EFL Championship | Gameweek 46

May 3, 2025 at 12.30pm UK

The Hawthorns

West Brom vs Luton Town

Match preview

After finishing in the top six of the Championship under Carlos Corberan last season, West Brom are heading for their worst campaign in two decades, with the managerless hosts winning just one of their last nine games in the second-tier play-off race.

After successive defeats at the hands of Coventry and Derby County over the Easter period, the Baggies' dreams of a return to the Premier League came to an end on Saturday afternoon when the Black Country outfit were held to a goalless draw by League One outfit Cardiff City.

Unable to beat the bottom two last time out, West Brom are now languishing in 10th place in the Championship, five points adrift of sixth-placed Coventry and with just three points to play for, the club's push for the top flight has come to an end.

Certainly, under Corberan and in the early stages of Tony Mowbray's second spell at the Hawthorns, Albion's lack of consistency has been a major factor, with the Baggies last winning back-to-back games in September - hardly the formula for Premier League promotion.

Having lost just four of their 22 Championship matches in the Black Country this season, a West Brom side under the interim guidance of former player James Morrison have a positive home record, although the likes of Derby and Blackburn Rovers have taken maximum points at The Hawthorns in recent times.

On 12 April, a 1-0 home defeat to Blackburn left Luton Town rooted to the foot of the Championship table and their relegation hopes all but extinguished, but a miraculous turnaround in Bedfordshire has given Saturday's visitors the chance to pull off a West Brom-esque escape.

The Hatters are in the midst of a three-match winning streak in the second tier after a dramatic finale at Kenilworth Road a week ago, when summer signing Shandon Baptiste scored his first goal for the club in the 90th minute to secure a much-needed maximum.

Matt Bloomfield's men go into Saturday's five-team play-off for Championship safety as the in-form side of the quintet, having picked up nine points in the last week to move up to 21st in the second tier, one place and one point above Hull City in the highest of the relegation places.

After holding their own in the Premier League last season, the Hatters have fallen from grace in the 2024-25 campaign, particularly on the road, where the Bedfordshire outfit have won just four of their 22 Championship away fixtures to date.

As well as their collective struggles, Luton's players have struggled individually, none more so than Elijah Adebayo, who has found the back of the net just five times in 39 Championship appearances, despite scoring a hat-trick in the top flight last year.

Recent Performance

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:LLWLLD

Luton Town Championship form:DDLWWW

Team News

Josh Maja, who scored 12 league goals for West Brom before suffering a calf injury in January, remains on the sidelines for the hosts ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash.

The Baggies recently welcomed back John Swift and Grady Diangana from the medical room, with the pair set to make their final appearance at The Hawthorns before their summer departures.

It could be a first start for Daryl Dike, who is still struggling to regain full fitness after suffering a serious Achilles injury last year.

Luton are without two key first-team players, with assist king Alfie Doughty and striker Adebayo nursing muscle and knee injuries respectively.

The Hatters' options up front are further limited by the absence of Jacob Brown (ankle), who has not featured since March.

Possible starting lineup

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Griffiths; Furlong, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Mowatt, Molumby; Fellows, Price, Grant; Dike

Luton Town possible starting lineup:

Kaminski; Naismith, McGuinness, Mengi; Jones, Fanne, Walsh, Bell; Alli, Aasgaard; Morris