Looking to extend their unbeaten run at the start of the second-tier season to four matches, West Bromwich Albion will lock horns with Swansea City at The Hawthorns in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The Baggies come into this clash following a victory at the home of a Midlands rival last time out, whilst the Swans shared the spoils against Welsh counterparts on Sunday.
Match preview
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After exiting the EFL Cup at the first-round stage at the home of League Two outfit Fleetwood Town on August 13, West Brom have returned to a good level of performance in the Championship, collecting four points across two matches against promotion rivals Leeds United and Stoke City.
A trip to the bet365 Stadium in Staffordshire last weekend provided the Baggies with their second victory of the new campaign, with a Karlan Grant strike and Josh Maja's fourth of the season already securing maximum points for the visitors after Lewis Koumas had momentarily restored parity for the Potters.
Supplying three assists in as many matches at the start of the Championship campaign, 21-year-old Tom Fellows is becoming a consistent performer for West Brom with his trademark stepover-cross combo, with the winger attracting interest from Ipswich Town during the closing stages of the summer window.
With the Albion academy graduate causing problems down the right, Carlos Corberan could soon have exciting attacker Mikey Johnston wreaking havoc on the opposite flank for the Baggies, who have reportedly agreed a £3m deal to bring the Irishman from Scottish giants Celtic following a loan spell at The Hawthorns last season.
After the departures of Brandon Thomas-Asante, Okay Yokuslu and Conor Townsend earlier in the summer, there were concerns that West Brom would finish the transfer window with a weaker squad compared to the one which failed in the playoffs during 2023-24, although a late flurry of incomings looks set to give Saturday's hosts a good shot at Championship promotion once again.
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Following four straight home matches over the past fortnight across the Championship and the EFL Cup, Swansea City are back on the road for only the second time this season, with their maiden away outing of the campaign resulting in a 1-0 loss on Teesside at the hands of Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough.
The Swans will be desperate to make amends for a below-par showing in the EFL Cup second round on Wednesday, when the second-tier hosts were knocked out of the competition by League One side Wycombe Wanderers, who advanced to the next stage thanks to Richard Kone's strike, despite the Chairboys enjoying just 27% possession on the night.
Swansea's most recent up matchup was significant in terms of both Championship ambition and bragging rights as arch rivals Cardiff City visited the Swansea.com Stadium for the latest edition of the South Wales derby, with goals from Liam Cullen and Callum Robinson resulting in a share of the spoils.
After making their competitive debuts for the club during the EFL Cup defeat to Wycombe on Wednesday, Florian Bianchini and Nelson Abbey could both turn out in the second tier for the first time in Swansea colours as the Welsh side aim for success at the Hawthorns this weekend.
Each of the last two meetings between Swansea and West Brom at The Hawthorns have been five-goal thrillers, with the hosts coming out on top of the most recent Black Country battle between the sides in August 2023, when late strikes from Nathan Wood and Harry Darling could not prevent a loss for Michael Duff's troops.
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Team News
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West Brom have received some positive fitness news this week, with American striker Daryl Dike expected to be back in training next month following an Achilles injury.
Devante Cole and in-form Maja will be the central-striking options for Corberan in the meantime, whilst John Swift continues to operate at the tip of the midfield for the Baggies.
Naturally a centre-back, Torbjorn Heggem has been operating admirably at left-back for West Brom so far this season, keeping fellow summer arrival Gianluca Frabotta on the bench.
Approaching nearly a year on the sidelines due to an Achilles tendon injury, Swansea's Josh Ginnelly is targeting a slow return next month.
After being rested from the start during the cup loss to Wycombe on Wednesday, the likes of Ben Cabango, Ronald Pereira and Cullen should all regain their spots in the XI this weekend.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Heggem; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Swift, Grant; Maja
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Vigouroux; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Franco, Grimes, Pereira, Cooper, Eom; Cullen
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Swansea City
West Brom managed to keep a dangerous Leeds United side quiet a fortnight ago at The Hawthorns, meaning that the Baggies will be confident of doing the same against Swansea this time around.
The visitors will be desperate to respond following a shock defeat to Wycombe on Wednesday, but we believe that the Welsh side are set to suffer another loss.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
