After Leeds fell to defeat at QPR on Saturday, West Bromwich Albion can extend their lead at the Sky Bet Championship summit as they take on Stoke City at the Hawthorns in Monday Night Football.
Victory will send the Baggies four points clear of second-placed Leeds whilst Stoke can move four points clear of the bottom three with a win in this Midlands derby.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesWest Bromwich Albion could welcome Grady Diangana back into the starting lineup, after the midfielder returned from a back injury as a substitute at Charlton last weekend.
Kieran Gibbs remains the Baggies’ only definite absentee with a recurring hamstring injury.
Stoke could be without Ryan Shawcross as he races to overcome a calf injury ahead of this match.
Form
West Brom have won just one of their last seven league games (W1, D5, L1), and have failed to win in their last three home games (D2, L1) after drawing 1-1 with Brentford and Leeds either side of a 2-0 defeat by Middlesbrough.
Stoke are unbeaten in five of their last seven league matches entering this game (W3, D2, L2), but have won just one of their last six away trips in all competitions (W1, L5).
Stat Attack
- West Brom have avoided defeat in four of their last five Championship meetings against Stoke (W3, D1, L1).
- Both teams have scored in four of seven previous Championship meetings.
- Stoke have taken just a single point from their last five league trips to The Hawthorns (D1, L4).
Prediction
Stoke are finally starting to make some progress but West Brom are grinding out results when not at their best, which makes this quite an interesting clash between these two Midlands rivals.
Stoke however haven’t gone well here in recent seasons so will need a huge performance to snatch any points, which makes me believe that West Brom are set for another win over the Potters but by a narrow margin.
Prediction: WBA 1-0 Stoke City
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