West Bromwich Albion will look to extend their five-game unbeaten streak when they welcome Hull City to the Hawthorns for Saturday’s Championship contest.
The Tigers will also be hoping to continue their fine run of form after taking seven points from their last three outings.
Match preview
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West Brom are sitting in fifth place in the Championship table after winning 13, drawing 17 and losing seven of their 27 matches this season.
The Baggies have proven to be a tough team to beat in recent times, having won two and drawn three of their last five matches, with both of those victories taking place on home turf.
They played out a 1-1 draw in their most recent outing against Burnley, which saw Jon Swift‘s 20th-minute opener quickly cancelled out by Zian Flemming, extending West Brom’s winless away run to 11 matches (D4, L7) and leaving them two points clear of Bristol City in seventh place.
West Brom have enjoyed much better fortunes at the Hawthorns, where they have won four of their last five matches (L1), including wins over Oxford United and Queens Park Rangers in their last two home outings.
In fact, the Baggies have lost just two of their 18 home league games this season (W9, D7), conceding just 11 goals across those matches – only two Championship teams have conceded fewer on home turf.
After beating Hull City 2-1 in November’s reverse fixture, West Brom will fancy their chances of pulling off a league double given the fact they have won each of their last seven home league games against the Tigers.
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Hull have boosted their survival hopes with a promising run of results, which has seen them lose just once in six Championship matches (W4, D2).
The Tigers have taken seven points from their last three matches since losing to Cardiff City at the end of February, claiming home wins against Plymouth Argyle and Oxford United, either side of a 1-1 away draw against Bristol City.
Ruben Selles‘s side came from behind to take maximum points from Wednesday’s home against Oxford, with Joe Gelhardt cancelling out Michal Helik‘s opener, before a Jamie Cumming own goal sealed a narrow 2-1 win, putting the Tigers five points clear of the drop zone with nine matches to play.
Not only did that result boost Hull’s survival hopes, but it also represented the first time they had recorded consecutive home league wins since November 2023.
Hull will now head on their travels with aspirations of claiming their first away league win over West Brom since recording a 3-0 Premier League victory in October 2008.
The Tigers should at least fancy their chances of troubling the scorers after finding the net in each of their previous five head-to-head meetings.
Team News
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West Brom boss Tony Mowbray remain without the injured trio of Semi Ajayi, Jed Wallace and Josh Maja, while Darnell Furlong will serve the second game of a three-match suspension.
Experienced defender Kyle Bartley is hoping to prove his fitness in time after missing the midweek clash against Burnley with a knee issue.
Midfielder Jayson Molumby is in contention for a recall after dropping down to the bench for Tuesday’s trip to Turf Moor.
As for the Tigers, Selles is having to cope without the services of Mohamed Belloumi, Louie Barry, Eliot Matazo, Liam Millar and Dogukan Sinik.
Forward Joao Pedro will serve the second game of his three-match ban after being shown a straight red card in last Saturday’s away clash with Bristol City.
Gustavo Puerta was sent off deep into stoppage time of Wednesday’s win over Oxford United for two bookable offences, meaning he will be forced to miss Hull’s final match before the international break.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Diakite, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt; Price, Swift, Johnston; Armstrong
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Coyle, Jones, Hughes, McLoughlin; Alzate, Slater; Kamara, Gelhardt, Joseph; Burstow
We say: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Hull City
West Brom have won seven of their last nine matches at the Hawthorns, and while Hull will have renewed belief after a three-game unbeaten run, we believe the hosts will make full use of home advantage to claim a narrow victory.
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