2019-20 Sky Bet Championship: Week 23 – Saturday

West Bromwich Albion look to secure their spot at the top of the Championship Christmas tree as they host Brentford at The Hawthorns. 

A win will be enough to secure top spot for the Baggies at Christmas but a draw would require Leeds to not win at Fulham if they’re to stay top, whereas Brentford could go third with victory. 

 

Team news

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Grady Diangana is ruled out for West Brom with a back injury suffered during last weekend’s comeback win over Birmingham City. 

Kieran Gibbs (hamstring) is also expected to be absent this weekend.

Brentford have no fresh injury concerns as Joel Valencia remains out with a shoulder injury. 

Sergi Canos and Nikos Karelis are both also sidelined as they recover from knee injuries. 

 

Form

West Brom are unbeaten in their last 12 matches and haven’t lost a home league game yet this season (W6, D4), although they are yet to keep a home clean sheet. 

Brentford have won three of their last four games whilst on the road, they have taken three wins and two defeats from their last five away trips. 

 

Stat Attack

• West Brom have lost just one of their last five meetings with Brentford in all competitions (W3, D1, L1).
• Brentford have failed to win at The Hawthorns in 10 previous visits (D1, L9). 
• Brentford’s Ollie Watkins is just one of three Championship players to have scored a hat-trick away from home this season, doing so in a 3-1 away win at Barnsley in September. 

 

Prediction

This is going to be a huge test for West Brom because Brentford have found some excellent form in the past month, which stands them in good stead because they have in the past grown throughout this stage of the season before wobbling in early Spring. 

Both teams however aren’t the best defensively so we should see goals but I have a feeling that Brentford might spring a surprise because the Baggies have had to come from behind in their last two games. 

Those games were away from home though so they will be keen to impress with a dominant display, which makes me think that we are in for a high scoring draw. 

Prediction: WBA 2-2 Brentford

Result: WBA 1-1 Brentford