international sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a foot injury.
Okay Yokuslu and Alex Mowatt have been the preferred defensive-midfield partnership in the absence of Molumby, although Nathaniel Chalobah can also operate in the engine room.
Matt Phillips made his first start since returning from a serious hamstring injury last time out, but the veteran could drop to the bench on Saturday.
Preston will be unable to call upon the talents of both Alistair McCann and Ben Whiteman, with the pair in the medical room because of thigh and leg injuries respectively.
Liam Lindsay has been a standout defender for Lowe's men this term and will continue in the three-man backline alongside Andrew Hughes and Jack Whatmough.
After failing to find the net once again on Monday, Preston could freshen up their attack at The Hawthorns, with Emil Riis Jakobsen pushing for a start.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Kipre, Townsend; Mowatt, Yokuslu, Fellows, Diangana, Johnston; Thomas-Asante
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Whatmough, Lindsay, Hughes; Millar, Ledson, Browne, Brady; Keane, Frokjaer-Jensen, Jakobsen
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Preston North End
West Brom's stellar record at The Hawthorns suggests a comfortable win for the hosts on Saturday, but it could become an intense affair for the Baggies should Hull score early on at Plymouth Argyle.
Preston are stumbling towards the second-tier finishing line, and we cannot envisage the Lilywhites disrupting Albion's top-six ambitions in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
