Championship | Gameweek 19

Dec 8, 2024 at 3pm UK

The Hawthorns

West Bromvs.Sheff Utd

Match preview

Since losing 1-0 to Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough at The Hawthorns on 1 October, West Brom have gone on a 10-game unbeaten run in the Championship. However, a record of nine draws during that spell means that the hosts have lost ground in the race for Premier League promotion.

Hull City are the only team to have lost to West Brom in the past two months. The Black Country club drew with Norwich City, Sunderland and Preston following the final international break of the year in November.

Karlan Grant scored his fourth goal of the season in the Championship, putting West Brom ahead at Deepdale. It was a great team move, but a second-half goal from Emil Riis Jakobsen made it 1-1.

Before they play Sheffield United and Frank Lampard's Coventry City at home over the next week, Carlos Corberan's team are in seventh place in the Championship, two points behind Watford in the lowest playoff spot.

West Brom have had a tough start to the season at The Hawthorns. They've only managed to get 11 points from eight games, which is the second worst home record in the league after Hull, Portsmouth and QPR.

Sheffield United are still one of the favourites for promotion to the top flight despite a 20th-placed finish in the Premier League and a two-point deduction earlier in the year. The team have made a great start to the season and will be looking to build on that when they visit The Hawthorns this weekend.

The Blades had a narrow win over Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby, which brought them to four straight wins before the international break. Since then, Chris Wilder's men have collected a respectable seven points from three matches against Coventry, Oxford United and Sunderland.

Sheffield United kept up their winning streak and didn't concede a goal at Bramall Lane last weekend. Former Everton and England Under-21 midfielder Tom Davies scored his first goal for the club to beat Sunderland, who are now in fourth place in the league.

The Blades are on a roll, trying to make it eight straight unbeaten league matches in the Black Country. They're sitting pretty at the top of the Championship standings, two points ahead of Burnley in second and three points in front of third-placed Leeds United.

Tyrese Campbell is showing what he can do in a tough spot at Stoke City. He's now reaping the benefits of joining a promotion-chasing side in the Championship. The 24-year-old has scored five times across 13 second-tier matches so far.

Recent Performance

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:DDWDDD

Sheffield United Championship form:WWWDWW

Team News

West Brom midfielder Alex Mowatt has picked up four yellow cards this season, which means he'll be banned from playing for one match if he gets another caution this weekend.

The Baggies are still without Semi Ajayi and Paddy McNair, but the hosts have been given a boost in centre-back options with the recent return of Kyle Bartley.

Ousmane Diakite has missed the last two matchday squads for the Albion because of a knee issue, but it's unlikely he'll start against the league leaders anyway.

Sheffield United are facing a bit of a challenge when it comes to their squad for Sunday's match, with both Anel Ahmedhodzic and Harry Souttar suspended.

Wilder will look to veteran Jack Robinson to fill half of the gap in the Blades' centre-back pairing, with Alfie Gilchrist potentially shifting in from right-back.

Possible starting lineup

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Holgate, Bartley, Heggem; Furlong, Molumby, Mowatt, Racic, Fellows; Grant, Maja

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Seriki, Gilchrist, Robinson, Burrows; Peck, Vini Souza, Rak-Sakyi, O'Hare, Hamer; Campbell