Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Looking to end a sobering run of form at their Black Country base, West Bromwich Albion will welcome Norwich City to The Hawthorns for a Championship match on Saturday afternoon.
The Baggies recorded a much-needed success at the home of Hull City last time out, whilst the Canaries’ struggles continued against Bristol City at Carrow Road before the international break.
Match preview
Following an eight-game winless streak – their longest under the stewardship of Spaniard Carlos Corberan – West Brom collected three valuable points at the MKM Stadium prior to the international break, beating relegation-threatened Hull City in a tightly-fought contest.
After scoring just two goals across their previous seven Championship matches, the Baggies suddenly rediscovered their shooting boots on Humberside where strikes from Karlan Grant and Josh Maja fired the visitors into a two-goal lead during the opening 20 minutes, meaning that Joao Pedro‘s effort for the Tigers was a mere consolation.
Ending a freakishly-long streak of stalemates with success over Tim Walter‘s Hull, Saturday’s hosts West Brom managed to remain fifth in the Championship table heading into the final international pause of the calendar year, one point above Michael Carrick‘s Middlesbrough in seventh.
Such a contrast to the last two campaigns with Corberan at the helm, the 2024-25 season has been a difficult one in the Black Country for the Baggies, who have won just two of their seven second-tier fixtures at The Hawthorns so far, making the net ripple on only two occasions.
Each of West Brom’s last three matches in front of their own supporters have ended in lacklustre goalless draws, with stubborn Millwall, strugglers Cardiff City and promotion contenders Burnley all managing to escape The Hawthorns with a share of the Championship points.
© Imago
Following a seven-game unbeaten spell in the Championship across September and October, Norwich’s form has taken a severe nosedive over recent weeks, with Saturday’s visitors to The Hawthorns currently six matches without victory after a 2-0 loss at Carrow Road to Bristol City prior to the two-week break.
Despite enjoying over 65% possession, the Canaries were unable to make their domination of the ball count in East Anglia against the plucky Robins, who secured maximum points on the road courtesy of strikes either side of the half-time whistle from Anis Mehmeti and Nahki Wells.
After losing three straight second-tier matches for the first time since November 2023, Norwich have plummeted down to 14th spot in the Championship table as the harsh winter months approach, seven points behind sixth-placed Watford and just three points ahead of Cardiff in the relegation zone.
A shining light during a difficult start to the season for the Canaries, the sensational Borja Sainz is the star of the show in East Anglia, with the 23-year-old leading West Brom’s Maja (9) in the race for the Golden Boot thanks to 11 goals from 15 appearances so far.
The Spaniard will be looking to avoid a repeat of his most recent trip to the Black Country in December 2023, when the winger collected two yellow cards in the space of three first-half minutes, with David Wagner‘s 10-man Norwich going on to suffer a narrow defeat at the hands of West Brom.
West Bromwich Albion Championship form:
Norwich City Championship form:
Team News
© Imago
Despite a two-week pause due to international football, West Brom are still fighting a major injury crisis at centre-back, with Kyle Bartley (knee), Paddy McNair (hamstring) and Semi Ajayi (leg) all unable to feature.
As a result, Mason Holgate and summer arrival Torbjorn Heggem are likely continue as the pairing at the heart of the Baggies’ backline this weekend.
Targeting a return to action after Christmas, Daryl Dike is making his highly-anticipated comeback from an Achilles injury sustained in February.
Norwich’s recent defensive troubles have not been helped by the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who is fighting to return at the end of this month from a rib injury.
A large chunk of the attacking burden will be placed onto the shoulders of Sainz this weekend, especially considering the fitness issues of Ashley Barnes (leg), Joshua Sargent (groin) and Onel Hernandez (leg).
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Holgate, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt, Fellows, Grant, Johnston; Maja
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Long; Fisher, Duffy, Chrisene, Doyle; Ben Slimane, Sorensen, Schwartau; Crnac, Sainz, Marcondes
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Norwich City
After a streak of goalless draws at The Hawthorns, we are expecting West Brom to be desperate to put on an exciting performance for their home faithful.
That does not necessarily mean that the Baggies will score a hatful of goals, however we feel that Corberan’s troops should have enough to beat a stuttering Norwich side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
